By Pastor Daniel

Introduction
One afternoon my wife had a strange feeling.  She suddenly felt that there was a cord around her and that cord seems to indicate “anxiety” or worry.
 
It tells me one thing = that worry or anxiety is binding and blinding.  Yet we all perceive worry as natural.  Is that natural for one who knows God?
 
The Word “Worry”
The word worry is an interesting word is μεριμνάω (merimnao), which is actually a compound word from two words, namely, merim which means dividing and naos which means the mind.  Putting them together, it simply means the dividing of the mind or thinking.
 
A divided mind is really the definition of worry.  When we worry, we are divided in our feelings (they become unstable), in our understanding (we lose our conviction of things), our perception (we fail to see the real situation), our judgment (we make wrong decisions) and our will (causing us to be literally lethargic).  Worry literally saps us of our energy with no achievement at all.
 
The Vanity of Worry
When Jesus told the crowd that we should not worry about the future, he asked them a question, “How many of us by worrying would add a cubit to their lives?” 
That is a very wise question from our Master.  We all know that by worrying, we actually do not solve any problem.  Moreover, we don’t improve our lives.  We cannot add a single hour or day in our lives by worrying.  On the contrary, we lose many hours and days by worrying.
 
Jesus added, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  That is so true.  Everyday has enough trouble of its own - it does nothing by bringing today’s worry for tomorrow.
 
The Reason not to Worry
“But isn’t worry a natural thing?”  That is usually our response.  Yes, if we have nothing and no one to turn to.  But Jesus in Matthew 6, shows us that we have a God who can and will take care of us.
 
He gave illustrations of the sparrows who do not worry about the future because God feeds them.  And yet, our God values us much more than sparrows.  We are more valuable.  Would not God take care of our needs?
In other words, we are worrying over many things and unnecessary things.  What do we actually need?  Basically, food, clothing and a shelter perhaps.  Jesus said that God takes care of them all as in the sparrows their food, the flowers in the field, their beauty. 
 
In today’s society, I think we worry too much because we think we must have all the best things in life.   The question is, “Do we?”  Otherwise, honestly speaking, can we live contented as we are in our material and physical needs?  I think we can.
 
The point is this: If we have a loving and faithful God who cares for us, should we worry?  Is there a real reason to worry?
 
The Road against Worry
The apostle Paul in Phil 4:6-7 addresses this issue of worry as well.  He said, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
 
What is the road against worry?  That in our times of anxiety, we have God to turn to.  In other words, when we are tempted to get worry, when we experience times of overwhelming anxiety, when we are divided in our minds concerning many things - the Bible tells us to come to God in prayer and thanksgiving.
 
Prayer is focusing on the victor over anxiety.  It is expressing to God our emotional state of worry.  We do not have to shoulder the burden, but bring our burden to God.  Supplication means telling God our concerns.
 
Thanksgiving is to look at God and know that He will hear us when we have concerns.  Thanksgiving is more than just positive thinking.  Some people think that positive thinking is a solution.  It is only a halfway solution.  Positive thinking is a reliance on self.  Real positive thinking is having God.   Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God...”
 
In an anxious situation, there are two very important thoughts of God; firstly, that God is always near (Draw near to me and I will draw near to you - James 4:8) and secondly, God will hear so come with thanksgiving.
 
Conclusion
Is worry binding?  Yes it is.  Learning faith and trust is our first step to break free.  Leaning on God is our second step because positive thinking without God boils down to self.  And finally look to the past and list all the goodness of God and give thanks always because if God has done it once, he can surely do it again.   LEARN, LEAN AND LIST.