This mother Hawaiian Monk Seal and her baby are taking it easy on the beach at Waikiki. I took this photograph on August 7 of this year. These seals are native to Hawaiian waters and islands only, and are on the endangered list as there are only 1400 of them left in Hawaii. The baby seal (on the left in the photo) was quite large itself and was still nursing its mother. The youngster has no idea that soon its mother would abandon him and he would be on his own to face dangers (from sharks) and to learn to fend for himself. He really has a lot to be worried about, if he only knew.
People today are anxious about many things; world leaders themselves are also worried and do not know the solution to many problems facing us in these perilous end times. Oh sure, they have their agendas and think a New World Order is the solution, with a one world economy, a one world government, and a one world religion soon on the horizon. The Bible in Revelation 17 and 18 speaks of this new world order. It also speaks of the antichrist who will rule the world....this can be found in Revelation 13, where the antichrist is referred to as the "beast".
I have written concerning all this in previous posts, and you may do a word search in the search box at the above right on this page to find out more about topics such as the antichrist and the end times. Right now I would like to just focus on what we as individuals can do to stop worrying and to put our trust in the Lord instead. Here is a link to a previous post of mine which also deals with the topic of worry. But this article will deal with different Scriptures and different Christian quotes as well as having a sermon on worry by Pastor Greg Laurie.
As seen above in #3, the "emergency number" to call is Matthew 6:19-34 when you are bombarded with worry. Please read all the verses; but for now I will quote verses 31-34 which follow:
"(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."
Pay special attention to verse 33 which says to "seek first the kingdom of God." If we do that and put spiritual things and God and Jesus first in our lives, God will take care of our basic needs. In today's world, things are so chaotic that we have many issues to face that are more troublesome and problematic than what to wear ! A few years ago A. W. Tozer remarked, "In a world like ours, courage is an indispensable virtue." Having a strong relationship with the Lord will give you courage. In our troubled times, violence and general unrest have taken over it seems. In times like these, we need to be on our knees in prayer and devouring the Word of God with a hunger and thirst that only His Word can satisfy. We need to turn to God and trust in Him to see us through these dangerous days in which we live. Christians have a blessed hope (Titus 2:13) of Jesus' soon return to take us to heaven to be with Him. We do not put our faith in governments or in any man to solve our problems, but we put our faith and trust in the good Lord. He gives true protection and hope.
Jesus is our King !
Jesus is our Savior, our Redeemer, our Master, our Teacher, and our Friend !
Jesus is our King !
Jesus is our Savior, our Redeemer, our Master, our Teacher, and our Friend !
"What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee." - Psalm 56:3
"Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all." - 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, (6) " Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (NASB)
How comforting are the Scriptures above ! When things get confusing and you are worried out of your mind, just pray and read the Bible and things will get back into proper perspective again. If we have a close, personal, and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we should never panic and be overly anxious.
"We shall be quiet from the fear of evil, for no threatenings of evil can penetrate into the high tower of God." - Hannah Whitall Smith
"The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety." - George Mueller
"Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear." - Corrie ten Boom
On the subject of worry and anxiety, I am certainly qualified to comment on as I was a "professional worrier" before I came to truly know the Lord. If there was nothing to worry about, I worried when there was nothing to worry about (as if things were not normal unless there was something to worry about), so accustomed I was to the habit of worrying. Can anyone out there relate?
Many years ago I ran across a quote by the French philosopher Michel de Montaigne who lived between 1533 and 1592 and it set me to thinking. I had remembered the quote as being, "My life is full of catastrophes, most of which never happened." In order to quote it accurately, I looked up Montaigne quotes today on the internet and the closest that came to it was the quote by him, "There were many terrible things in my life and most of them never happened." Whichever quotation by him is correct, you get the message. We can worry so much that we imagine the worst case scenario about the least little thing.
On the subject of worry and anxiety, I am certainly qualified to comment on as I was a "professional worrier" before I came to truly know the Lord. If there was nothing to worry about, I worried when there was nothing to worry about (as if things were not normal unless there was something to worry about), so accustomed I was to the habit of worrying. Can anyone out there relate?
Many years ago I ran across a quote by the French philosopher Michel de Montaigne who lived between 1533 and 1592 and it set me to thinking. I had remembered the quote as being, "My life is full of catastrophes, most of which never happened." In order to quote it accurately, I looked up Montaigne quotes today on the internet and the closest that came to it was the quote by him, "There were many terrible things in my life and most of them never happened." Whichever quotation by him is correct, you get the message. We can worry so much that we imagine the worst case scenario about the least little thing.
I no longer worry like I did for a good part of my life.... and that is due to the transforming power of God's Holy Word and of the love of Jesus and the Holy Spirit within me now that I am truly born again. That is the key.....surrender to Jesus and take all of your cares to Him in prayer and live a holy and blameless life and you will experience hope and peace from the Lord.
Besides, worry is a sin when you let it consume you. We need to have more faith in the Lord than that; worry shows a lack of trust in God. Pastor Greg Laurie gives a wonderful sermon on worry in the video below, which is titled "Hurried, Worried, Buried (How to Overcome Fear, Worry, and Anxiety" :
Have a Christ-centered weekend ! Be happy and trust in the Lord.
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you - 1 Peter 5:7
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you - 1 Peter 5:7
