1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We are so glad to 3 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 2: have you listening with us here today. Today's topic is 4 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 2: wanting to be free from worry. We will return after 5 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 2: a brief message from our sponsor. The Desire to be 6 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 2: Free from Worry written by Vivian Bricker, read by Rochelle 7 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 2: Alberti Bible reading. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, 8 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 2: and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. 9 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 2: So don't worry about tomorrow, or tomorrow will bring its 10 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 2: own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today, Matthew six 11 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 2: thirty three thirty four in LT. Worry weighs heavily on 12 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 2: most of us. Tight deadlines at work, unless tests in college, 13 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,279 Speaker 2: and difficult financial situations can. 14 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: Cause us to worry. To worry is to be human. 15 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: Although many of us may feel ashamed for worrying, we 16 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: must remember that it is part of life. We can 17 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: trust God and still feel worried about certain circumstances. Worry 18 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 1: does not equate to a lack of faith in God. Rather, 19 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: worry is simply what it is being afraid or doubtful 20 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: about what will happen. Worry can't completely control our lives 21 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 1: if we let it. However, we can also stand up 22 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: to it. My dad and I are avid walkers and 23 00:01:56,320 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: we often come across many cyclists. What I have noticed 24 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: about many cyclists is that their biggest concern is speed. 25 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: Many of them ride with a forward loom, as it 26 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 1: helps them become more aerodynamic and enhances their speed. However, 27 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: there is one cyclist we occasionally see who's different from others. 28 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: Rather than being hunched over and focused on speed, he 29 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 1: simply rides his bike, plays music from a loud speaker, 30 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: and appears to be free from worry, laid back, relaxed, 31 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: and genuinely happy to be there. As he passed us 32 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: one day, I told my dad, I wish I could 33 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 1: be that relaxed. I think most of us feel the 34 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: same way, to be free from ory and to genuinely 35 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: enjoy the little things I'm like. And while I'm sure 36 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 1: the cyclist has worries at time, he also seems to 37 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: know when to let them go and focus on what 38 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: brings some joy. This is something we should aim to 39 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: do in our own lives. While our worries may not disappear, 40 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 1: we can learn to set them apart from other areas 41 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,520 Speaker 1: of our lives. The first step at easing these three 42 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: worries is to turn to God in prayer and reading 43 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: the Bible, intersecting faith and bran. Jesus tells us seek 44 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, 45 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 1: and He will give you everything you need. So don't 46 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: worry about tomorrow, for toro will bring its own worries. 47 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: Today's trouble is enough for today Matthew six thirty three 48 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: through thirty four in LT. Rather than endlessly worrying about 49 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: what is to come, we need to surrender these worries 50 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: to God first Peter five seven. As the Lord says, 51 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: we are to focus on the Kingdom of God and 52 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: live in obedience to him. This means focusing on the 53 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 1: present and faithally living out God's teachings found in Scripture. 54 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: If we choose the path of worry, it will be 55 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: difficult the state focused on God. Worry can cause us 56 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: to spiral further. Yet it can be eased by talking 57 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: with God. Tell him why you are worried. Be honest 58 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: with him. He will never downplay your concerns or treat 59 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 1: them as unimportant. It is also helpful to think about 60 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 1: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, 61 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 1: and praiseworthy Philippians four eight through nine. Fixing our minds 62 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: on these things can help quiet our worries. Instead of 63 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,839 Speaker 1: dwelling on the concerns of today or tomorrow, reflect on 64 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: the beauty around you, the trees, a joyful call from 65 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: a friend, or a warm hug from a loved Pray 66 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: to God. Whenever worry rises in your. 67 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 3: Heart, Let's go to him together. Dear God, I want 68 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 3: to be free from worry. You know how worry creeps 69 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 3: into my mind every day. At times it feels like 70 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 3: it could drown me. Help me to rise above the 71 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:11,039 Speaker 3: worry and to reflect upon your son's words. Guide my 72 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 3: heart after your kingdom, and to live for you. Remove 73 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 3: my anxious, worried heart and replace it with a steadfast, 74 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 3: on wavering heart. Thank you for listening to my prayers. God, 75 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 3: in your Son's name, I pray I'm in What are 76 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 3: your most common worries? How can you apply Jesus's words 77 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,040 Speaker 3: in Matthew six. 78 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 1: Thirty three through thirty four to your life? Further reading 79 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: Paul fifty five twenty two, Proverbs twelve twenty five Matthew 80 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: eleven twenty eight through thirty. Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 81 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: If you liked what you heard today, we want to 82 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: make sure you know about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. 83 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: When you follow your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, 84 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 1: you'll get a brand new prayer and devotional each day, 85 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: so your days begin in conversation with God. 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