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female announcer: GOD'S WISDOM FOR TODAY,
A NEW DAILY DEVOTIONAL WRITTEN BY OVER 50 GIFTED PASTORS
INCLUDING DR. JAMES MERRITT.
BEGIN EACH DAY WITH A DEVOTION THAT'S DESIGNED TO HELP YOU
OPEN YOUR HEART AND MIND TO THE WISDOM OF GOD'S WORD,
AS YOU STUDY THE PSALMS, PROVERBS, AND ECCLESIASTES,
IN A WHOLE NEW WAY.
EACH WEEK'S DEVOTIONS ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOURNAL WHAT YOU LEARN
AND GIVE YOU A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON HIS WORD FOR YOUR LIFE.
GOD'S WISDOM FOR TODAY MAKES A GREAT GIFT
FOR YOURSELF OR FOR YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
ORDER NOW FROM TOUCHING LIVES FOR JUST $20.
CALL 1-800-413-1131
OR ONLINE AT TOUCHINGLIVES.ORG
Merritt: I'M GONNA PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST, LORD.
I'M NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT FINANCES ANYMORE,
NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE.
I'M NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT THE ECONOMY.
I'M NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT THE DOW JONES.
I'M NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT INTEREST RATES.
I'M NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT IT ANYMORE!
I'M NOT!
WHAT I'M GONNA BE OBSESSED WITH
IS MAKING SURE YOU'RE IN CONTROL OF EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE
AND MAKING SURE THE WAY I ACT AND REACT IS THROUGH
YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN MY LIFE.
announcer: WITH HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR LIFE
THIS IS TOUCHING LIVES WITH JAMES MERRITT.
Merritt: IF YOU BROUGHT A COPY OF GOD'S WORD THIS MORNING--
THERE ARE FOUR GOSPELS: MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, AND JOHN.
I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE FIRST GOSPEL, THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE BIBLE,
IT'S THE FIRST BOOK PAST THE OLD TESTAMENT.
JUST GO TO THE OLD TESTAMENT; YOU'LL HIT MALACHI.
NEXT BOOK IS MATTHEW.
TURN TO MATTHEW 6.
AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO THIS MORNING IS,
WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT WHAT I BELIEVE
IS THE GREATEST SERMON EVER PREACHED,
AND I'VE HEARD A LOT OF GREAT SERMONS.
BUT I'M TELLING YOU,
THIS IS THE GREATEST SERMON EVER PREACHED,
PREACHED BY THE GREATEST PREACHER WHO EVER LIVED.
AND I'M NOT SAYING I'M AN EXPERT ON GREAT PREACHERS.
I HAVE TO BE HONEST AND TELL YOU--
I THINK I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE--
I ASKED TERESA ONE TIME--
I SAID, "HOW MANY GREAT PREACHERS
DO YOU REALLY THINK THERE ARE?
SHE SAID, "ONE LESS THAN YOU THINK THERE IS."
SO I REALIZE THAT I'M NOT, YOU KNOW,
TOTALLY THE EXPERT ON ALL PREACHERS,
BUT I KNOW GREAT PREACHING WHEN I HEAR IT,
AND THIS IS A GREAT SERMON
BY A GREAT PREACHER,
AND HERE'S WHAT REALLY FASCINATES ME.
HE TALKS ABOUT ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS
IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING ONE, TWO, OR THREE POINTS?
HE HAD ABOUT 50.
BUT THE GREATEST SECTION--
THE GREATEST, BIGGEST, PORTION OF THE MESSAGE,
HE TALKS ABOUT WORRY.
AND HE STARTS BY WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 25:
NOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU,
BUT IT DOES GIVE ME COMFORT
TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE 2,000 YEARS AGO
WORRIED JUST LIKE WE DO.
AND IT DOES GIVE ME COMFORT TO KNOW
THAT JESUS WAS DEALING WITH SOMETHING THEN
THAT WE STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH TODAY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHAT REALLY INTERESTS ME IS,
WHEN I STUDY THE LIST OF THINGS THAT JESUS SAID
PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT, IN A REAL SENSE,
IT'S THE VERY SAME THINGS THAT WE WORRY ABOUT TODAY,
NOT EXACTLY QUITE THE SAME.
BUT LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
HE SAYS IN VERSE 25:
NOW, WHERE WE'RE DIFFERENT IS THIS:
BACK IN BIBLE DAYS,
JUST GETTING ENOUGH FOOD TO EAT WAS A PROBLEM,
AND JUST HAVING CLOTHES TO WEAR WAS A PROBLEM.
TODAY, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT PROBLEM.
I MEAN, WE LIVE IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
EVEN THOUGH I DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE KIDS
WHO GO TO SLEEP HUNGRY--I'M NOT TRYING TO DOWNPLAY THAT--
BUT I MEAN, HONESTLY, WHEN IS THE LAST TIME
YOU HEARD OF ANYBODY LITERALLY STARVING TO DEATH IN AMERICA?
SO BY AND LARGE, MOST OF US
DO NOT GO TO BED AT NIGHT WORRIED ABOUT,
"ARE WE GONNA HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT TOMORROW?
ARE WE GONNA HAVE ANYTHING TO WEAR?"
AT THE SAME TIME,
EVEN THOUGH THE TERMINOLOGY HAS CHANGED,
WHAT WE WORRY ABOUT REALLY HASN'T CHANGED.
FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID,
"DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE."
WELL, WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO WORRY ABOUT EXCEPT YOUR LIFE?
AND I MEAN, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
YOU'RE HERE TODAY, AND SOME OF YOU ARE WORRIED
ABOUT MAKING YOUR MORTGAGE PAYMENT,
OR YOU'RE HERE TODAY, AND YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT
PAYING FOR COLLEGE FOR YOUR KID,
OR YOU'RE HERE TODAY, AND YOU'RE WORRIED BECAUSE
YOU DON'T HAVE A JOB,
OR YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GONNA
KEEP YOUR CAR FROM BEING REPOSSESSED.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WORRIED ABOUT FINANCES.
WE WORRY ABOUT FINANCES.
POOR PEOPLE WORRY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY.
RICH PEOPLE WORRY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.
POOR PEOPLE WORRY,
AND THEY SPEND THEIR LIFE LOOKING FOR MONEY.
RICH PEOPLE SPEND IT STORING IT UP.
SAME THING.
AND THEN JESUS DOES MENTION SOMETHING IN VERSE 26
THAT PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT 2,000 YEARS AGO,
AND I KNOW WE WORRY ABOUT THIS TODAY.
HE SAID, "DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR BODY."
HOLLYWOOD MAKES A LIVING
OFF OF GETTING PEOPLE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR BODY.
PLASTIC SURGEONS ARE HAVING A FIELD DAY,
BECAUSE PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT THEIR BODY,
BECAUSE WE'RE ALL BORN WITH THIS SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS THAT--
YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO LOOK GOOD.
WE WANT TO APPEAR GOOD.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO THINK THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW,
NICE-LOOKING AND ATTRACTIVE.
WELL, I USED TO LOVE TO LISTEN TO PAUL HARVEY,
AND PAUL HARVEY ONCE TOLD A STORY--
A TRUE STORY--ABOUT AN OLD MAN HE KNEW
WHO PUT BRACES ON HIS FALSE TEETH
SO HE'D LOOK YOUNGER.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL-- YOU KNOW,
WE'RE SO OBSESSED WITH OUR BODY AND HOW WE LOOK.
AND THEN JESUS TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WORRY ABOUT.
IT STAYS ON OUR MIND.
IT PLAYS ON OUR MIND.
WE WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE.
WE WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TOMORROW.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT ALL THESE WORRIES.
JESUS SAID--YOU KNOW WHAT? PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE
2,000 YEARS AGO.
VERSE 34:
AND LOOK, WE ALL DO THIS.
SO JESUS DOES US ALL A BIG FAVOR.
HE EVALUATES THE REASON WHY WE WORRY.
HE THEN ELIMINATES THE CAUSE OF WORRY.
AND THEN HE ELEVATES US ABOVE WORRY.
AND HERE'S WHAT HE DOES.
THIS IS WHAT I LOVE ABOUT JESUS.
I TELL PEOPLE THIS ABOUT JESUS ALL THE TIME.
WE LOVE TO COMPLICATE THE SIMPLE.
JESUS CAME TO SIMPLIFY THE COMPLICATED.
AND HERE'S WHAT JESUS DOES.
HE SAYS, "OKAY, LET'S TAKE THIS PROBLEM CALLED WORRY."
HE SAID, "I'M GONNA DO TWO SIMPLE THINGS.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE PROBLEM.
THEN I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE SOLUTION."
AND I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING ABOUT JESUS IN THIS MESSAGE.
HE IS DETERMINED--IF YOU'RE A WORRYWART TODAY,
HE IS DETERMINED TO PUT A STOP TO YOUR WORRY,
BECAUSE THREE TIMES IN THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE,
HE SAYS, IN VERSE 25, VERSE 31, AND VERSE 34--
HE SAYS THIS THREE TIMES--
"THEREFORE, DO NOT BE ANXIOUS."
WOULD YOU SAY THAT WITH ME RIGHT NOW?
"THEREFORE, DO NOT BE ANXIOUS."
TURN TO YOUR NEIGHBOR RIGHT NOW, AND SAY THAT RIGHT NOW.
audience: "THEREFORE, DO NOT BE ANXIOUS."
Merritt: NOW, I'M GONNA TELL YOU IN JUST A MINUTE
WHY THAT WAS A FOOLISH THING TO DO.
THE GREEK WORD FOR "ANXIOUS"
OR WHAT WE WOULD CALL WORRIES-- VERY INTERESTING--
IT'S A COMBINATION OF TWO SMALLER WORDS.
ONE WORD MEANS "TO DIVIDE OR CUT IN HALF,"
AND THE OTHER WORD MEANS "MIND,"
AND SO WHAT THE WORD "WORRY" LITERALLY MEANS--
IT LITERALLY MEANS "TO HAVE A DIVIDED MIND."
WHEN YOU'RE WORRIED, YOU'VE GOT A DIVIDED MIND.
YOU REALLY CAN'T FOCUS ON WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE FOCUSED ON.
A MODERN-DAY PHENOMENON THAT WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH
IS CALLED MULTITASKING.
YOU KNOW WHAT MULTITASKING IS, RIGHT?
MULTITASKING IS WHEN YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING WELL.
[laughter]
THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT MULTITASKING IS. MY MOM--
YOU KNOW, MY MOM'S 91 YEARS OLD.
I CALL MY MOM EVERY DAY, SEVERAL TIMES A DAY.
BUT 8:30 EVERY MORNING, I'M GONNA CALL MY MOTHER,
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN RECORD IT.
SHE'S GONNA ANSWER THE PHONE. SHE KNOWS WHO IT IS.
AND SHE'S GONNA HEAR THESE WORDS:
"YOUR BABY BOY LOVES HIS MAMA."
AND SHE'S GONNA SAY, "AND YOUR MAMA
LOVES HER BABY BOY,"
TO WHICH I REPLY, "SHOW ME THE MONEY."
[laughter]
BUT I CALL MY MOM EVERY SINGLE DAY.
NOW, LET ME TELL YOU HOW SHARP MY MOM IS.
THERE ARE TIMES I'LL HIT THE SPEAKERPHONE.
I'M IN MY STUDY, AND I'LL HIT THE SPEAKERPHONE,
AND I'M TALKING TO MOM, AND I'M ANSWERING MAIL.
SHE ALWAYS KNOWS WHEN I'M ANSWERING MAIL,
ALWAYS, BECAUSE I'LL BE TALKING,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, SHE'LL PAUSE.
SHE WON'T SAY ANYTHING. I'LL SAY,
"MOM, ARE YOU STILL THERE?"
AND SHE'LL SAY,
"GET OFF YOUR COMPUTER AND JUST TALK TO ME FOR A MINUTE."
I'M GOING, "HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT I'M ON MY COMPUTER?
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?" I MEAN, HOW CAN A MOM KNOW THAT?
HERE'S WHY.
A DIVIDED MIND ALWAYS LEADS
TO DIMINISHED PERFORMANCE.
WHEN YOUR MIND'S DIVIDED--
WHEN YOU CAN'T REALLY FOCUS ON WHAT YOU OUGHT TO BE FOCUSED ON,
PERFORMANCE IS GOING TO GO DOWN,
SO THAT RAISES THE BIG QUESTION.
"OKAY, PASTOR, SINCE YOU'VE GOT THIS PROBLEM"--
AND SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY ADMITTED
YOU'VE GOT THE PROBLEM TOO--
"HOW DO YOU STOP WORRYING?"
WELL,
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT DOESN'T WORK.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN SO WORRIED ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT YOU WENT TO THEM, AND YOU SAID,
"CAN I JUST SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU?
I'M JUST SO WORRIED ABOUT THIS."
AND HAVE YOU EVER HAD THEM SAY THIS?
"WELL, JUST QUIT WORRYING ABOUT IT."
NOW, HAVE YOU EVER GONE,
"WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT?"
[laughter]
HOW BRILLIANT.
WELL, OF COURSE.
THAT IS THE SOLUTION.
LISTEN, CAN I BE HONEST?
WHEN I GO TO SOMEONE WHEN I'M WORRIED ABOUT SOMETHING,
AND I TELL THEM THAT I'M WORRIED,
AND THEY TELL ME TO QUIT WORRYING,
I START WORRYING ABOUT THEM.
I MEAN, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK...
EXCEPT JESUS BACKED IT UP.
AND HE DOES SOMETHING THAT--
EVERY TIME I READ THIS PASSAGE, I GO,
"LORD, YOU'RE SO BRILLIANT.
YOU'RE SO SMART."
BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU WHAT JESUS DOES.
JESUS DOES SOMETHING THAT NO OTHER PSYCHOLOGIST
WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT.
NO OTHER COUNSELOR WOULD HAVE EVER DREAMED THIS UP.
HE TAKES SOMETHING SO SIMPLE,
SO LOW ON THE GROUND,
SO COMMON DENOMINATOR,
SO SOMETHING A CHILD COULD UNDERSTAND--
HE TAKES A SIMPLE LITTLE PART OF LIFE,
AND HE SAYS, "IF YOU JUST DO THIS ONE THING,
YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW IT WILL HELP YOU KICK WORRY."
SO YOU READY FOR THIS?
GET ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT.
HE'S SAYING, "YOU WANT TO QUIT WORRYING?"
"YES, LORD, I REALLY DO."
"I'VE GOT THE SECRET."
"OKAY, LORD, WHAT IS IT?"
"GO BIRD-WATCHING."
"YOU'RE KIDDING."
[laughter]
"NO, NO, NO.
GO BIRD-WATCHING."
"THAT'S ALL YOU GOT?
I CAN'T MAKE MY HOUSE PAYMENT.
I CAN'T MAKE MY CAR PAYMENT.
I GOT KIDS GOING TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET,
AND YOU'RE TELLING ME TO GO BIRD-WATCHING?"
"YEAH, GO BIRD-WATCHING."
NOW, WATCH THIS. THIS IS SO BRILLIANT.
LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 26:
NOW, IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S BRILLIANT,
LET ME ASK YOU A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER SEEN A STRESSED OUT BIRD?
[laughter]
I MEAN, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A BIRD
HANGING FROM A LIMB BY ITS BEAK,
DOING THIS WITH ITS LITTLE CLAWS?
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A BIRD DOING THIS ON A LIMB?
JUST, I MEAN, BACK AND FORTH
AND BACK AND FORTH.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
I WENT BACK TO EVERY ISSUE OF
THE NEW ENGLAND MEDICAL JOURNAL THAT I COULD FIND.
EVERY SINGLE ISSUE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I DISCOVERED?
NEVER IN MEDICAL HISTORY
HAS A BIRD EVER BEEN TREATED FOR HYPERTENSION.
NEVER.
[laughter]
NEVER BEEN TREATED FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
HE SAID, "LOOK! LOOK AT THE BIRDS.
"LOOK WHAT THEY DO. THEY CHIRP.
"THEY FLY. THEY BUILD NEST.
"THEY EAT WORMS.
"THEY CARE FOR THEIR YOUNG.
THEY DON'T WORRY."
AND HERE'S WHAT'S AMAZING:
THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A GOD IN HEAVEN
WHO CARES ABOUT THEM.
NOW, WHAT JESUS IS SAYING IS,
"ISN'T IT IRONIC?
"THE BIRDS DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE A GOD THAT CARES ABOUT THEM,
"AND THEY DON'T WORRY.
"WE DO KNOW WE HAVE A GOD THAT CARES ABOUT US,
AND WE DO."
HE SAID, "THAT IS SO STRANGE."
BY THE WAY, JUST AS AN ASIDE,
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE EXPRESSION
"HE EATS LIKE A BIRD" OR "SHE EATS LIKE A BIRD"?
YOU EVER HEARD THAT EXPRESSION?
BE CAREFUL HOW YOU USE THAT,
BECAUSE BIRDS CAN EAT TWO TO THREE TIMES
THEIR WEIGHT IN FOOD EVERY DAY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
IF THE AVERAGE HUMAN BEING ATE LIKE A BIRD,
HE WOULD CONSUME SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 300 TO 500 POUNDS
OF FOOD EVERY DAY.
COME TO THINK OF IT,
SOME PEOPLE DO EAT LIKE BIRDS,
BUT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY SERMON.
I JUST THREW THAT IN THERE. NOW...
I GOT THAT FROM ANDY STANLEY. OKAY, NOW LISTEN.
JESUS, HE DOES SOMETHING VERY STRANGE.
HE SAYS, "OKAY, BIRD-WATCHING?
"THAT'S NOT SIMPLE ENOUGH FOR YOU?
LET'S TRY THIS. LET'S DO SOME MATH."
LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 27:
HE SAID, "YOU DON'T ADD ONE THING TO YOUR LIFE
WHEN YOU WORRY."
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WISH YOU WEREN'T SO SHORT.
OKAY, WORRY. THAT'LL HELP YOU GROW.
[laughter]
YOU WORRY BECAUSE YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT.
OKAY, WORRY. THAT'LL HELP YOU LOSE POUNDS.
YOU WORRY BECAUSE YOU WISH YOU HAD MORE TIME.
WELL, WORRY. THAT'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER MINUTE.
NO, JESUS SAID THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS,
WORRY NEVER SOLVED A PROBLEM,
NEVER DRIED A TEAR,
NEVER LIFTED A BURDEN,
NEVER REMOVED AN OBSTACLE.
WORRY NEVER MADE A BAD THING GOOD,
NEVER MADE A GOOD THING BETTER.
I READ SOMEWHERE--SOMEBODY SAID
WORRYING'S JUST LIKE SHOVELING SMOKE.
WHEN YOU GET FINISHED,
YOU'RE NO BETTER OFF THAN YOU WERE WHEN YOU STARTED,
AND THAT'S TRUE.
SO IF YOU DON'T GET ANYTHING ELSE OUT OF THIS MESSAGE--
AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME OF YOU HERE RIGHT NOW,
AND I UNDERSTAND.
BELIEVE ME, I LIVE THIS.
TRUST ME, IF THERE'S ONE PLACE IN YOUR LIFE
I CAN EMPATHIZE AND SYMPATHIZE, IT'S WORRY,
BECAUSE I AM AN EXPERT WORRIER.
I KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
AND YOU'RE HERE, AND YOU'RE SAYING,
"I KNOW YOU'RE TAKING YOUR BEST SHOT,
"BUT YOU DON'T FACE WHAT I FACE. YOU DON'T HAVE WHAT I HAVE.
YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT WHAT I'M LOOKING AT."
NO, I DON'T, I DON'T, I DON'T,
BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU TO WRITE DOWN--
IF YOU DON'T WRITE ANYTHING ELSE,
I WANT YOU TO WRITE DOWN TWO THINGS.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU DON'T WRITE DOWN ANYTHING ELSE,
BUT I WANT YOU TO WRITE DOWN
TWO THINGS YOU CAN WALK OUT OF HERE
AND NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT AGAIN.
NUMBER ONE:
I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT. DOESN'T THAT MAKE SENSE?
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
I MEAN, IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT SOMETHING YOU CAN CHANGE,
THEN WHY WORRY ABOUT IT? JUST CHANGE IT.
I'M WORRIED 'CAUSE I WEIGH TOO MUCH.
ALL RIGHT, HELLO. LOSE WEIGHT.
THERE'S NO--IT'S NOT BRAIN SURGERY HERE,
ALL RIGHT?
WHAT DO YOU THINK'S THE SECOND THING
YOU SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT?
YOU KNOW, THINGS YOU CAN'T CHANGE!
BRILLIANT!
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN'T CHANGE.
I MEAN, THINK ABOUT THAT.
IF WORRYING IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING
YOU CAN'T CHANGE,
AND IF YOU CAN'T CHANGE IT,
WHY WORRY ABOUT IT?
SO HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO YOU.
GOOD NEWS FOR ALL OF YOU WORRYWARTS OUT THERE.
EXCEPT FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN CHANGE
AND EXCEPT FOR THE THINGS YOU CAN'T CHANGE,
YOU JUST WORRY ALL YOU WANT TO.
YOU JUST GO AT IT.
JUST HAVE A BIG, BIG TIME WORRYING.
NOW, JESUS GETS DOWN TO THE REAL PROBLEM OF WORRY.
HE LOOKS AT IT--WE'RE GONNA BE SUPER BRIEF HERE.
HE LOOKS AT IT FROM THE NEGATIVE STANDPOINT
AND THE POSITIVE STANDPOINT.
HERE'S WHAT HE SAYS.
WHAT IS THE NEGATIVE PART? WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
ALL RIGHT, HERE, HE POINTS OUT THE PROBLEM.
AGAIN, HE'S SO BRILLIANT.
MATTHEW 6:28:
NOW HE GETS TO THE PROBLEM.
"O YOU OF LITTLE FAITH."
AND JESUS SAYS,
"THE PROBLEM WITH WORRY
IS PUNY FAITH."
THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT THE BIRDS OF THE AIR.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FLOWERS OF THE FIELD.
HE SAYS, "I CAN TELL YOU WHAT YOUR PROBLEM IS.
YOUR PROBLEM IS PUNY FAITH."
AND THEN JESUS DOES SOMETHING THAT REALLY MAKES ME FEEL GOOD,
BECAUSE I LIKE TO DO THIS SOMETIMES
WHEN I'M IN AN ARGUMENT.
DO YOU EVER STICK THE KNIFE INTO SOMEBODY IN AN ARGUMENT,
AND WHEN YOU'RE WINNING, TWIST IT?
CAN I BE HONEST? I LOVE TO DO THAT.
JONATHAN AND I AND JAMES AND JOSH,
WE KIND OF GET INTO THESE DEBATES.
AND JUST THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS,
JONATHAN AND I KIND OF GOT INTO IT,
AND WHAT I LOVE IS WHEN YOU SEND THE EMAIL,
AND THEY DON'T RESPOND.
THEN YOU KNOW YOU'RE DONE. STICK A FORK.
[laughter]
WELL, IN MATTHEW 6:31 AND 32,
JESUS TWISTS THE KNIFE.
"THEREFORE DO NOT BE ANXIOUS,
"SAYING, 'WHAT SHALL WE EAT? WHAT SHALL WE DRINK?
WHAT SHALL WE WEAR?'"
TRANSLATION: HOW WILL I PAY MY BILL?
WHEN WILL I GET A JOB?
HOW CAN I MAKE THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT?
HOW CAN I KEEP THE CAR?
HE SAID, "DON'T WORRY ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
FOR THE GENTILES"--
TRANSLATION: UNBELIEVERS. PAGANS.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEITHER TIME NOR DESIRE FOR GOD.
"FOR THE GENTILES SEEK AFTER ALL THESE THINGS,
AND YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED THEM ALL."
NOW, YOU TALKING ABOUT STICKING THE KNIFE IN--
DO YOU KNOW WHAT JESUS IS REALLY SAYING ABOUT WORRY?
NOW, THIS IS REALLY HARD, AND THIS IS A--
I MEAN, IT IS A SHOT TO THE GUT.
HE SAID, "WORRY IS NOTHING MORE
THAN PRACTICAL ATHEISM."
THAT'S ALL IT IS.
AND IT'S AS SIMPLE
AS "A," "B," "C," "D."
READY?
A: THERE IS A GOD, OKAY?
HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVE THERE'S A GOD?
96% OF US IN AMERICA--
WE BELIEVE THERE'S A GOD, ALL RIGHT?
B: THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL OF MY LIFE.
BELIEVE THAT?
I BELIEVE THAT.
C: THAT GOD LOVES ME AND CARES FOR ME.
D: WHY WORRY?
I MEAN,
'CAUSE NOW WE'RE GONNA GET DOWN TO--
I MEAN, WE'RE GONNA GET DOWN TO THE NITTY-GRITTY.
SO WHY DOES JAMES MERRITT WORRY ABOUT THINGS?
IT'S EITHER BECAUSE HE REALLY DOESN'T BELIEVE IN GOD,
OR IF HE DOES,
HE DOESN'T REALLY BELIEVE GOD'S IN CONTROL,
OR IF HE DOES,
HE REALLY DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT GOD CARES.
BECAUSE IF THERE IS A GOD,
AND THAT GOD'S IN CONTROL,
AND THAT GOD CARES ABOUT ME, AND THAT GOD LOVES ME,
THERE REALLY IS NO REASON TO WORRY.
OTHERWISE, WORRY-- SO JESUS--
HERE'S WHAT I LOVE.
HE SPENDS ALL THIS TIME
TALKING ABOUT THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE PROBLEM,
FROM A NEGATIVE STANDPOINT.
BUT THEN HE GIVES US, IN JUST REAL SIMPLE,
SHORT SENTENCES,
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION
FROM A POSITIVE STANDPOINT.
THE NEGATIVE--THE PROBLEM--
IS PUNY FAITH.
THE SOLUTION IS PROPER FOCUS.
NOW AGAIN, THIS IS SO BRILLIANT.
HERE'S WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 33. LISTEN TO THIS.
NOW, THE OPERATIVE WORD IN THAT VERSE--
THE MOST IMPORTANT WORD IN THAT VERSE--
IS THAT LITTLE WORD "FIRST."
NOW, AGAIN, NO PSYCHOLOGIST WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT OF THIS.
NO COUNSELOR WOULD EVER COME UP WITH THIS IDEA.
JESUS SAID, "YOU WORRIED ABOUT SOMETHING?
TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT."
"I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY CANCER.
"I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY MARRIAGE.
"I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY KIDS.
"I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY FINANCES.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY FAMILY."
JESUS SAYS, "OKAY, HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
"YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR FOCUS.
"YOU NEED TO SEEK FIRST
THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
BECAUSE THE SOLUTION TO WORRY
IS PUTTING FIRST THINGS FIRST.
NOW, LET ME TELL YOU HOW THAT WORKS OUT.
I'VE SAVED THE KEY TAKEAWAY
FOR THE LAST PART OF THIS MESSAGE,
BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO WALK OUT THE DOOR WITH.
THIS IS WHAT JESUS WAS REALLY TRYING TO SAY.
PROPER PRIORITIES PROMOTE PEACE.
THE OPPOSITE OF WORRY IS PEACE.
AND WHAT JESUS IS TELLING US IS,
PROPER PRIORITIES PROMOTE PEACE, BECAUSE--
HERE'S THE WAY IT WORKS.
WHEN YOU'RE FOCUSED ON THE RIGHT THINGS,
YOU WON'T BE WORRIED ABOUT THE WRONG THINGS.
AND JESUS SAYS THERE ARE TWO THINGS
YOU REALLY OUGHT TO FIX YOUR FOCUS ON
EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE,
AND THAT IS HIS KINGDOM
AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
OR TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY,
I AM TO FOCUS ON GOD'S RULE OVER MY LIFE
AND GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS IN MY LIFE.
THAT'S IT.
WHEN I GET UP IN THE MORNING,
HE SAID, "YOU OUGHT TO BE OBSESSED.
"YOU OUGHT TO BE CONCERNED.
YOU OUGHT TO BE DOMINATED BY TWO THINGS."
"LORD, I WANT YOU TO TAKE OVER MY LIFE TODAY.
"I WANT YOUR RULE OVER MY LIFE.
"AND THEN, LORD, THE WAY I ACT AND THE WAY I REACT--
I WANT YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN MY LIFE."
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I MEAN BY FOCUS.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT FOCUSING WITH YOUR EYES.
I'M TALKING ABOUT FOCUSING WITH YOUR HEART.
FOCUSING WITH YOUR EYES, THAT INVOLVES SEEING.
FOCUSING WITH YOUR HEART, THAT INVOLVES SURRENDER.
AND SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO RIGHT NOW
IS, I'M GONNA TAKE ALL THAT JESUS HAS SAID,
AND I'M GONNA KIND OF PUT IT INTO REALLY ONE SENTENCE.
AND HERE'S WHAT HE SAYS:
"YOU SURRENDER YOUR WORRIES BY FOCUSING ON HIS WILL."
BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE SAYING,
"WELL, HOW DO I GET THESE WORRIES OFF MY BACK?"
FOCUS ON HIS WILL.
FOCUS ON HIS WILL.
SURRENDER YOUR WORRIES
BY FOCUSING ON HIS WILL.
IT'S JUST THIS SIMPLE.
PROPER PRIORITIES PROMOTE PEACE.
MISPLACED PRIORITIES MULTIPLIES WORRY.
SO EVERY DAY, YOUR FIRST PRIORITY
OUGHT TO BE REAL SIMPLE.
HIS RULE OVER YOUR LIFE
AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN YOUR LIFE.
BUT NOW GUESS WHAT HAPPENS.
THIS IS THE CONCLUSION OF WHAT JESUS SAID.
THIS IS THE ENDING PART OF THE MESSAGE.
HE SAID, "NOW, HERE'S THE WAY IT WORKS.
"WHEN YOU FOCUS ON HIS WILL,
HE TAKES CARE OF YOUR WORRIES."
WHEN YOU FOCUS ON HIS WILL,
HE TAKES CARE OF YOUR WORRIES.
NOW, LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS AGAIN IN VERSE 33:
"BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,
AND ALL THESE THINGS"--
WHAT THINGS? THE THINGS YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT:
FINANCES, BODY, LIFE,
FUTURE, KIDS, MORTGAGE--
ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU.
YOU FOCUS ON WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO IN YOU
AND THROUGH YOU ON A DAILY BASIS,
HE WILL TAKE CARE OF WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR YOU.
SO HERE'S THE CONCLUSION. VERSE 34:
IN OTHER WORDS, HERE'S WHAT JESUS SAID.
JUST WRAPS IT UP.
YOU LIKE SLOGANS? HERE'S THE SLOGAN.
LOOK ONE WAY AT A TIME.
WHEN YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING,
GET UP IN THE MORNING.
SAY, "LORD, I'M GONNA FOCUS LIKE A LASER ON THIS:
"YOUR KINGDOM AND YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
"THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA BE OBSESSED WITH.
"THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DOMINATE MY THOUGHTS TODAY.
YOUR CONTROL OVER ME AND YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ME."
LOOK ONE WAY AT A TIME.
AND THEN HE SAYS,
"LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME."
MEET TODAY'S PROBLEMS WITH TODAY'S STRENGTH.
DON'T START TACKLING TOMORROW'S PROBLEMS UNTIL TOMORROW,
'CAUSE--LET ME GIVE YOU SOME BAD NEWS.
GOD DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO FACE TOMORROW.
DID YOU HEAR ME?
GOD DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO FACE TOMORROW.
YOU SAY, "WELL, WHY DOESN'T GOD DO THAT?"
OKAY, ARE YOU READY?
YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN BE HERE TOMORROW.
SO GOD SAYS, WHEN WE COME TO HIM--
"OH, GOD, I'M FACING THIS PROBLEM TOMORROW.
OH, GOD, PLEASE HELP ME."
GOD SAYS, "NOPE. FRESH OUT.
"NOW, I'LL HELP YOU FOR TODAY.
TOMORROW WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF."
YOU LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME.
YOU LOOK ONE WAY AT A TIME.
GET OUT A SHEET OF PAPER,
AND I WANT YOU TO WRITE DOWN
THE THREE OR FIVE THINGS
YOU'RE MOST WORRIED ABOUT IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW.
WRITE THEM DOWN ON A SHEET OF PAPER.
AND HERE'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO.
ONE BY ONE, I WANT YOU TO TAKE EVERYTHING
THAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT,
AND I WANT YOU TO SURRENDER EVERY ONE OF THEM
TO JESUS CHRIST,
EVERY ONE OF THEM.
I WANT YOU TO TAKE THAT FIRST WORRY AND SAY,
"LORD, I CAN'T HANDLE THIS. I'VE WORRIED ABOUT IT.
"HASN'T CHANGED.
"LORD, YOU DON'T EVEN WANT ME TO HANDLE IT.
"YOU WANT TO HANDLE IT FOR ME.
I'M GONNA GIVE IT TO YOU."
YOU GO DOWN THAT LIST, AND THEN YOU SAY,
"LORD, NOW I'M GONNA SHIFT MY FOCUS.
"I AM CHANGING MY PRIORITIES.
"I'M GONNA BE OBSESSED WITH YOUR KINGDOM AND YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS,
"AND I'M GONNA LET YOU WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE.
"I'LL KEEP MY PRIORITIES RIGHT, 'CAUSE I KNOW
"YOU'LL KEEP THE PRIORITIES RIGHT.
"I'M GONNA PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST, LORD.
"I'M NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT FINANCES ANYMORE,
"NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE.
"I'M NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT THE ECONOMY.
"I'M NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT THE DOW JONES.
"I'M NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT INTEREST RATES.
"I'M NOT GONNA ABOUT IT ANYMORE! I'M NOT!
"WHAT I'M GONNA BE OBSESSED WITH
"IS MAKING SURE YOU'RE IN CONTROL
"OF EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE
"AND MAKING SURE THE WAY I ACT
AND REACT IS THROUGH YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN MY LIFE."
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHO WROTE THESE WORDS,
BUT THEY'RE SO GOOD, I THOUGHT,
"THAT'S HOW I WANT TO CLOSE MY MESSAGE,"
SO LET'S HEAR THEM.
"WHAT DOES YOUR LIFE REVOLVE AROUND?"
LET ME JUST STOP, AND I WANT TO ASK ALL OF YOU
TO TAKE 20 SECONDS AND JUST GIVE AN INVENTORY.
REALLY, I'M ASKING YOU, BE HONEST.
WHAT DOES YOUR LIFE REVOLVE AROUND?
DOES IT REVOLVE AROUND THE CAR YOU DRIVE?
THE HOUSE YOU LIVE IN? THE MONEY YOU MAKE?
THE LADDER THAT YOU'RE CLIMBING?
THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT?
THE COLLEGE TUITION?
WHAT DOES YOUR LIFE REVOLVE AROUND?
REMEMBER THIS AS YOU CONSIDER YOUR ANSWER:
"WE HAVE MADE OURSELVES THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING
"IN THIS WORLD, BUT GOD WILL BE AT THE CENTER
"OF EVERYTHING IN HEAVEN.
"THE DECISION YOU MADE OR WILL MAKE
"EITHER FOR OR AGAINST CHRIST
"SHOULD BE MEASURED BY WHAT YOUR LIFE REVOLVES AROUND.
"IF IT IS NOT GOD,
"YOU WON'T LIKE HEAVEN,
AND YOU PROBABLY WON'T GET TO GO THERE."
SO JESUS SAID,
"YOU JUST MAKE SURE YOU PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST,
"LOOK ONE WAY AT A TIME,
"HIS KINGDOM, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,
"LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME,
"DON'T WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW,
AND GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING ELSE."
AND IF YOU STILL DON'T BELIEVE WHAT I SAID,
AFTER YOU GET THROUGH MAKING YOUR LIST TODAY
AND WHEN THE GAME IS OVER,
GO BIRD-WATCHING.
announcer: WORRY IS A THIEF.
IT STEALS OUR PEACE,
IT STEALS OUR JOY,
AND IT STEALS OUR FOCUS.
WE'VE ALL GIVEN IN TO WORRY
MORE THAN WE SHOULD AT TIMES,
BUT IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A BATTLE WITH WORRY
THAT'S BIGGER THAN YOUR HOPE TODAY,
PLEASE CALL TOUCHING LIVES AT:
WE WOULD LOVE TO PRAY WITH YOU.
GOD NEVER INTENDED FOR US TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING.
IN FACT, HE COMMANDS US TO NOT BE ANXIOUS,
AND HE WOULD NEVER REQUIRE SOMETHING OF US
THAT HE DIDN'T EQUIP US TO DO.
IN FIRST THING,
DR. MERRITT TEACHES US HOW TO LIVE A LIFE OF PEACE
BY CHANGING OUR FOCUS
AND LEARNING TO TRUST IN WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST.
ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY--
CDs $7, DVDs $12--
AT TOUCHINGLIVES.ORG,
OR CALL US AT 1-800-413-1131.
WORRY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ENEMIES OF OUR FAITH.
SATAN WORKS DILIGENTLY
TO PRESENT COUNTLESS REASONS TO WORRY
WASTING OUR TIME AND ENERGY IN THE PROCESS,
BUT AT TOUCHING LIVES
OUR HEART IS TO BRING HOPE
TO THOSE WHO ARE DISCOURAGED BY WORRY
AND BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITHFUL PRAYERS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT
WE CONTINUE TO SHARE THE HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT
OF JESUS CHRIST AROUND THE GLOBE EVERY WEEK.
- ♪ TOUCHING LIVES ♪