Are You a Worry Wart? (Turnpike Wesleyan – February 2, 2014) Scripture Text: Psalm 23 (NKJV) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Introduction Today’s message is going to center around worry or another word could be fret. I am praying that as we venture together through Scripture, we will discover God’s stress-­‐busters. We should be looking in God’s Word for answers to the questions we have in our hearts. And one of our biggest questions these days is this -­‐ what do I do in uncertain times? Do me a favor and somewhere on your notes, write down the thing or things that you are most worried about, most uncertain about these days. Then write beside these things: “Life is uncertain but God is not!” Worry is unhelpful, it’s unreasonable and it’s unhealthy. It’s unhelpful because it never accomplishes anything, worry does not solve the problem. Worry cannot change the past. It cannot control the future. It can only make us miserable today. It is unhelpful. It’s unreasonable. It magnifies the problem. It can make mountains out of molehills. Worry can make your problems seem bigger then they really are. To worry about something you can’t change is useless. To worry about something you can change doesn’t make sense – just go ahead and change it. Worry is unreasonable. Worry is unhealthy. The body is not made for worry. Worry can cause ulcers, backaches, headaches, and insomnia. It’s unnatural. The old English word for worry means “to strangle” or “to choke.” What Is God’s Antidote For Worry? Let’s begin by looking at a very familiar Psalm … Psalm 23 and see if there might be some helpful insights in the Psalmist’s words. Make God Your Shepherd The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:1 (NKJV) What do shepherds do? 1. A shepherd Provides. 2. A shepherd Protects. 3. A shepherd Guides. 4. A shepherd Gathers. Look at what it says in Isaiah 40:11 … He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young. (NKJV) Philippians 4:19 gets even more specific. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Circle the word will. The verse doesn’t say, “Might” nor does it say “I’ll think about it” – it says He will. Worry is unhelpful, unreasonable, and unhealthy but it’s also unnecessary if Jesus is your shepherd. Most times when you worry you’re acting like an atheist. In essence you are saying: “God is not going to take care of my needs. I don’t think He can. I don’t think He’s big enough – in fact I’m not sure He is even able.” How Do I Make God My Shepherd? God is not the Shepherd for everybody. He’s only the Shepherd of those who let Him be the Shepherd. In John chapter 10 Jesus says that three things happen when you make Jesus your Shepherd. You hear His voice – you have a relationship with Him – and you follow Him. In other words you put Him in control. “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 Most often worry is about a control issue. Who is really in control? Worry is trying to control what you can’t control -­‐ trying to control the uncontrollable. Worry is a warning light that you have not put God in control. God doesn’t co-­‐pilot. Every time you try to take complete control of your life – you are going to worry – because worry is a control issue. Pray About Everything Start praying about the things you have been worrying about. Worry doesn’t change things – prayer does. Worry is stewing without doing. Prayer puts you in contact with the One who can change the things you can’t. Whenever a problem arises I have two options – I can panic or I can pray. “Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7. The Greek word literally means to drop. It says I am to unload it. But then notice upon whom I am to unload it … “On Him.” We place all of our cares and worries on Christ – because He cares about us. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:1 (NKJV) Consider One Day at a Time “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it’s own things. Sufficient for the day is it’s own trouble.” Matthew 6:34 (NKJV) God will take care of tomorrow – trust Him for today. Don’t open your umbrella until it starts raining. Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. When you worry you don’t change yesterday, you can’t control tomorrow, and you just mess up today. The future can seem overwhelming. Therefore, trust God in small bites. Live for Him today. Notice how Jesus prayed: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11 (NKJV) Overcoming worry is a day-­‐by-­‐day choice. There is no pill you can take to stop worrying. There is no seminar, book or DVD that will make you stop worrying. God’s antidote for worry is to put Him in control of you life. The Lord is my shepherd. People, there is only one Lord all others are fake. The Lord is my Shepherd. Not might be, not could be, not may be – can you say with certainty that Jesus is my shepherd? Pray this prayer with me: “Jesus I don’t understand it all, but I’ve come today to put you in charge of my life. I want you to be my shepherd – my manager – my boss – my Lord. I want to know you. I want to listen to you. I want to follow you. I want you in control of my life. Come into my life and take control. Amen.”