by Ed Ostrom

Created on: November 20, 2009

Don't worry! Be happy! Is a great philosophy that came from the pen of Bobby McFerrin in 1988. The whole philosophy from this Granny Winning Song counsels modern day man, not to be bogged down by worry but instead seek fulfillment, joy and abundant living in one's daily life. The Bible counsels us in a similar vein when it says in Philippians 4:6: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Truly the Holy Spirit uses the pen of the Apostle Paul to encourage us not to worry, but rather to pray and seek the Lord's face, so we can be blessed and strengthened.

We live in a world today that is prone to worry. I read many years ago about a team of researchers doing research on the topic of worry. They concluded that worry is wide spread in North America today. They found that a number of people worry about many different things such as money, their jobs, their health, their relationships and their leisure time and their toys. The researchers found that only about 10% of the things we worry about ever happen. Of those that do happen only about 1% of them are as ever as bad as we think they will be. We end up exerting much emotional energy over nothing. We make much ado about nothing.

Biblical counsel declares Don't worry! Rather we are to trust in the Lord. . James 1:2 says My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials. The footnote for James 1:2 in my Spirit Life Bible says The proper attitude in meeting adversity is to count it all joy., which is not an emotional reaction, but a deliberate intelligent appraisal of the situation from God's perspective , viewing trials as a means of moral and spiritual growth.. We do not rejoice in trials themselves, but in their possible results. Instead of worrying about the circumstances and situations of our lives, we take the risk of trusting in the Lord.

Worry, feeds the negative thought of giving up. When we worry about the situations that we must face in our daily lives we often find that the circumstances of our lives leave us wanting to give up. But God's Word encourages us not to give up but rather to lay a hold of our resources in Jesus Christ. Philippians 4: 19 says And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 lists a number of resources we have in Christ Jesus as we face the situations of our daily lives.

We have the Word of God within us. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 states For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God which also effectively works in you who believe. We have the people of God around us. We have the glory of God before us.

The Word of God! The people of God! The glory of God! All three are strong resources that enable us to face life's circumstances and situations without worry, but rather with faith and confidence and trust. Truly we can say with the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Through out the Bible we are counseled Don't be Afraid! Don't worry. Rather we are to trust the Lord . He will supply our needs. He will bless us. He will use to further His kingdom. We are not to worry, but rather to trust Him. When we trust the Lord, we do not have to worry. We can trust the Lord and we will find that we will be victorious. We do not need to worry. We can be happy because we are trusting the Lord.

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