FROM TODAY’S READING (2/2/2021)...
NOTE: Today’s reading is posted with deep personal past experience and sensitivity to the engulfing nature of anxiety/panic disorder. Mine is a story of full recovery (several years ago) from situational panic disorder. Others are not as fortunate. Sincerest empathetic prayer is offered to God on behalf of all those battling this frightful dark enemy.
1. Worry indicates a defective value system (Matt. 6:19-25)
2. Worry indicates a defective self-image (Matt. 6:26).
3. Worry indicates a defective way of thinking (Matt. 6:27).
4. Worry indicates a defective trust in God (Matt. 6:28–30).
5. Worry indicates a defective purpose in life (Matt. 6:31–33).
6. Anxiety indicates a defective view of tomorrow (Matt. 6:34).
Robert J. Morgan
Matthew 6:19-34 (NLT)...
(19-25) Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 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?
(28-30) 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, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 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?
(31-33) So don’t worry about these things, saying, What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 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.
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