  There is sometimes a fine line between concern and worry. We should be concerned with out brothers and sisters in Christ, about the deteriorating condition of our society and perhaps the health; however, we should not worry over these conditions because we serve a God who is able to do exceeding above that which we are able to ask or think. Paul tells us how to dispel worry in Phil. 4:6; “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Phil. 4:6). To be careful means that we are not to be anxious and fretting over certain situations, especially over those situations in which we have no control. If there is a situation over which we have some control as to the outcome, we need to be busy doing what needs to be done. If the opposite is true, we should not be over-anxious and worry because it will effect our mental, physical and spiritual health.
  There are burdens that cannot be borne alone in our lives, and we should know where to take them; take them to the rich throne of God’s grace. David said, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22). It is the righteous that are prone to real worry and not the wicked which aren’t in trouble as are the righteous. David aid to “cast thy burden upon the Lord” and the result is a sustaining that only He can give. Peter also teaches this lesson in the New Testament, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7). Just as the picture indicates above prayer washes worry away because Paul goes on to say in Phil 4:7: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” If our hearts and minds are filled with peace, we have dispelled our worries as we trust in the living God. After all we have the promise of God, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (I Cor. 10:13). God is faithful and provides the way of escape, and He is the way of escape. The Lord told Paul that “My grace is sufficient; if it was sufficient for Paul, it should be sufficient for us.
  Jesus spoke a parable about the unjust judge to teach us a great lesson: “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” (Luke 18:1). The widow was persistent in going to the unjust judge who had no regard for her or God. Finally, he granted her request because of her continually coming to him, even though he didn’t fear God or regard man. God is the righteous judge and He will avenge (protect) his own elect who cry unto him day and night.
  We definitely have a friend in Jesus Christ and so we need to take our requests to the Lord with prayer and thanksgiving and dispel the worry that might plague us from time to time. As the song says, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear; Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear; all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. James tells us that the effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Our sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ, never to be remembered against us any more. Our worries can be washed away by prayer and replaced with a peace that passeth all understanding. Praise God for His wonderful works toward the children of men. October 9, 2012–Elder Larry Wise
