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Eliminate Worry

You know that feeling when things aren’t working out the way you planned? Maybe you expected a better outcome for yourself and you’re worried about how everything will turn out? You lose sleep over issues that are out of your control and you have anxiety about the future. As the reader, you might notice all the “you’s” in the above sentences. There wasn’t much of “God” mentioned but there was a lot mentioned about your own well-being and yourself. This is an example of operating in the flesh.

If you haven’t grown up in church, you might associate “flesh” with skin and you’re wondering why I’m talking about skin. “Flesh” in church-ese for operating in this world without the guidance and fruit of the Holy Spirit. Flesh focuses a lot on “self” – self-gratification, selfishness, self-satisfaction, self-advancement, self-consciousness, self-protection, etc. Walking in the flesh usually ends in anxiety, worry, depression, addictions, destruction, anger and fear.

Matthew 7:13,14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the
gate and broad is the road that leads to
destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road
that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Walking with the Holy Spirit replaces the need to protect ourselves and advance our own kingdom with the knowledge that we walk with the power and protection of the one true God. We live with God’s armor of the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of salvation (we are His 1 Thessalonians 5:8). Being motivated by the Holy Spirit bares the fruit of compassion, generosity, love, peace, hope, encouragement, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control (this “self” is ok because it’s guided by the Holy Spirit), joy, gentleness and faithfulness. With the power of the Holy Spirit, you’re able to look up, away from your own agendas and ask God where he wants your focus to be. I can guarantee it has little to do with you and more to do with pouring the fruit of the Spirit on others. There are always times that He has to deal with a heart issue before you’re able to see the fruit of the Spirit coming out, but the focus never stays on us.


It really is quite nice this way because it pretty much lets us off the hook. We no longer need to protect what’s ours and worry about how our own lives will be glorified in the end. Instead, we can focus on what God wants and ask for his help and guidance. We walk with the knowledge that we are his (salvation) and that he will protect us, provide for us and guide us. The release of playing God for our own lives allows us to walk in freedom to pour out love, peace, patience, hope and joy. Sure, bad things still come your way; however, when something threatens your boundaries of comfort, you can go into battle equipped with power from the Holy Spirit, the love and armor of God, and a mind like Christ.  


Please spend some time in prayer or worship and ask God how you’ve been advancing your own kingdom. Ask him if you’ve been gratifying yourself and to reveal those areas to you. But don’t stop there. Tell him you want to be released from being your own god and ask him to show you how to glorify his kingdom. Praise him, give him glory and honor and thank him for his grace and love. J
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