SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD (15 OF 20)
by Tim Melton
Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34
This content is part of a series.
Seek First the Kingdom of God (15 of 20)
Series: Sermon on the Mount
Tim Melton
Matthew 6:25-34
We were not designed to live a life of worry. With this in mind, Dr. E. Stanley Jones, a Methodist missionary of the last century, made the following statement:
''I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely. . . We are inwardly constructed in nerve and tissue, brain cell and soul, for faith and not for fear. God made us that way. To live by worry is to live against reality.''
Doctors would agree. Chronic worrying puts our body in a constant state of ''fight of flight.'' Our bodies think they are in constant danger so they remain in a state of anxiety ready for action. That affects our appetites and our sleep. Our heart rate increases and our breathing gets heavier as we prepare for the 'fight or flight' situation our worry has created. Stress hormones circulate in the blood, this raises chemicals that can start to have a toxic effect on our glands, nervous system and our heart. This could result in heart attacks, strokes and stomach ulcers.
Because we are tense much of the time this muscle tension turns into headaches, back pain and trembling. This tension also affects our digestive system resulting in constipation or diarrhea. Our immune system is then weakened leaving us more susceptible to infections, colds or even more serious illnesses.
This results in temptation to find relief in ways such as overeating, smoking, use of alcohol, pornography, medications or whatever else seems to ease the pain. We are more sensitive, more unstable and less at peace with God and with others around us.
We were not designed to live like this. God has a better plan f ...
Series: Sermon on the Mount
Tim Melton
Matthew 6:25-34
We were not designed to live a life of worry. With this in mind, Dr. E. Stanley Jones, a Methodist missionary of the last century, made the following statement:
''I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely. . . We are inwardly constructed in nerve and tissue, brain cell and soul, for faith and not for fear. God made us that way. To live by worry is to live against reality.''
Doctors would agree. Chronic worrying puts our body in a constant state of ''fight of flight.'' Our bodies think they are in constant danger so they remain in a state of anxiety ready for action. That affects our appetites and our sleep. Our heart rate increases and our breathing gets heavier as we prepare for the 'fight or flight' situation our worry has created. Stress hormones circulate in the blood, this raises chemicals that can start to have a toxic effect on our glands, nervous system and our heart. This could result in heart attacks, strokes and stomach ulcers.
Because we are tense much of the time this muscle tension turns into headaches, back pain and trembling. This tension also affects our digestive system resulting in constipation or diarrhea. Our immune system is then weakened leaving us more susceptible to infections, colds or even more serious illnesses.
This results in temptation to find relief in ways such as overeating, smoking, use of alcohol, pornography, medications or whatever else seems to ease the pain. We are more sensitive, more unstable and less at peace with God and with others around us.
We were not designed to live like this. God has a better plan f ...
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