I have told you on numerous occasions how God chooses to plant his messages in my heart. Last Friday, I got up with plans to send out first thing my TGIF. The only thing I usually do before sending out my message is to read my daily devotional. As I did that, it became clear to me that the message I was reading is a perfect follow-up to last week’s message. I would suggest today’s message is Max’s response to last week’s TGIF.
So today my message comes from my Max Lucado devotional Grace For The Moment, and the January 3 message is titled Worthless Worry. The opening scripture is the following:
Psalm 37:25 (NIV) – I was young and now I am old, but I have never seen good people left helpless or their children begging for food.
Max then shares We worry. We worry about the IRS and the SAT and the FBI …. We worry that we won’t have enough money, and when we have money we worry that we won’t manage it well. We worry that the world will end before the parking meter expires. We worry what the dog thinks if he sees us step out of the shower. We worry that someday we’ll learn that fat-free yogurt was fattening.
Honestly, now. Did God save you so you would fret? Would he teach you to walk just to watch you fall? Would He be nailed to the cross for your sins and then disregard your prayers? Come on. Is Scripture teasing us when it reads in Psalm 92:11 – He has put His angels in charge of you to watch over you.
I don’t think so either.
If you can remember last week’s message, I shared how we should worry less and think positively more often. I shared scripture, Matthew 6:25-33, which was titled Cure For Anxiety. If you still have last week’s TGIF, I suggest you read that scripture again along with today’s scripture and message from Max. Hopefully, these two messages will bring you more peace, comfort, and hope moving into the new year that everything is OK with us and everything around us in our world. We have nothing to fear because You are in charge!
Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
It can seem so hard today to be at peace and not worry about tomorrow for ourselves, and the longer term future for our children and grandchildren, and their children and grandchildren. Yet, if we have true belief in God’s presence and grace in our lives, we can rest assured that He will always be there with us and for us. It doesn’t mean we won’t have setbacks in our life because we need to be tested, and we are told to be grateful for our challenges.
Isaiah 41:13 – For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’
I pray that you will trust God and look with hope to 2025! Happy New Year!
Cindy and I will be out of town the next 2 weeks, so I will not be able to send out any messages.