July 27, 2020 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Worry, Nervousness, Fear, Anxiety, Insecurity…

It is difficult not to become scared of what is ahead of us. A daily dose of news each day is enough to cause people to fear their future. Why are more and more people committing suicide? What is driving so many people to end their lives? What is really killing off the population of the world? It is not bad water, pollution, sickness, wars, poor diet, or any number of things. It is what is inside of you—what you have created internally. People by their admission to react to worldly events in fear and turmoil are ending their lives and killing what hope and love they have in their hearts and minds.

Jesus considered worry and fear to be a sin (many examples in the Gospels), but when one fears the Lord (God), which is not fear but knowledge about God (Proverbs 1:7 “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”) the ‘fear of the unknown’ does not bother you. The fear of the Lord is simple, when you know what God will be doing or has done, you always say (no matter how terrible it is), “the Lord always does what is right and just.” This fear is good and moves us to righteousness and in the perfect will of God.

All other fear or worry or anxiety that leads us to insecurity or nervousness is destructive. We must fear God alone—not man or what man can do to us; circumstances and worldly events; or even death and isolation. Job experienced all of this and was on death’s doorstep while all his friends, family, and business associates left him and were critical of him. If only we would consider Job and what God took him through so Job would realize that perfection is not found in works but in the forgiveness and mercy of God.

David found great mercy (as stated in Psalms and the testimony of Solomon his son) where David realized that it is in the fear of the Lord alone is what we should only trust in. Jesus also found great comfort and answers to His prayers when the Bible says, “He (Jesus) feared God and God therefore answered His prayers and allowed His Son to overcome death” (stated in various Gospel Scriptures regarding His crucifixion).

Every time we interact with God it is by faith. It is a choice—we have to choose! A person has a choice either to choose God’s ways and believe that what God says is true or what Satan says to us and often people in this world. We must decide if God is who He says He is and if He will do what He says He will do!

I choose not to be nervous, scared, doubtful, worrisome, fearful, insecure, full of anxiety, and not knowing my future. God knows my end and what is ahead of me. I live by faith alone—I choose God and if I choose God I must fear the Lord. It is that simple. I can either live a life of anxiety and insecurity, or I live a life with Jesus who carries all my care and my future.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.