Just a quick note before the actual devotional…

I owe so many of you a huge ‘thank you’ for your demonstrated love for my Joanie. The number of responses via social media was somewhere between six and seven hundred with about 70% of them written comments versus the ‘hearts and thumbs up’ returns. I have taken incredible support through your love of my sweet wife. Now, let me introduce you to a series of devotionals designed to do some personal reflection. We will call this series: Questions We Must Answer.

Quit Worrying!

Question #1 Matthew 6:270 “Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your lifespan?”

This is a great starting place.

Did the questions Jesus asked his listeners actually get more spiritual traction on their spiritual journey than his teaching did.? And is this first question important enough to stop us in our tracks and make us consider what our true answer would mean in our lives.

First, recognize that everyone with an active mind and somewhat normal brain behavior will worry. It’s inevitable. No one is denied heaven for having worried. Second, understand that not all worry is injurious to our health and happiness.

Second, worry is not the same as anxiety. Typically, anxiety is worry and concern over things you have no control over and typically things in the unknown future. The Apostle Paul commanded, “Do not be anxious about anything…” but bury those things in prayer. (Philippians 4:6)

Now, it’s time to analyze this question of Jesus. Let’s take stock… does worrying add any time to your life on earth? Does it calm your fears, sooth your spirit, put a smile on your face? Ah… no, I don’t believe it does. There may be various difficulties in your future but God will never use your worries to solve them

Cast all your cares on Him because He really does care for you. (And get rid of those squinty eyes prying into the cloudy future and see if it doesn’t take the scowl off your face. That’s better!)

              “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7