Worry

Week 16, 2022

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34

A New York Post survey found that the average person was struck with worry four times a day ‒ that’s 112 times in a month. About 86 percent of people in a survey described themselves as worriers. And the research revealed we spend on average one hour and 50 minutes a day fretting, amounting to 12 hours and 53 minutes a week – or four years and 11 months across the average adult lifetime of 64 years.

There is a great story that comes out of Greece in the 5th century B.C. During the war between two city-states, a spy was captured and sentenced to death. Before the execution, he demanded an audience with the Ruler of that city. When the interview was granted, he stood before the Ruler and pled “O great king, if you do not execute me, but instead allow me to live a mere two years longer, I will teach your favorite horse to sing.”

The king thought about it, and finally decided, “What’s two years? I can always kill him at the end of it.” So he agreed, and the spy was led away.

Several weeks later, while the spy was in the stables playing the harp in front of the king’s horse, two of his friends who smuggled themselves into the city in disguise found him and asked what happened. After telling them the story they said, “You’re crazy! You can’t teach a horse to sing! The king will kill you!”

The spy then said very wisely, “In two years, anything can happen. The king may die; I may die or, who knows maybe the horse will learn to sing!” And he went on playing the harp.

There is a good moral to this story. How often do we worry about things that may never happen and miss out on enjoying today?

In Matthew 6:25 Jesus commanded His followers, “Do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on”.

Find comfort and peace through Scripture that promises you hope and a future. Fear, worry and anxiety are all weapons of Satan to keep us from experiencing the full life that God has for us. These emotions can overwhelm us and keep us paralyzed. Learn how to leave free from worry and anxiety by meditating on the Word and casting your cares upon Jesus! Start today and take small steps today toward living fully free from anxieties.

What will you worry about today? Remember, it may go away tomorrow.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

A Good List To Remember and Live By:

The most powerful emotion in life………………………..love

The greatest asset…………………………………………….faith

The greatest joy………………………………………………..giving

The most contagious spirit………………………………….enthusiasm

The most beautiful attire…………………………………….a smile

The most prized possession……………………………….integrity

The greatest “shot in the arm”……………………………..enthusiasm

The greatest problem to overcome………………………fear

The greatest loss………………………………………………self-respect

The ugliest personality trait…………………………………selfishness

The deadliest weapon………………………………………..the tongue

The most worthless emotion……………………………….self-pity

The most powerful channel of communication……….prayer

The two most power-filled words………………………….I can

The fastest path to healing and wholeness……………forgiveness

The most powerful force in the universe……………….God

The best book you can read………………………………..The Bible

The greatest verse in the Bible……………………………John 3:16

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

— o —

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision because it is a countercultural lifestyle that stands against the culture of overconsumption that surrounds us.

The world we live in is not friendly to the pursuit of minimalism. Its tendencies and relentless advertising campaigns call us to acquire more, better, faster, and newer. The journey of finding simplicity requires consistent inspiration. The Minimalist

— o —

The City of Miami spent $350,000 on new park lights. The park closes at sundown!

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

I DON’T ACCEPT WAGES FOR JOB HALF DONE. Stephen Bernard

The riches Jesus desires to share with you are eternal riches, which cannot be measured by temporal things like gold or silver. Dan Shock

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. —1 Corinthians 1:18

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

Life: Said succinctly, it’s not about us.

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being. JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE.