“Do not fret in any way…” Psalm 37:8

Anxiety and worry are two forms of attacks meant to distract us from our service to the Lord. The enemy uses these two instruments of torment to stifle our faith, leaving us devoid of any victory.

Some people are so accustomed to worrying that they even worry about other people’s situations. I used to have this problem, so I can speak from experience. Constantly anxious, I could not taste the peace acquired by Jesus’ sacrifice.

It is absolutely impossible to worry while living in peace.

Peace cannot be communicated externally; it is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), and fruit comes directly from the vine (John 15:4). We remain in peace by entering into the “rest of God” as mentioned in Hebrews chapter four.

Depending on the Bible version used, different words are related to worry: “Do not fret” (Ps. 37:8); “Do not worry” (Matt. 6:25); “Do not be anxious about anything” (Phil. 4:6); “Cast all your cares” (1 Peter 5:7). I typically use the Amplified Bible, which includes various translations of the Bible.

Definition of Worry

Webster’s dictionary defines worry as: “To feel uneasy and concerned; To cause anxiety, distress, or concern; A source of harassing concern.” I’ve also heard this definition: “To torment oneself with disturbing thoughts.”

I believe believers have better things to do than to torment themselves. Worry never solves anything, so why not give it up? Another part of this definition illuminated something for me: “To seize by the throat with the teeth and shake or tear, as animals do; to harass by repeated biting and pressing.”

Reflecting on this definition led me to this correlation: the devil uses worry to inflict on us exactly what is described above. After spending a certain amount of time worrying, we find ourselves in exactly the same situation, as if someone had grabbed us by the throat and shaken us until we were completely exhausted and torn apart.

Anxiety and Worry of Mind

Relentlessly harassing thoughts are like the repeated bites and pressures mentioned in the definition above. Without a doubt, Satan attacks our state of mind with worry.

Believers are called to handle their thoughts in a certain way, and the enemy does everything he can to prevent this. The devil seeks to occupy the mental domain with negative thoughts, rendering us incapable of fulfilling what God calls us to do. In a later chapter, we will examine what we should do with our thoughts, but for now, let’s continue our study on worry to fully realize its futility. It’s very helpful to read Matthew 6:25-34 when facing an attack of worry. We’ll examine each verse to discover what the Lord has to say on this vital subject.

Is Life Not More Than These Things?

“That is why I tell you: stop being perpetually uneasy [anxious and worried] about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more [in quality] than food, and the body [far more excellent] than clothes?” Matthew 6:25

Life should reach such a degree of quality that we enjoy it beyond measure. The Word says: The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life and enjoy it, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). Satan strives to steal this life from us in various ways – worry is one of them.

In Matthew 6:25, we are told not to worry about any aspect of our lives! The quality of life that God has planned for us is more than sufficient to meet all our needs. But if we worry about everything, we lose the benefit of it.

Are You Not Much More Valuable Than a Bird?

“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?” Matthew 6:26

It would do us all great good to observe the birds. Our Lord tells us to do so. We should take the time to remember how perfectly God cares for our feathered friends. They don’t even know what their next meal will be, yet I’ve never seen a bird perched on a branch, suffering from a nervous breakdown due to worry.

The Master’s argument in this verse is very simple: “Are you not much more valuable than a bird?” Even if you struggle with low self-esteem, you can probably admit that you are more valuable than a bird; and see how your Heavenly Father takes care of them…

This text is an excerpt from the book “THE MIND OR SPIRIT ?” written by Joyce Meyer.
We invite you to read the following article “BEWARE OF DISTRUST.”

WORRY OF MIND