And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
A Choice About the Future
by David Cross
Matthew 6:27
There are many times in the Bible when Jesus makes tough statements, and this is one of those moments when He leaves us in no doubt as to how He wants us to behave. He is very clear in the whole of this passage, speaking of the way we all worry about the future: His instruction is to stop it.
The essence of His teaching is that, if we are ultimately trusting in human ability to give us all that we need, then perhaps we have something to worry about because, however well intentioned, all human practice will eventually fail. If, on the other hand, we put our foundational trust in our Heavenly Father, we have no reason to worry, because He cannot and will not fail us.
We may carry anxiety from unresolved issues of trauma from the past, and God certainly wants to heal those troubled places, but here He is talking about the choices we need to make for the future.
It’s true to say that worry and anxiety have never solved any problem, and they are much more likely to shorten than to lengthen our lives. So, this is the challenge from Jesus to His followers: Instead of worrying, make a choice, today and in the future, to step into the security of His Kingdom, and discover the fullness of God’s protection, provision and peace.
David Cross David is part of the Executive Leadership of Ellel Ministries, with particular responsibility for the Ellel centres in Western Europe. He is married to Denise and they have three grown up children and eight grandchildren. David has been a civil engineer and ski-touring instructor in the Highlands of Scotland. He is passionate about the teaching and practice of the healing and deliverance ministry of Jesus and has written several books: Soul Ties, Trapped by Control, God’s Covering, The Dangers of Alternative Ways to Healing(co-authored with John Berry), an A to Z Guide to the Healing Ministry, What`s Wrong with Human Rights? and, most recently, God`s Way out of Depression. You can follow a daily thought from David on Twitter: @dmcross62
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