Nougat 5

He came to church to preach about prayer, or some such theme. Instead, his sermon was entitled, ‘Why pray, when you can worry?’ Talk about ‘Ouch!’ Yet, it’s so pertinent to our approach to life’s multifarious situations. Please receive today’s Holy Nougat

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Each time I remember the pastor, I know he has us pegged. For it is a very select few of us who DON’T have that full-time second job of worrying. Some of us have even mastered the technique of worrying because we don’t have anything to be worried about. Oh yes!

Interestingly enough, most of us would not agree that we worry; but isn’t stress a very close relative to worry? But isn’t it fashionable to be a bit concerned about our careers, our businesses, our weight, our finances, our health (including the corona virus, Zika, dengue, heart rate, cancer, diabetes, etc), our family, politics, world issues and the second coming of Christ?

Isn’t that why Jesus assures us, ‘take NO thought about tomorrow – what you will eat, drink or wear …’ and also admonished, ‘don’t be overly concerned or overwhelmed by what’s happening around you. Instead; trust God. And better yet, trust [Jesus, whom you know] …’? Or, what about His offer for us to lean on Him and to switch our burdens for His light load? I suspect those words on worry were all grounded in the knowledge that humans mistake worry for worship.

Think about it. Take money for example, the poor worry about how they might acquire wealth; and the rich worry about keeping it. Few of us invest similar energies into worship – though we really ought.

Yes, knowing our proclivity for worry; we are assured that our NEEDS are met according to God’s riches IN glory through Christ, our Ultimate Lover. If Christ gave His life to secure eternity for us; then our future is in safe hands when we entrust it (our every concern) to Him. The outcome may be a bit surprising, but we are assured that it’s always beneficial.

So …

Do we pray and let God; trusting God’s love for us; or do we reject the love offer and keep our burdens to ourselves? The choice is ours. Me, I may have been stupid in the past; but now – I’m choosing to let go and accept Christ’s loving assistance.

In Christ’s love and grace . . .