Taking Worry by the Throat
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Text: Matthew 6: 25-34
Worry - to harass by tearing, biting, or snapping especially at the throat - constraining force or influence. Anxiety - anxious; akin to Latin angere to strangle - it has many people by the throat! Jesus teaches us how we can get worry by the throat! How?
1) Establish Priorities
V33 - Make him your aim and aim to please him. Judges 17-18 - Make Him your king! Why - V32 - He knows your needs! He is fully aware of where you are and what you are going through.
“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” - Psalm 55:22
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.” - 1 Peter 5:6-7
Follow Jesus - discover righteousness! Get alone with God - worship God - fellowship with others - hold fast to His will!
Look what happens:
”For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.” - Proverbs 8:35
2) Expect Provisions
V33-35 - live expecting for today, not fretting about tomorrow! Abraham - Gen. 22:5 - he expected God to provide. Jehovah Jirah - He will supply for today! Expect God today! Stop living with the “what if” syndrome. Tomorrow is beyond you!
”Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” - Proverbs 27:1
Power outage - God supplied the kingdom comforts! Matthew 5:6, Deuteronomy 8:2-4
God builds on today! God will add on today and prepare you for tomorrow’s challenges! Blessing you with spiritual food, drink, and clothing.
Conclusion
Worry, etc, can get you by the throat. It’s like how I eat - inhaling and not chewing! We tend to take life in the same way and find ourselves choking! Start chewing!