Worry and Worship Are Mutually Exclusive

Basic Principles of a Prayer and its nature that the Word of God teaches us in Bible.

Philippians 4

I once worked as a Sales Manager in a retail store. One particular day, a lady walks into my department and announces -"I don't want this item."  I responded, "Fine, if you just give it to me, I'll be happy to help you find something else you do like."  "No," answers the lady, "I don't want to give this up." 

Perhaps you're as confused as I was by now.  But did you know that's how many Christians pray?
"Lord, I have a problem that I'm worried about."  "Fine," responds the Lord.  "Exchange those worries for my matchless peace."  "Oh no, I'd rather keep worrying."

When we refuse to turn our worries over to God, we forfeit his peace.  That's a good reason for you to make a "worry list" of the anxieties you're nursing right now and turn it into a prayer list.  Then you, too can enjoy "God's peace" (Philippians 4:7), which is the only possible by knowing the "God of peace." (Philippians 4:9).

What do you yearn the most?

What do you yearn the most?

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.” Psalm 84:5(KJV) –

Introduction:

What do you yearn the most in your life? 

It is said that we begin the great quest for the things we desire at the time of birth.
Perhaps, several years went by, before recognizing that you were in search of something you did not possess. You are not alone in this quest; everyone travels with you. Well, is that all humanity is engaged in this same search. All humanity is trying to find an answer to your confusion. Everyone goes through life longing for something.

Therefore, what do you long the most in your life?
Are you looking anxiously those things that belong to an eternal life or earthly life?
Many of the Psalms were written by the Psalmist who was deeper moved in his desire to find God. Desiring to feel God’s power and strength in his life. From the text we collect two deep longings in Psalm 84:5 - “Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them”.

1. Having his strength in God.
2. Having a way for God in his heart.
Meditate on these two deep longings of the Psalmist.

I. Blessed is the man whose strength is in God

A. What prevent us from having this strength?

1. The first factor is our past.

- We incline to continue carrying the weight or baggage in our past. We must step out of our comfort zone. Find strength in the Lord to continue forward to the unknown future.
Let’s relate to the incident in Exodus 14:7-15. Here the people of Israel found themselves trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, no place to hide. God commanded them to march forward to the Red Sea that He will make a way for them.

• Here in the Israelites allowed their past in slavery and imprisoned for so many years, to prevent to put their confidence and strength in God to free them from the persecution of the Egyptians in pursuit.
• It reminds me of a church who mourn the loss of their old pastor, but now did nothing to continue its growth. Not having their strengths in God to continue the mission of the church. Does it happen in your church? A new Pastor then the church not finding strength in the Lord to continue its mission and growth.

2. Our short vision of the future also prevents us to find strength in God.

• Lack of a perspective.
• The contrast when we look at a valley from a mountain top.

A Christian man lamented his luck he was currently experiencing. At a very near height was a radiant Angel with a heavenly light, revealing the glory of God, signifying the hope of a better future. However, the man couldn't see this heavenly vision because he was not looking up. His sight was at a human level. Never walk or stand looking down or you may miss what the glory of God wants to reveal to you.

• We are inclined to contemplate more the garbage of this world than the glory of God.
• The large spiritual and moral values of this world. We have to have perspective and the vision of an Eagle.

3. Other factors that prevent us to have strength in God are what we call today's tragedy – EXCUSES!


Let us reflect on the parable of the great banquet (Luke 14:16-24) - Here a vision of future is presented. The idea that the Kingdom of God to be established. Jesus tells of a master who prepared a great banquet and invited many guests, saying, "Come, for everything is now ready”. After so many excuses for not attending by his invited guests, the master became angry and ordered his servants; "Go quickly into the streets and alley to bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame”. The result of the master's invitation was to feast and fellowship at a banquet given by God.  What is your excuse?

This is today’s tragedy. Everyone is too busy with other things and not having fellowship with God.

4. Another reason that prevents us from realizing that deep longing for God's strength is that we are arrogant and conceited.

• We think we are our own god.
• We think we have sufficient power to care for ourselves.
• We take few steps in the uncertainty sea of life without sink at first.
• We think we are in control and don’t need anyone else.

B. When we posses our strength in God.


1. It comes when we long for to the living God.

“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:2

Christ gives us the strength we need in our lives (Matthew 11:28)
- Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Apostle Paul confirmed that Christ is our strength in Philippians 4:13 – “I can do everything through him who gives me strength”. I feel that the day Paul wrote this verse in his letter to the Philippians, he felt that strength from Christ.

Lord, come in my life and makes me strong like Paul!

God has given us His strength. It is in Christ when He governs our lives from the throne of our heart. He gives us the strength to:

• Become free from the weight we carry from the past.
• He will give us the vision to see the Glory of God, the values, morals, and the spiritual of this world.
• Impulse us from the excuses that prevent us from serving Him.

2. We must not forget that the basis of the strength in God is prayer.

• Prayer in the Christian life is the tonic that strengthens your spiritual life.
• Jesus the Son of God was always seeking strength from His Father, through prayer.
• May one of the desires of your life is to seek strength from Christ through prayer.

II. “Blessed is the man; in whose heart are the ways of God”

What does “way” means? Definition is
1. Manner or a method.
2. Path, road, or route.

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

• The way for God in our heart is therefore personal.
• “The Way” can be defined as Christ. He is the person that embodies the Kingdom of God, the Order.
• The Way comes to be thus the way for the totality of the life – individual, collective. For God, for men, for the things.
• God speaks through Jeremiah 21:8- “I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death”.

Contact comes from the divine side - God takes the initiative (John 4:19) to love us first.
The stages through which we pass to go from our way (of death) to the way of life (Christ) -

• An Incarnation.
• An expiatory Death.
• A Resurrection (empty Tomb) AND
• An arrival to our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Pentecost).

Entering contact with us was not easy, because our sins blocked the road of the communion.
Therefore, He had to come to us bearing our sins in His own heart with redeeming love.
The cross is the price He paid to come near to us despite our sins - but He established contact - the Cross – Christ.

As we enter a New Year, we have an opportunity to start over again, we desire the best for our lives and those of others.  We make commitments to acomplish certain things in our personal life, professional life, but what about our Christian life?  We can learned from our past, knowing that poor choices can result in lifelong regrets, but they don't have to dictate our future.  Jesus said to seek the Kingdom of God first. Chasing after desires and dreams outside God's purpose will only lead to discontent.

Only in Christ can we find true desire and fullfillment.
Then I ask you again –

Is Christ what you yearn the most?

God Bless You in 2010
Your Brother in Christ
Moises Miranda

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