“For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.”  (Jeremiah 29:11 AMPC)

One of the most powerful sources of anxiety is fear of the unknown.  It is fear of not knowing let alone seeing what is to come.  It is when we force ourselves to open the door of tomorrow that we miss out THE MORE that the Lord has in store for us to unravel and enjoy TODAY!  His word says, TODAY IS THE DAY … THIS IS THE DAY that the Lord has made, we will REJOICE and BE GLAD in it! (Psalm 118:24)

“Do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.”  (Matthew 6:34 AMPC)

Sometimes, most especially when it comes to finances, we tend to save more for the future that we deprive ourselves to spend for today.  We have the tendency to forget that He has already gone before us, to straighten our paths and level our ways, providing whatever we need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  We have our own cares and desires for today in which He has provided.  Why not treat ourselves the very way He wants us to.  He is a Good Father Who delights in the prosperity of His children.  I am not saying splurge to the max!  I am just saying not to deny ourselves from what the Lord has given us today!  And yes, set aside some for the future.

I was talking to someone very dear to me lately who was just about to celebrate her birthday.  All the while she never knew that her own daughter was planning a big bash for her.  But because she has been so used to do all the planning for everyone’s birthday, she was gripped with fear when she came to know later on that something big was being planned.  Literally she was in tears, not tears of joy but tears of anxiety, while I was talking to her because with this kind of “surprise” arrangement, she can never be in control as she wanted to.  She had no inkling at all whatsoever except for the date and venue.  It was so funny to witness as I was telling her to RELAX and just ENJOY the day!  I told her that she has to learn to trust the plans her daughter has for her.

When I put down the phone, I then saw something that changed my heart.  You see, our default is, we want to be in control.  We want to plan things and know exactly the outcome of it.  Sometimes we get stubborn enough to do it our own way NOT giving the One Who has greater plans for us to move in our lives. HE KNOWS the end of our lives from the beginning.  The blueprint of the greater things He has in store for us have been laid out, but until we learn to trust Him, trust in His goodness, trust in His faithfulness, and trust in His great love for us, we push ourselves to do it our own way.  No wonder we get stressed instead of being blessed.  We need to be reminded that we have been created and wired to rest in His presence.

Lo and behold, when I spoke with her after the celebration, she was exceedingly joyful of what happened.  What happened at the party surpassed every expectation she had.

What good was that anxiety then?  Then, these words echoed in my heart, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27)

The best antidote to fear is when we come to know how much God loves us.  There is NO FEAR in LOVE!  His perfect love casts out all our fears away.  (1 John 4:18)  Our confidence arises as we yield to the TRUTH of being loved by the Most High God!  No one is higher than Him!  No one is greater than Him.  No one is mightier than Him.  Think and pause for a few minutes and meditate on these words, “I am loved by the Most High God Who is my Father.”   Read and re-read this!  Think and re-think this!  Declare and re-declare it!  Believe and keep believing until these words become a part of you.

If He withheld nothing from us not even Jesus, the only begotten of the Father, will He withhold His GREAT PLANS for us?  No!  In truth this is what is written …

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for Your great plans for me.  Thank You that no thing nor no one can separate me from Your love.  Teach me to know You more each day that I may learn to walk in Your love all the days of my life.  Thank You, Jesus, for there is no greater love than this, that you laid down Your life for me that I may have and enjoy life and have it more abundantly.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for always guiding me into all truth that I am loved by the Most High God Who is my Father.”  Amen!