Don't Worry. Be Happy!

Don't worry. Be happy is a song that was popular in the 1980's but that theme is still very pertinent today. As Chrisitans, achieving joy and happiness is not a given. However, Christianity is not a passive religion to wish and hope. It is a religion where we pray, say and do the part God is telling us to do. If we would just change our attitudes, our lives can do a 360 degree turn. When things that overwhelm you occur and people ask you what you are going to do, say I don’t have a clue but God is in control and don’t worry.

Worry is to torment oneself with disturbing thoughts which leaves one feeling anxious. Worry chokes the word from our minds. Mathew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. Declare positive affirmations to disrupt the negative words you are thinking. Humans are the only ones that worry, but we are supposed to be the cream of the crop, the most intelligent of all of God’s creatures. Animals and nature don’t worry but humans with all our intelligence still worry, because we think we can control situations and circumstances.

How not to worry is to be humble and do what you can do and let God do what you can’t do. Doing only what God tells you to do results in fulfillment. Doing what he didn’t tell you to do results in frustration. He will do what you can’t. Worrying is tormenting yourself and making yourself miserable. Instead of doing that, do something to take your mind off your problem and prayerfully submit your problem to God.

Mark 4:35 states, “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” As people, we get excited when God is saying to us, “Do this” and when we receive a word from him, but we get frustrated during the process which we must go through before we get to the other side. We often get too terrified and if we finish what we start, it’s only by God’s grace.

Source: MyOneAndOnlyEvilTwin

Mark 36-41 states, “Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

We get excited at the conception of a dream such as going to the other side, but going to our destination is a process but in the middle of the process like when the waves break over the boat and we are experiencing turbulence, we get frustrated and lose hope instead of hanging in there to work towards seeing the dream come to fruition because they don’t know what to do in the middle when facing turbulence.

Jesus was asleep when they were in the storm. This is symbolic of how we feel deserted by God when we are in the middle of a storm in our lives. We get frantic, trying to figure the situation out, running to people we know for advice, and most of the people we are asking can’t help us. Christians should run to the throne not the phone for help. The people in ship with him yelled, “Master, master don’t you care that we are perishing?” And he responded with, “Why are you so timid and fearful? Why is it that you have no faith?” We have an obligation to live as good examples to the world because we are his witnesses and ambassadors on earth and we should live in victory, joy, peace and love. It’s one thing to believe and it’s another to take the faith to keep you calm in the storm.

Jesus has left us a positive legacy which includes peace. John 14:25 states, “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Stop allowing yourself to be agitated, disturbed, fearful, intimidated, cowardly and unsettled. Be unwilling to live without peace.

Source: Dreejz

Make a decision to have joy, peace and righteousness. There is no condemnation to those is Christ. Feeling condemned keeps you stuck where you are at. Don’t sing songs about the kingdom in the sweet by and by. Live in the kingdom now. Make a decision to not let anyone take your legacy from you. You must make an effort to hold on to God’s legacy. God has given us peace. He said, “Peace I live with you.” So, stop wishing or praying to have peace, you already have it, so just thank God for it. Ask for grace to walk in the peace he has already given you, and pray to be shown what you need to do to have it and have the grace to do it.

Worry is making a down payment on a problem you may never have solve. Worry never solves problems, it only tortures and torments and has nothing to do with faith. Don’t say I’m just a worrier. You have peace and power, so you don’t have to live in worry. Why we worry is because we think we can solve the problem. God wants us to rely and lean on him. We can do some things and we can’t do some things, but if you do something you are not supposed to you will get frustrated. For example trying to change people will frustrate you. The more you try to make someone do something you want them to do, the more they are inclined to not want to do it. Trying to change your spouse doesn’t work.

Have the attitude for them to do what they want to do to do and for you to have peace. Finally get it in your head that that person is that person. Only God can change people because change comes from the heart. Worrying makes you sick and miserable. It induces ulcers, cancers, stress, insomnia, lack of focus, colon problems, headaches, and makes you irritable. Worry only leaves you agitated. Decide to not worry. Declare that you will not worry.

Joy should be had all the times including when you don’t have anything to be joyful about. Joy is a calm delight. We should be able to say God, I love my life. Be satisfied and content and be a happy camper. Going to church is to learn, fellowship with other like minded people and go out and do the Christian work in the world which is often in the storm, not in the church where things are easy to do. There’s always stuff going on in life. The storms of life are always going on. You will be tested on what you hear by the devil. Learn a new sentence: This is only a test!

When we step out in faith, we have a beginning and end, but most of the time we are in the middle or the storm. While we wait, many turn back and never get to the end of their dream or vision or the other side. Keep doing what you are doing daily till you get to your destination, but know that you will get weary sometimes. However, remember that Galatians 6:9 states, “Let us not become weary in doing good; for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” So, don't worry, be happy and never give up!

Source: Joyce Meyer Sermon
Edited by: Susan Majek