Lesson 3, Week 7: Grandparents Model Faith By Refusing To Worry

Today’s Scripture Focus:  Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV

*Before you begin, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you as you read God’s Word and seek His meaning.

Worrying does not fit in with God’s perfect plan for our lives. Jesus came that we might have peace and have it abundantly (John 14:27). To worry is to reject the gift of peace that He wrapped up at Calvary and gave to us when He defeated Satan.  

Yet, many Christians reject His gift of peace by indulging in the bad habit of worrying.  One lady told me that worrying indicates you care.  The truth is concern is the indicator that you care, and praying to our Triune God is the ideal place to leave those concerns.  God never intended for us to go around carrying heavy burdens. 

Worrying is a learned habit that can be unlearned.  Releasing our concerns through prayers—letting go and letting God handle them is also a habit that we can choose.   Worrying shows that we really don’t trust God to handle the things that are important to us, while releasing our concerns through prayers is faith in action. 

Faith was the topic of discussion in a Sunday School class one morning.  One gentleman raised the question of why some had more faith then others?  As many joined in voicing their views, I became convince that the Lord has given all of His children the same gift of faith, but some choose not to exercise it. 

Life is full of choices and faith is a choice, just as worry is a choice.  We either choose to believe what God says in His Word and to act accordingly, or we mouth with our lips that we believe, when we really don’t.  Instead, we choose to handle things on our own, worrying all the time.

Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44).  Worry is based on lies that Satan wants us to believe.  When we choose worry, we are playing into his hands. 

Think On These Things

By the time we reach our senior years, we have lived through many experiences.  We have all heard the old adage, “He/she is set in their ways,” but that is not true. Satan would have us believe it, but by choice we can choose the way of peace and activate our faith, breaking the worrying habit.

Jesus has a lot to say about worrying—all of it spells out Do not worry!”  Take a few moments and read Matthew 6: 25-34.  What does God want you to worry about?Absolutely nothing! 

Instead, Peter tells us to Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7 NIV).  Paul adds to that, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). 

These two verses alone are filled with promises.  We don’t need to worry because God cares for us.  How are we to handle our concerns?  By taking everything to the Lord in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving.  There is a word indicator that we need to take notice of—THANKSGIVING—which tells us that He will answer our prayers, and we can thank Him for those answers before they ever comes to be on earth. 

The next part of the passage is packed with even more promises.  He’s going to give us peace—not just any peace, but the kind that is so awesome we just can’t comprehend it with our limited understanding.  What will this peace do?  It will guard our minds in Christ Jesus.  When we choose to believe the first part of this passage by taking our cares to the Lord, He is going to give us a peace so strong that it will be like guards in a garrison surrounding our minds, protecting our thoughts from any anxiety that Satan might hurl our way.  Wow!  He has taken care of everything.  Our part is to believe Him and to choose to act upon that believe by refusing to worry.

What I Have Learned

Faith is __________ _______ of what we hope for

and _________of what we do not see.

                              

Worry is a __________habit that can be ___________.

Name two choices that we have regarding our daily cares in this life. __________ _____________

_______________ is the father of lies.

We do not have to be set in our ways.  We can __________ our faith by _________ __________.

Write (in your own words) some key points from the passage in 6:25-34.

Jesus says___________________________________

___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________

I am to cast my worries (anxiety) on Jesus because

__________________________.

I am not to worry about anything.  Instead, I am to

________________to God with _______________.

And the ________ ____ __________, which transcends

_____ _______________ will _________my mind in

___________ _______________.

My part is to choose faith, activate ___ _______, and refuse ___ __________.

I Will Apply What I Have Learned

STEP 1:  I will choose faith.

STEP 2:  I will present my prayers and petition, with thaksgiving, to the Lord and refuse to worry.  If I take them back, I will stop what I am doing and repeat my action.  I will do this however many times it takes me to learn to let go and let God.

STEP 3:  I will remember that I do not have to worry for my concerns are in the hands of the Almighty God.

STEP 4:  I will model my faith habit of letting God handle the details of my life to my children and grandchildren.  I will point out His faithfulness in all situations. 

Lord Jesus,

We want to thank You for the truth of Your Word, for You make Your desires known.  You have filled Your Word with promises that we can claim by faith.  All we have to do is choose faith, and activate it by acting accordingly. Enable us to do that day-by-day, moment-by-moment.  Strengthen us when we are weak. Thank You for pointing out the way. Thank You for telling us how to have peace and how Your peace protects our minds when we choose to let it.  We thank You that You care so deeply for us, and we want You to know that we love You too.   In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.