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There's lots of it!

There is the story of the Indian tribe stuck in a prolonged blizzard in the dead of winter. The chief sends out some scouts to forage for food. After three days they return with the report, "Well, there's good news and there's bad news. Which do you want first?" They want the bad news. "There's absolutely nothing to eat except buffalo chips." "Well, what's the good news?" the chief asks. "There's lots of it."

I think worry is a lot like buffalo chips, there's lots of it. There will always be something to worry about. For the person prone toward anxiety, there seems to be an almost limitless supply.

Whether it's the economy, politics, world events, or more personal things like school, job, family, children, grandchildren, or health, it's always something.

When I was younger I didn't seem to have as much trouble with worrying. Maybe I had youthful optimism. It seems that after you have a few more lumps and bumps in life, you get a bit more careful, and concerned.

There is a weak time in my day. It's right before I get up in the morning. For some reason the nighttime subconscious mind has not been able to process all the solutions needed for the new day. I have a friend who has noticed the same thing. We both agree that it's best to get up, get some coffee, have some quiet, pray, and read some Bible. Within thirty minutes I usually feel optimistic, positive, and full of faith. Without that time to tune-up my mind and heart, to refocus and realign my priorities, I don't know how I could face the new day properly.

Jesus, in the sermon on the mount addressed this almost universal human problem:

Matt 6:25-34
25
"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 important than food, and the body more important 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
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies 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, O 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. (NIV)

Jesus knows the uselessness of worry. He is advising us to stop the worrying and start trusting. He is inviting us into a life that is surrendered to Him, trusting Him to meet our needs.

In order to stop worrying, we must start doing something else. Place the focus of our mind on Him, His love, power, and sovereignty over our lives. The worrisome thoughts must be replaced with something better.

Phil 4:8
8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things. (NIV)

The cure for anxiety is to replace those negative thoughts with positive ones. Praise to God for His wonderful nature and many blessings in your life, acknowledging what is true.

There may be a lot of things to worry about, but there are also a lot of things to praise God for and rejoice over.

There's lots of that, too. Lots more.

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