Pray More..Worry Less (WRONG)

 We have a piece of wall art hanging in our living room that says:

PRAY MORE...WORRY LESS
It does seem link good sound biblical advice doesn't it? That is until you really listen to what Jesus had to say about worrying. 
Here is part of yesterday's Read Together Plan from Matthew 6:

5 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 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? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This section is from the larger part that we refer to as the sermon on the mount (because Matthew says Jesus went up on a mount (hill) to teach), and comprises 3 continues chapters, Matthew 5-7.
Notice that Jesus didn't say we should "worry less". He simply (and I know it's not simple at times!) said "do not worry". 

It's a command. It's an impertive. Jesus isn't saying that it's OK to worry a little, or to worry about really important things. He said don't do it at all.
And why are we commanded not to worry?
Well, first because it doesn't do any good. Worrying doesn't change anything any more than you can will your hair to change color--although worrying probably does create more grey hairs before their time!
And, Jesus reminds us, "each day has enough trouble of its own". So, we don't need to add our worries about tomorrow into tomorrow, tomorrow will have enough to deal with!
But the most important reason not to worry? God will take care of you. 
He will provide what you need when you need it. And He knows, better than we know ourselves, what we really need. 
So, do not worry.
And what's the alternative?
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness"

If you are prone to worry, or if there is something going on in your life right now that might lead you worry, then seek the Lord in this matter.
And pray. 

PRAY MORE...Worry Less  AND DO NOT WORRY.

Grace & Peace, 
Pastor Michael

Today I stood outside in the snow

I used to use my journals for....well, for journaling. As a space to write and refect on my thoughts, my prayers, what I was feeling and what I was hearing God say to me. 

At some point I bgan using my journal as a space to record what I had done throughout the day. After all, Wesley's first rule for the Methodist preachers was, "Be diligent. Never be unemployed a moment. Never be triflingly employed. Never while away time; neither spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary."

I had had days where at the end of them I would look back and think, what did I accomplish today? So, having a journal space to record my doings seemed like a good thing. And as I looked back on my last month of entrys, I can justifiably say that I was very busy, and at least somewhat productive. I attended meetings, both in my church and in the Conference. I led devotions, met with community leaders, prepared worships services, made 29 contacts in the last 6 weeks, in person and over the phone. And, I think I wrote and preached some pretty good sermons, too. 

And so in the midst of my productive busyness Jesus spoke to me in my morning Scripture reading and said, "but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33)

And so when I write down my activities for today in my journal, it will simply read:

Jan 16, 2022- I stood outside in the snow. 

That's what I did today, I tilted my head back. I closed my eyes. I felt the snow falling onto my face, cold and wet. I opened my eyes and saw the flakes flurrying down, tiny clean drops from the clouds, a gift from heaven. Usually snow is an incovenience to me, it prevents getting things done. Today it even prevented in person worship at Gate City UMC. But it didn't stop my worship today. That worship happpened outside while was standing in the snow. And I heard God today. 
"Seek me first, Michael. Fill yourself with My Presence, so that you can do the things I need you to do. Your worth is in your being, not in your doing. So, seek Me first."

I am sure that I will still keep a record of what I am doing, what I am working on, who I meet with. But the reason for this will not be to see a sense of accomplishment, or validation. But rather to be reflect on how, and if, through these activities/meetings/visits, I was seeking God first, and what did I hear Him say to me today. 

There are other ways that I know I can seek God first other than standing in my front yard while it's snowing with my eyes closed and head tilted back. But at least for today, that's what I needed.