M I worried?

This morning I went to church at Open Door. It had been a few weeks since I graced the comforts of stadium seating! Open Door has been our home church for several years now. I've been challenged to find a way to actually plug in there, but overall, it's been a good fit for the family and I. Anyhow...

Pastor Dave spoke this morning on being anxious. Seemed timely enough for me! It's easy to be caught up in the apparent difficulties of life and lose sight of the blessings and stability that God has provided in my life.

Matthew 6:25-29, 34 "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. -- Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

As I was listening to Dave (and my 5 year old who was sitting with me this morning!) I could sense a stirring in me. God is working on me in this area. There's the old cliche, "Let go, and let God!" that runs through my mind (Dave brought it up too). There are areas in my life that I need to allow God to work. I try to work it out myself, and thus limit the resource available to insignificant me.

Dave brought 3 questions home:

1. What is my anxiety? IDENTIFY
   
2. What can I do? ACT
   
3. What do I need to stop doing? RELEASE

I'm still bringing this home for myself. I know that there are things that I am concerned about, often in excess (worry).

• Sale of our home
• My busted foot
  
• Success at work
• Raising our kiddos

All of these issues present their own challenges. I often get stuck in question #2 - doing, and thinking about doing, everything I can think of and then some. Try this tactic, tweak that strategy, go after it like this...lots of effort, limited results.

Learning how to release the burden is essential to enjoying the life God has given. Philippians 4:13 says it all, "I can do everything through him [Christ] who gives me strength." It's Christ's strength in me - not me.

Matthew 6:33 states clearly, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Instead of being anxious and worried, I need to put that effort into seeking the kingdom of God (His plan for my life) and living in right relationship with Him, then all the stuff I tend to worry about will be taken care. Sounds like a plan!