We Are to Pray and Not Worry

Dear Weekly Readers!

I am still traveling throughout the United States visiting different churches here and sharing about how God is working around the world. Therefore, I’m still away from the office and may not be able to reply to you immediately. I will be back in the office within a few weeks. Please enjoy this week's article by Al Wuori!

May God Bless your week! 

John

We are to Pray and Not Worry

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)

We, as oft-erring mortals as well as Christians, seem prone to worry about our spirituality as well as all matters in our lives, our children and families, finances, homes, work, etc. We are sometimes led to worry night and day over situations close to us. Yet we are told by God's Word that we are not to worry but to pray instead. Worry accomplishes nothing, whereas prayer avails much. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)

That is not to say we should not be concerned. There is a great difference between concern and worry. Concern is a caring attitude, as for example the Word tells us to care for one another, And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32) This caring attitude includes doing things for others. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:17-18) There are other matters that certainly may and should concern us, such as our families and lives, even our faith. However, rather than worry we should prayerfully submit those concerns to our Heavenly Father.

We may wonder why worries beset us so easily. If we consider closely our own hearts, we know that therein is a measure of unbelief. This unbelief may manifest itself as not fully trusting that God will take care of matters or that He will not take care of them as We would hope. We sometime put more trust in ourselves, when we should put our trust in God. That causes worry, even worrying that maybe we should, but can't, take care of our own problems.

We have a loving, caring Heavenly Father who implores us to submit our cares unto Him. May we be led by His Word and by the Holy Spirit to put our full trust in God. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Al Wuori