Don’t worry; have trust in God

The following are excerpts of a sermon given yesterday by the Rev. Robert Lennon at Calvary Alliance Church in Beltsville:

Living one day at a time keeps you from being consumed with worry. The Bible says, “Take no thought for tomorrow, for tomorrow will take thought … for itself” (Matthew 6:34). The Bible gives us a plan for living a more peaceful life.

Planning for tomorrow is time well-spent. Worrying about tomorrow is time wasted.

Sometimes we do not understand the difference between planning and worrying. …

Planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps and scheduling. It is trusting in God’s guidance. …

Planning reduces worry. Planning helps us to trust in God’s guidance. The Bible says, “Trust in the Lord, with all of your heart, lean not to your own understanding … and He will direct your path,” (Proverbs 3:5, 6). Trusting God today alleviates worrying about tomorrow.

Worry has three negative effects in our lives. They are fear, lack of trust in God and interference with our personal relationship to God.

First, worrying produces fear. The Bible says, “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind,” (2 Timothy 1:7). Worrying produces fear by causing you to not step out boldly and proclaim what God has called you to do. Fear causes you to worry about things that you have no control, such as worrying about what might happen tomorrow.

Second, worrying reduces trust in God. We begin by focusing on things that we cannot control. Worry says be stressed about everything, don’t plan ahead.

Third, worry interferes with our relationship to God. Worrying causes us to lose peace with God. Worrying caused Sarah to lose her peace with God by doubting His promises to give her a child in the future (Genesis 21:7). …

Peace with God is possible only through Jesus Christ. Because Jesus Christ paid the sin debt for us with His death on the cross, we can now have peace with God. …

The Bible says, “Be careful for nothing, but with prayer, supplication and thanksgiving make our request known to God,” (Philippians 4:6).

“Be careful for nothing” means: Don’t worry about anything, especially what might happen tomorrow. It seems impossible not to worry about our job, home, finances and even our church. But God tells us to turn our worries to prayers. …

The more we pray about things, the less we worry. The key to not worrying is prayer. When you start to worry, stop and pray. As you pray, cast all your worries on the Lord, because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7).

I present to you a challenge: Accept Jesus as your personal Savior, and He will teach you to live above worry. How do I accept Jesus? I am glad you asked. Here is how you accept Jesus as your personal Savior.

Admit your need. Realize that you are a sinner. Be willing to turn from your sin. Repent. Believe that Jesus died for you on the cross and rose again from the dead. Through prayer, invite Jesus to come into you life and change you. Pray.

But what do I pray? Here is what you pray:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that you died for me and paid my penalty for sin. I want to turn from my sin and follow you. I invite you to come into my heart and life. In your name I pray. Amen.”

I assure you, that if you have prayed this prayer, you are saved from eternal punishment. Why? Because: God loves you (John 3:16). We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The price for sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23). Jesus desires to save you (Revelation 3:20) and you can have assurance of salvation (John 1:12).

Please accept my challenge today, and Jesus will teach you to live above worry.

I have accepted Jesus as my personal Savior. He personally guides me along the pathways of my life. He guides me like the eagle that soars in the heavens, not worrying itself about how it will cross the mountain. Jesus is my sufficiency; therefore, I need not worry about tomorrow.

Don’t let worrying about tomorrow negatively affect your relationship with God. May God add a blessing to the teaching of His Holy Word.