What Can I Do To Feel Safe? – Don’t Be Afraid Part 4

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34 (Click Link) 25 “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? 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:25-27,34 NLT) Jesus said, Don’t worry! Don’t worry about today, because there’s a lot going on today that you have no control over. The birds can’t control whether they will have enough food, but God provides for them, and God will provide for you. And don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own set of issues. Besides, tomorrow’s news will make today’s unsettling news obsolete! Remember, fear is an emotion. God has given us a reasoning part of our brain to slow our racing thoughts, to bring reason to bear on our feelings, and to be able to respond to what we’re facing in faith! Jesus said the way to overcome fear and anxiety is to bring God into the picture. God Awareness overcomes fearful feelings. We’re nearly drowning ourselves in scary news! Broadcast news, inflammatory posts, and comment threads on social media can all be sources of Fearful Feelings. Here’s some useful news for you! All your devices have “off switches”! Seriously! It’s true! Over a year ago, I unsubscribed from over a half-dozen news feeds, and I unfollowed people on Facebook who were constantly posting fear-mongering and false information. I’ve severely limited my daily exposure to “news”. I don’t check my phone nearly as often. My mental state and peace of mind has improved marvelously! There will always be much that we cannot control in the world around us, but as Christ-followers we are learning that there is much we can control in the world inside us. We’re learning to filter and to exclude fear-mongering news sources. We’re learning to “fix our thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable, things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8 NLT) Prayer: Father, Please teach us to filter our input through wisdom and faith. May we learn to keep you in the picture and to keep fear-mongering and lies out. Help each of us to be a source of encouragement to others. For Jesus’ Sake!