Refuse to Worry!

Refuse to Worry!

7.28.2024

Notice what Jesus said about worry:

Matthew 6:25-34 (NLT)

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? (26) Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? (27) Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? (28) “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? (31) “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ (32) These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. (33) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (34) “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV)

lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Advantage

— Sparkling Gems From the Greek Vol. 1: 365 Greek Word Studies For Every Day Of The Year To Sharpen Your Understanding Of God’s Word by Rick Renner

https://a.co/fdrDqWH

“Paul clearly understood that Satan was constantly seeking ways to take advantage of people. The word “advantage” in this verse is the Greek word pleonekteo. This word means to outwit; to trick; or to take advantage of someone through some sinister or sneaky means. It is a compound of the word pleon, which means more, and the word echo, which means to have. Together, these words form the word pleonekto, which denotes a desire to have more, more, and more. It is a form of the word pleonexia, the Greek word for greediness. In this case in Second Corinthians 2: 11, it pictures someone whose lust for something is so intense that he will take any actions required to obtain what he wants.”

Ignorant

— Sparkling Gems From the Greek Vol. 1: 365 Greek Word Studies For Every Day Of The Year To Sharpen Your Understanding Of God’s Word by Rick Renner

https://a.co/09TPynZ

“The word “ignorant” in Second Corinthians 2: 11 is the Greek word agnoeo, and it refers to one’s ignorance or lack of certain facts. However, it also includes making mistakes or errors due to a lack of understanding. It is the picture of an uneducated person who, due to a lack of knowledge, is prone to arrive at mistaken conclusions. The word agnoeo depicts someone who is in the dark or without a clue. Because this person lacks understanding, his conclusions are faulty, erroneous, and misguided. This is where we get the word agnostic, the official name used to describe individuals who claim they don’t know what they believe. So when someone claims to be agnostic, he is literally claiming to be ignorant!”

Devices – schemings

“Schemings of the mind”

— Sparkling Gems From the Greek Vol. 1: 365 Greek Word Studies For Every Day Of The Year To Sharpen Your Understanding Of God’s Word by Rick Renner

https://a.co/j0uA6Fk

“The word devices is the Greek word noemata, derived from the word nous. The word nous is the word for the mind or the intellect. However, when the word nous becomes the word noemata, it describes a mind that is scheming, calculating, conniving, devious, shrewd, sly, or clever. This is very significant because it alerts us to the reality that Satan isn’t just hoping to hinder us; he is incessantly scheming and conniving to injure or deliberately mess up a person’s plans, health, marriage, business, and family. The enemy doesn’t really care how he accomplishes his evil plan; he just wants to find ways to ruin whatever that person holds dear. Thus, the word noemata denotes Satan’s insidious, malevolent plot to attack and victimize human beings, clearly demonstrating that the devil loves to captivate and ultimately destroy human beings. If this devilish process is not aborted by the power of God, it is only a matter of time before Satan puts the last touches on his plan to take captive a person, family, church, ministry, business, organization, or even an entire nation!”

Ephesians 6:11 (NKJV)

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Wiles

g3180. μεθοδεία methodeia; from a compound of 3326 and 3593 (compare “method”); travelling over, i.e. travesty (trickery): — wile, lie in wait.

“With a road”

1 Peter 5:5-8 (NKJV)

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Care

merimna; from 3307 (through the idea of distraction)

care, anxiety

(Olive Tree Enhanced Strong’s Dictionary)

to divide to separate into parts, cut into piecesto divide into parties, i.e. be split into factions

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Sober –

nēphō – Free from intoxicants.

“Be free from mental intoxication.”

Philippians 4:6 (PHILLIPS)

Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.

Quotes:

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow (Swedish Proverb).

Worry is a futile thing; it’s somewhat like a rocking chair. Although it keeps you occupied, it doesn’t get you anywhere (Anonymous).

It has been well said that our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength (Charles H. Spurgeon).

Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the glands, the whole nervous system, and profoundly affects the health. You have never known a man who died from overwork, but many who died from doubt (Charles W. Mayo, M.D.).

Bacteria and other microorganisms find it easier to infect people who worry and fret (Leo Rangell).

Proverbs 14:30 (AMPC)

A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

Who Switched Off My Brain – Dr. Caroline Leaf

Research shows that around 87% of illnesses can be attributed to our thought life, and approximately 13% to diet, genetics and environment.

Studies conclusively link more chronic diseases (also known as lifestyle diseases) to an epidemic of toxic emotions in our culture. These toxic emotions can cause migraines, hypertension, strokes, cancer, skin problems, diabetes, infections and allergies, just to name a few.

p. 5

Studies also point to a direct correlation between anxiety/fear and heart palpitations, irritable bowel syndrome, tension headaches and heart problems.

Quite simply, there is no longer any doubt that what and how you think affect your emotional and physical state. The mind and body are integrally connected.

Freedom From worry comes when I decide that I will take God at His Word and choose to trust God and His promises which I sometimes cannot see or feel.

Notice what the word says about worry:

Proverbs 3:5-8 (MSG)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. 6 Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. 7 Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! 8 Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!

Psalm 37:5 (AMPC)

Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.

Psalm 55:22 (AMPC)

Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV)

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose confidence is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and it does not fear when heat comes; for its leaves remain green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, for it does not fail to yield fruit.

Proverbs 16: 3 (AMPC)

Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

Matthew 11:28-30 (AMPC)

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good — not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

1 Peter 5:7 (AMPC)

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns,once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.