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Be Anxious for
Nothing
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I notice as I get older, I feel
more vulnerable in many ways. My body lets me know that parts
are wearing out. My mind seems to forget things that once were
nearly automatic. I hope my finances will last just one day
longer than I last. Will I be able to afford the medications I
need to sustain my life with quality? Will I still be able to
"get around" so I do not become more isolated?
So many new challenges at a time when I seem less able to meet
them. Senior Cartoon character. Maxine, says, "Ever get the
feeling your stuff strutted off without you?" There is plenty
to occupy the anxious Senior mind.
And 21st century Christians do not
have a corner on worry. In Matthew 6 Jesus teaches his followers
how to deal with life's concerns. In one of the most beautiful
passages of scripture he says "
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you
will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the
body more important than clothes? Look
at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store
away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are
you not much more valuable than they? Who
of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life
?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the
lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even
Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the
grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is
thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O
you of little faith? So do not
worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we
drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For
the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly
Father knows that you need them. But
seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these
things will be given to you as well. Therefore
do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about
itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
St Paul said,
"Do not be
anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
(Philippians 4:6) For the Christian, THIS is the antidote
for worry and anxiety. We want to present it to God----and leave
it there. Give it to someone equipped, and willing, to take it
all.
Someone once said, "Don't tell me
worry doesn't help. Whenever I worry about something, it never
seems to happen." Does this sound familiar? It sure does to me.
When I think of the countless times I've wasted valuable
minutes, hours, days,-----more----- dwelling on "what if, what
if not, and if only."
And yet, as I look back, no matter
what has happened in my life, God was always there to pick me
up, dust me off, and encourage me on my way. The other day I
started to worry----yet one more time! I thought to myself,
"Bob, after 60 some years of experiencing God's saving presence,
time after time. in everything that has happened in your life,
why are you wasting your time worrying?" In that moment I felt
God's peace flood over me in a powerful way.
At this stage of our lives, we
seniors are challenged to put our spiritual money where our
mouth has been for decades. We have sung that "Our hope is built
on nothing less...", "A mighty fortress is our God...", "Be
still my soul...In every change, He faithful will remain..."
Today, our hope and strength are in our loving Father. Be
anxious for nothing. God is with you in all your needs at this
very moment.
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BE STILL MY SOUL Words:
Katharina von Schlegel, 1752
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"Be still my soul, the Lord
is on your side.
Bear Patiently the
cross of grief or pain.
Leave to they God to order
and provide,
In every change, He
faithful will remain.
Be still my soul, thy best,
thy heavenly friend.
Through thorny ways
leads to a joyful end." |
Be still, my soul, thy God
doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul, the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them
while He dwelt below |
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Be still, my soul, the hour
is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last. |
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PRAYER: God our Father, we place
all that troubles us at your feet. It is more than we can deal
with today. Thank you for accepting this destructive and
inhibiting anxiety. And now please refresh our newly freed
spirit, so we can rise and be the people you intend for us to
be. Amen!
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I
give Thee back the life I owe,
