OK, so this past Sunday I must confess I almost skipped church. My husband was going to work, heat was again expected to be well over 100 degrees and the thought of sleeping in sounded great. So I did want most mothers would do, well ok maybe not but I asked my daughter if she wanted to stay home. She debated a minute or two and then said....I want to go to church! I must say I was proud of her for making the decision that I chose not to. So we got ready and went to church, early service of course so we could get back home before it got too hot.
If you have read some of my previous posts then you already know how I struggle with anxiety, worry and people pleasing. God has been working really hard trying to get His message into my heart. I have it in my head I just can't for some reason make the connection with my heart. Or maybe vice versa, either way I still struggle with these issues. Well that mornings message was "DON'T WORRY"! One thing that really hit me was "Worry is the opposite of Worship!" Ouch!! It got me to thinking...how can I sincerely worship my Savior if I am constantly worrying about stuff. It seems weird but I don't worry about the BIG stuff....death, my health, my salvation. No I worry about the little things....the what ifs in life. What if I don't help this person? Will they dislike me or be mad at me? What if I say something that offends or hurts someone...will they still like me or be mad at me? What if I do something that is "unchristian", will they think less of me? What if I have messed up raising my kids? Have I done everything I could to turn them to Jesus? I worry about things that may never come to pass. I worry too much about what others things about me. I worry too much about pleasing everyone else and don't focus enough on pleasing the one person that matters above all else....God!
By allowing the worries to control my mind, I am blocking myself from true, in His presence worship. I'm not fully trusting God with my life. I am taking back the control that belongs to the Almighty Father. He knows far better than I do what I need in my life. I think of the words from a Jamie Grace song..."Your hand is on my tomorrow". As part of the service we had rocks that represented our worries. We prayed to God and then laid the rocks and our worries at the foot of the cross. So once again I have laid down my worries at the feet of Jesus! I am allowing Him to control my today and tomorrow!
Now to think...I almost missed a message that I needed because I wanted to be lazy and make excuses. I'm so glad my daughter chose church. I'm so glad I went because I needed to hear from God that morning. Not only that, Monday morning one of my email devotions was on the same thing. It was God's way of reinforcing His message. I truly love the way God works!
Heavenly Father~I come to you now and praise your holy name for never giving up on me. I confess Father that I have taken back my worries, the ones laid at your feet before and the new ones I have collected. I pray for your forgiveness for doubting you and allowing worries to keep me from your presence. Lord God you know exactly what I need AND what I want but must of all you know Your plan for my life and I am choosing to trust you! In Jesus name! Amen.
Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
