Are You Tapping In?

It seems that we all have a bunch of reasons to worry nowadays. I mean with all the stuff happening in the world today, from the pandemic to the election to tropical storms and hurricanes. But God spoke to me a few years back and reminded me that "to worry is to sin". That really impacted me! First I thought, "How could worry be sin?" But very quickly the Holy Spirit reminded me that worry is a lack of trust and faith in the One we call our Savior and Lord. As a matter of fact, worry is the lack of, and totally opposite of faith. In Romans 14:23 the Apostle Paul generally stated that, "...whatever is not from faith is sin."

Jesus even said that, "...the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." (Mark 4:19) (Underline by yours truly.) We, as followers of Jesus, produce the fruit of God's Word in our lives only when we receive it in faith. This simply means that we believe and trust God's Word over circumstances/situations we would otherwise be compelled to worry about. God's Word nullifies worry, even in the face of scary, negative circumstances! It is His peace that passes our human comprehension that manifests...no matter the scenario.

God's Word never tells us that we will receive any kind of peace from the world. In fact, Jesus said, "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33b) As bad as things seem to be, right in the middle of it we can tap in to Jesus' infinite peace, because He has overcome the world.

Practically everything we worry over never happens. But we become paralyzed by fear, just as if it did happen. God's Word in us becomes choked out and as a result, we bear no fruit. This in turn affects our families and those we work and associate with. On the other hand, those who have learned to tap into God's peace bear life-changing fruit because they refuse to worry. Instead, they trust in God's powerful Word. This in turn has a supernatural, positive effect on our families and those we work with and associate with.

The most powerful aid to trusting God's Word in the midst of negative circumstances is to "cut off" the source of any and everything that tempts you to worry. Turn off the news. Get off the internet and social media. The bottom line is that you will not find the peace you are lacking in the political party you support. You won't find peace that surpasses all comprehension by plugging into the world. You will however, find and enjoy God's peace, the peace that passes all understanding in His Word, prayer, praise, worship, and by focusing on the One who provides peace. "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:2-3) Jesus tells us NOT to worry about our lives. Instead, He tells to seek God's kingdom and His righteous FIRST!

The greatest witness for the church and for individual believers today is to exude what the world cannot provide...Jesus' supernatural peace that cannot be explained. You must obtain that peace first. Then prepare for people to be drawn to that peace in you! You can do it. God has His mighty hand upon you!