Matthew 6:25-34.
25:Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26:Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27:Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28:And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29:And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30:Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31:Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32:(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33:But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34:Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
It was observed in our days that high blood pressure is accrued to men of advanced age. Popularly old age syndrome. But today, it is no longer news that Young folks are dying from high blood pressure.
What could they be thinking? Someone may ask. They don't have much responsibilities .
A little fun-chat ensued one time in my church with a elderly man, and we say to him that elderly people have less things to worry about to compare to the youth. He opined that the youth had nothing to worry about.
But this is not the reality we face in our days. Because if the youth has nothing to think about, their won't be an increase in suicide and suicide attempts.
The topic of discussion is a serious one, because it cuts across but the old and young, rich and poor even the saved and unsaved. A lot of Christian's are depressed through worry.
Just the fact that an unbeliever prospers more than a Christian after the Christian's has professed his alligence to God is enough reason to be worried.
When we observe all the challenges beyond our ability to control them, it's enough reason to be worried.
But we need to understand that the Bible is the compendium of truth and solutions to all lives issues and challenges. And the engrafted word has proven to be helpful in overcoming the spirit of worry. For worry is a spirit that comes from the devil and it's symptoms or evidences are obvious to the eyes.
Worry is a systematic strategy from the devil, employed to sap the strength of the believer in pursuing his or her destiny. Worry is one of the top 10 main reasons why many die or are sick. Most of the sickness of men is caused by worry.
Worry affects the system of man, shutting down his organs from functioning properly because of the demonic nature of worry.
Statistically speaking, only about 8% of man's worry are legitimate. Out of this percentage, there are some that can be solved others can't. For instance, it's not legitimate to worry about your parents. No matter how much you worry, you can't change or swap parents. So no matter the kind of personality your parents have. You can't change parents, so it's furtil worrying about changing or swapping parents.
The inability to be in charge of a situation and the lack of technical know-how in bringing a solution to a challenge is what propels WORRY.
Worry is purely psychological, it is a product of our perception and responds to life. Most times we can't help but worry someone says. But no matter how much we worry, it does not have in it the power to create solutions. Worry destroys everything including the hope you have left.
We need to be aware of this fact that, every situation in life comes natural, it is your perception that makes it positive or negative.
Someone might say there are some that are orchestrated by the devil. But even at that, he uses natural situations against the believer.
When I was serving my fatherland (NYSC), on the course of discharging my duty at my PPA, I taught Literature In English.
One day we were analyzing a poem titled "The panic of growing old"
Spreads fluttering winds from year to year
At twenty stilled by hope of gigantic success.
time and exploration
At thirty a sudden throb of pain.
Laboratory tests have nothing to show
Legs cribbed in domesticity
Allow no sudden leaps
At the noon now
Copybook bisected with red
Ink and failures
Nothing to show the world
Three children perhaps
The world expects it of you.
No specialists effort there
But science gives hope of twice three score and ten
Hope is not a grain of sand.
Inner satisfaction dwindles in sharp
Blades of expectation
From now on the world has you.
The analysis of the poem blessed my heart with it's moral lessons.
The poem describes the different phases of human development, starting from birth through adulthood and old age. He describes what happens in early adulthood. This period is filled with high expectations, hopes, ambitions, dreams and adventures with the advantage of time.
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At a point in this phase of life, at 30 precisely, according to the poet, one begins to experience pain that lacks medical explanation.
As one approaches old age, weakness sets in and one loses agility. Often, one spends all his years on earth trying to copy others without success.
In the end, he has nothing to show the world except children which the poet does not consider an achievement. In old age, the thoughts of unfulfilled dreams and aspirations bring weakness to the mind.
So the fear of growing old sets in the hearts of many who are advancing faster towards old age without achieving their dreams and nothing to show for the years spent so far. So these factors stirs the heart of many to be worried.
Before I got admission into higher institution, I had spent 4 years already at home, though working prior to when I met my classmate from my secondary school days. We got talking and he told me he drove his mum to suleja market to pick few things and to crown it all, he was in his final year at the University of Abuja.
When he left, I became worried, and down-casted in my mind. I was thinking based on the fact that we were classmate, we should be at the same level academically. But truth be told, I was right in my thought. But a factor beyond my control played out that delayed me from achieving that feet at that point in time.
So many people are worried because they compare themselves with their friends whom they all started the same time with. Let me pause to inform you that you have a different destiny and time of manifestation.
It might surprise you to know that a lot of believers believe it is not an offence to worry.
But we need to understand that worry is a sin. Worry can be a curse. Worry is a choice.
Jesus gave a commandments and said "take no thought for your life" Does it mean we are not permitted to think or thinking is a sin.
There is a difference between worry and thinking. But the problem of many is that we worry instead of thinking.
The word "Thought" used by Jesus from our anchor scripture connotes "Worry"
It is a sin to worry but advisable to think.
Because Ephesians 3:20:Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
But when we worry, we shut God out from our equations and look with disdain His Mighty strength to deliver and help us. I want to bring to our notice that everything we face on earth has happened to men. There is nothing new under the sun. So if others could scale through, you will have a testimony.
Worry depresses and makes one older than his age.
Worry is destructive if it is not managed. This is one of the root cause of suicide and other criminal vices on rampage in our society today. People become so worried to the extent that they hear the voice of the devil, suggesting to their minds either to end it (suicide) or get it through a fraudulent means (stealing).
There is no situation or challenges that defiles the power of God. Worry only blinds our eyes from seeing what God is doing on our behalf.
At your highest level of pain, lies your breakthrough.
God is never too late, we are just frustrated to wait for His time. This becomes an advantage for the enemy to invade man with the Spirit of worry.
Many are worried at their age they are not yet married, no car, house, a good job and many more. But Jesus asked a question which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Let me ask, since you have been worried, have the situation changed? Rather, you are loosing weight and making the word of God ineffective in your life because of worry.
Worry is a satanic barricade the enemy uses to delay God's blesses upon us. This Paul understood that made him spoke to the Thessalonians, "rejoice again I say rejoice"
When situation overwhelms you, after prayer, praise.
**Every obstacle is demanding the Manifestations of the name of God over it.
This message is beyond a motivational words because. We have a lot of worried Christian's. Worry has so eaten deep into the fabric of many, so much so that no message of God's blessings move them.
We must know that problems and challenges are inevitable, they are the obstacles that stands between our goals and their manifestation. Solving them is the basis of our advancement and reward.
- Acknowledge the challenge. Faith does not negate the presence of challenges, or deny problems. But Faith believes it is a stepping stone to the thought and plans of God to be made manifest.
Clearly state what the problem or challenge is. Do not allow the size of the challenge to scare you. They are like balloons, they can be deflected. Everything comes in a magnified form. They are not as serious as it may seem.
- Involve God. It is easy to forget God when we are in need of help. It is a strategy from the devil through worry. Pray about them strategically. By involving God, you have involved the supernatural and the infinite wisdom of God.
- Creative Thinking.
Creative thinking is the spiritual technology that converts solution and reality from the realm of the Spirit to find expression in the physical realm. Every time you start thinking, your mind is pregnant, you must allow it deliver safely.
True creativity starts with a blank sheet of paper. You write the problems after prayer you think creatively. Most people don't think that is why things don't work for their favour.
God will not help you to think but Grace you to creatively think out the purpose in the heart of God concerning you. When you think, you can imagine and birth out realities in the spirit that will announce you on earth.
Can we convert the time we spend worry about this country, family and situations of our lives and think creatively. When you think God gives you ideas that will announce you to the word.
Every organization needs creative thinkers not worry persons
Lastly, make up your mind that at the worst of the challenges you will still glorify God. Because Job said even if he slay me, yet will I hope on the Lord. Because as long as we live on earth, most times our expectations might be disappointed, and when it happens it has an effect on us. It diminishes our confidence in God.
To be safe, we must operate on a balance system of Faith
It is not the result that validate your faith but the TRUST factor.
Acknowledge the challenge. Write it down.
Invite God to help you handle the challenge.
Engage creative thinking. For it is also God's strategy to help you overcome the challenges with divine ideas.
Amb. John C. Joseph
The Exceptional Writer
Pioneer: CAE Int'l