Don’t Worry, Be Happy!
Philippians 4:6
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.Several years ago, there was a catchy song titled Don’t Worry, Be Happy. It became a number one hit in part because of its simple upbeat message. But is the message biblical? I’ll let you decide for yourself. First, let’s look at what Jesus had to say about worrying. In Matthew chapter 6 (The sermon on the mount) Jesus had this to say about worrying: “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food and your body more than clothing? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Worrying is a waste of time and it can actually be damaging to your health. Ulcers, high blood pressure, lack of sleep and rest are just a few of the physical problems that worrying can cause. Worrying does nothing good for your attitude an emotional health either. It does not set a good example for others. What lesson does it teach a child when an adult spends time worrying. What kind of witness or testimony does it display to the non-believer? A person who is worrying cannot hide it. Facial expressions, attitude and body language all show the evidence of worrying. So what should we do instead of worrying? Tap into your faith. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. We need to turn our worries over to God who is strong and able to turn a situation around with one touch of His favor. 1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you. We all know that life is difficult at times and things don’t always go the way we want them to. Even though sometimes stressful situations are out of our control, we DO control how we react to these situations. We choose our mood and attitude. If we choose to be happy and at peace we have passed the test that God has given us and at the same time we are showing others that Christ in our lives has made a real difference. Friend, when you are faced with the temptation to worry about something today do like the scriptures say and pray instead. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all he has done. Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
