Do Your Best

Worry and anxiety are almost at pandemic levels in the world. People everywhere are assailed by these two powers. But should we as Christians really give worry and anxiety any of our time? Jesus responded to the question by saying, "can anyone of you add an hour to your life by worrying? And why are you worrying about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow, they do not toil or spin. But if God clothes grass of field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown in the furnace, will He not much more cloth you? You of little faith!" (Matthew 6:27-30). Jesus continues his sermon about worry by explaining that we should not even have anxiety about having enough drink or eat. He gives the example that if the "birds of the air have enough to eat and are taken care of, how much more so will your Heavenly Father take care of you? Are you not more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26). How true are the words of the Lord. For worry and anxiety only add stress which taxes our bodies and depletes our stamina.

Anxious feelings act like chemicals in our bodies, they can grip our heart and make our head clouded. But do they come from a power greater than electrons and cells? The Bible does not directly proclaim that worry is from the evil one, but it is tied to unbelief which is an evil power. The Apostle Paul said, "be anxious for nothing (do not be anxious about anything), but in all things (every situation) by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God." (Philippians 4:6). St. Paul via The Holy Spirit is speaking against what our flesh wants to do. When something goes wrong and worry enters our hearts, the last thing we want to do is give thanks. But Paul has gotten this revelation for Jesus Christ, so he tells us just how to respond. Giving thanks when anxiety hits like an atom bomb in our lives is exactly what we need! Giving thanks takes our focus off our problems and during the praise of thankfulness we can touch the Peace of God and then make our petitions to God with a clear heart and mind.

So often we live in the future and focus on the problems that will come in addition to the ones already plaguing us. This is why Jesus said, "worry not about tomorrow, for today has enough troubles of its own. Each day has enough troubles of its own" (Matthew 6:34). We need to master this in our modern day and society. So many people are bound by the fear of troubles in the future or adverting new problems tomorrow. The truth is that need to take each day at a time as Jesus Christ said! For by being the in present and tending to the problems of the here and now, we do not feel as overwhelmed. Imagine all the energy and stamina lost of fretting over what could happen in the future! We could be using all that lost strength to deal with what is happening today!

I was recently watching a program on TV and advertisement came on for a new renovation show called Rev Run's Renovation. This Diy (Do It Yourself Network) type program featured a reverend who renovates houses. During one part of the advertisement Rev Simmons said, "All you can do is your best, forget the rest." I have heard people before say, "you can only do your best." But Rev Simmons' version is so much more comforting. We can only do our best and we need to "forget the rest." To often we expend worry and anxious energy over things we cannot control or worse those things that have already pasted and thus are over. There is saying, "you cannot argue over spilled milk," which illustrates that once something has happened, it has happened and it is pointless to worry about it anymore.

We should do our best, and put the effort forth as if it were for God. For the Scriptures say,  "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord, not for human masters." ( Colossians 3:23). What matters is the audience in Heaven. Do everything as if Jesus Christ is watching you (because He is). Do not worry about what people think or allow self condemnation to come upon you. The Lord knows you tried so hard and if you failed, He knows that you put every effort in. What matters is the grade God gives you, not this world. For that grade is about the heart as much as it is about hard work. In God's class, those who have bad heart and do lots of work for Him have failed, but those who have good heart and do little are praised. Remember that, "there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1). Do not let the devil make you feel condemned over that which you cannot control!

Remember this lesson, Christ convicts, Catigorica (Satan) condemns. When the Lord convicts you, you do not feel condemned, but rather repentant and excited about changing your behavior and choices! Condemnation comes from the devil and only makes you feel accused. So when you start to feel condemned remember that "there is no condemnation in Christ." Long as you do your part and do your best, no one can condemn you!