Freedom From Anxiety! Matthew 6:25-34

So, My dad had a stroke two weeks ago. My mom has been struggling with a Lung disease that is a genetic disease. My dad also has dementia and it has not been a good season physically and emotionally in their lives. My parents also have not taken care of any estate planning as well. So I picked up my brother, Jeff in Waco and we went to be with them for a few days this past week. I had gotten a number of a trusted attorney: (sometimes that’s an oxymoron) and called on Monday to set up a time for some help with will, and other estate matters, but did not hear from Him. Tuesday Morning, I was doing my stillness thing, You know we talked about that last week. And I’m telling you that I could not be still in my mind: The attorney had not called and I started to be overwhelmed, and anxious about all the things that come with aging parents. It just seemed to me to be a storm that was here and was coming. And I felt Him say:

“You Do Not Have to be Overwhelmed With This!” Matter of Fact You Do not have to be Overwhelmed with the whole process of taking care of your parents as long as you are taking care of your parents” Quit trying to be overwhelmed!

Stop Worrying! And I did! And I laid down at His feet and said, “it’s Yours!” NO, no, no, no, It’s not mine, it’s yours! And I am going to be there with you, I’m gonna empower you, I am never gonna fail you on this. Yes, lay it down at my feet, but go on pick it up in the strength that I am going to give you!

You Will always have something to be overwhelmed about. There will always be something to walk in anxiety about. But there is a way, and It is God’s way to not just manage anxiety, There is a way to eliminate Anxiety and Worry!

Jesus Says: Stop Being Worried About Your Life! Matthew 6:25-34

So, If there is a way to Eliminate Anxiety, What is the Way?
Let’s Look at the Whole passage for a moment:

Notice the Three Things Jesus targets in what Worries Us!

Food, Fashion and Health!
Food: Quit Worrying About What You Are Going to Put in Your Mouth!
Fashion: Quit Worrying About What You Are Going to Put On Your Body!
Health: Quit Worrying About Your Body!

I. Worry and Anxiety Exposes A Faith Issue!

Stop Worrying!

This Issue is whether or Not You Believe In the God who is Lord, Powerful, Provider who Is Good! He Cares for You! It is also an issue of whether or not you Believe that You Are Valuable to God!
Food: 26 Look at the birds of the air! They Do Not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? You Are Much more valuable to Him than birds!
Health: 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to His life:
Fashion: 28-29 Look at the lilies of the field! They do not toil nor do they spin, But if God so clothes the grass of the field which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you of Little faith

1. Believe that God is Your Heavenly Father and He Is Good to You!

Matthew 7:6-12

2. Believe that You Are Of Great Value to God!

Matthew 13:44-46 The Treasure Hidden in a Field and a Perl of Great Value! And What does God do? He sells all, He gives all, He lays down His life and buys It for Himself!

The Cross is the ultimate illustration of this great value that God puts on you. So much that He buys you, He redeems with His blood!

Mark 4:37-41

It is a horrible day in your life, not when catastrophe comes, but when catastrophe comes and you do not question God’s care for You! He indeed cares for You!

1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for You!

Which brings us to a Second Point:

II. Worry and Anxiety Exposes “A Choice” Issue!

Luke 10:38-42 What Mary Chose!

Keep ON Seeking First His Kingdom and His Righteousness! 33

31 Do not worry then Saying…..32 The Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; Your heavenly father Knows that you need all of these things!

33 But keep on seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you!

A choice Issue is whether You will get your eyes off of the stuff, off of the problem and put Your eyes on Him!

To Seek His Kingdom, I am seeking His rule in my life. He is Lord, He is King! And I do His bidding, the king’s work, the king’s will! It is where I say, I am at your service! I am here to worship you and you alone. To serve you! I do not serve my life, not my schedule, not my goals, not my dreams, not my agenda. God’s agenda! I bow to His throne, no one else’s but God’s! You are seeking God’s way! A way which the world cannot see, cannot love, but only despise!

Colossians 3:1-3 –

1. To Seek God’s Kingdom means I take my eyes off the earthly kingdom! (Don’t Worry!) Don’t seek what the world seeks!

To put your mind, will and attention on Him. To put the effort first on Him! On His Kingdom. His Rule! Not Yours! Not the Kingdom of Facebook and Instagram who loves to worry about food, fashion and Health!

2. To Seek God’s Kingdom Means I Place My Mind on His Kingdom!

Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Notice what I seek – righteousness, peace and joy!

3. To Seek God’s Kingdom Means that I Am Willing to Give It All Up!

Matthew 19:16-22 Rich Young Ruler.

4. To Seek First God’s Kingdom Means that I seek Him With All my Heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

5. To Seek First God’s Kingdom Means That His Presence is the most important treasure of my life!

Psalm 27:4-10

1. Even At Work 2. Even in Conflict 3. Even at a board meeting. 4. Even in the checkout lane.

Paul Says: The Lord Is Near! Stop Being Anxious About Any One Thing! Philippians 4:5b-6a

So I am in the living room of my folks with all these things swirling around me. And God says Quit Worrying. You don’t have to be overwhelmed!

And let me tell you what happens.