Worrying Consumes

"And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life's span?

"If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?

"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

"But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!

"And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.

"For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.

"But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

Luke 12:25-31

God knows and has rule over all created things. He knows where we put our keys and He knows what will happen in our futures. So life isn't meant to worry about the things we can't control, it's about stewarding the things we can. It's like that quote by Reinhold Niebuhr, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." God has so much in store for us but if we focus our attention to the wrong things we will never work on the things He set aside for us.

I keep going back to Sunday's lost keys episode. I think about all the time I spent looking for Keola's keys. I think about what I could've been doing at that time instead of worrying about them. Did I just walk past an opportunity to minister and to love on another? Did I miss quiet time with Jesus? Did my heart go into worship unprepared for battle? This message is so clear to me but so hard to practice. I worry. I don't want that to be me but that's what happens through my default. I need to practice how to be still before Him before I can walk and stand.

Father God, thank You for showing me about anxiety and how it can consume my mind instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell there. There's only one spot in my soul and if I allow the world to make home there I won't have space for You. Help me to deny my worldly desires and patters and be born anew, refreshed. Thank You for all Your wonderful blessings! In the beautiful name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!