A Biblical Prescription For Worry!

Randy McWhorter is the former Director of the Healthy Church Group of the California Southern Baptist Convention and now the Lead Pastor of a powerful church in Northern California.

My very good friend, Randy McWhorter, in his endorsement for my book LIVING ON MISSION IN SPITE OF MY WORRY shared that there is a cure for an anxious heart that will bring you peace, power and make you prosperous in all things regarding God’s will. Read the whole endorsement for yourself,

**“Living On Mission In Spite Of My Worry: Biblical Advice On Relieving An Anxious Heart is akin to a Christian prescription for hypertension of the believer’s heart. My friend, Jay Moore, has shared six Biblical principles that have the potential to revolutionize your concept of what it means to live worry free. You will find each principle to be a practical expression of God’s will for everyone who desires to glorify Him in all he or she does. Together, these six principles guide our understanding of what it truly means to follow Jesus in spite of our human frailties. There is a cure for the anxious heart that will bring peace, power and that will make you prosperous in all things regarding God’s will. There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole! The only question is... will you take the medicine? Will you follow the prescription? Or, will you remain weakened by worry and spiritually anemic? Take the prescription! Why spend another day allowing unnecessary worry to keep you from living a life on mission for the Lord? Take the prescription!” Randy McWhorter**

Now that’s a powerful statement that Randy made but a very true and accurate one. There is good news for all of God’s people who suffer from an anxious heart, a life filled with worry or struggling with the stress that the world loves to throw at each of us. That good news is that you can live a worry free life on a day by day and moment by moment basis.

It is not God’s desire and certainly not His will for His people to live a life plagued with worry. As a matter of fact Jesus himself told us to stop worrying. When we worry we are communicating that God isn’t enough for us and that we really don’t believe that He can meet all our needs or that He knows what is best. When we worry we demonstrate a lack of faith in the Lord Jesus.

But the good news is that you can live that worry free life, it is available to all who are willing to learn and trust God. That’s what this book is all about!

LIVING ON MISSION IN SPITE OF MY WORRY will teach you the Biblical principles and Biblical practices that will guide into a lifestyle that doesn’t worry but just trusts God. This book contains the prescriptions for the cure of worry that Randy was talking about. It shows you what the Balam of Gilead looks like and how to get it.

Click the links below to find out more about this powerful book yourself.

Paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Mission-Spite-Worry-Relieving/dp/1791627064/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550075555&sr=8-1&keywords=living+on+mission+in+spite+of+my+worry

Kindle:

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Mission-Spite-Worry-Relieving-ebook/dp/B07LDGWYC8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1550075555&sr=8-2&keywords=living+on+mission+in+spite+of+my+worry

1 Absolutely Essential Activity For Worry Free Living

Spend Time With Jesus & Watch The Worry Melt Away!

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

In this Bible story we see a pretty clear picture of most of us when it comes to worry through Martha’s experience. So often, we are so busy doing this thing and doing that thing, that we become overwhelmed and possible overextended.

Martha was busy and distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. I think it’s interesting that the story clearly says that she was distracted! But, distracted from what? What were all of her busy preparations keeping her from that she should have been doing? Once we can answer that question, we also reveal the 1 absolutely essential activity for a worry free life!

The story also reveals that Martha was worried and upset about many things! If the truth of the matter is made clear most people don’t worry about just one or two things. Worry for most people, including Christians, have become a lifestyle. Throughout life we have learned to worry about most things. We’ve watched our parents worry over this or that; we’ve seen our friends grip by worry; and the uncertainty of life has taught us that worry is the proper emotion to have. Through a worldly perspective it appears that most of life is filled with things to worry about.

But not only did the story tell us that she worried about also upset about many things. Being upset and worrying actually go together! When we are worried about something, its because that something is out of our control. We can’t beat it into submission. And when we can’t control something and worry begins to grip our hearts and mind, then we become angry at situations and in this people, Martha’s sister, Mary. Martha was upset with her sister because Mary wasn’t doing what Martha thought she should be doing. What was that? Helping her with the preparations.

So what is the one absolutely essential activity for experiencing a life without worry? It was what Mary was doing! Read again what Jesus says,

“… but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Jesus starts off telling Martha that she’s a worry wart and that her sister helping her isn’t the solution to her worry. Not only was Mary not the solution to Martha’s worry but she actually was doing and being the example on how to get rid of that worry!

What was Mary doing? According to the story Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to everything Jesus was saying. Mary was spending time with Jesus; she was learning from Jesus; she was soaking in all that Christ had to offer and as a result Mary would be filled with peace and contentment and not worry or anxiety. So, what is that one essential activity to get rid of worry?

Spending Regular & Quality Time With Jesus!

When you do then all your worries will begin to melt away!

Here’s the lyrics to a great chorus that shares this message wonderfully:

“One thing is needful O my Father
One thing is needful O my God
That I sit at Your feet
And pour out my love
This thing is needful O my Lord
(REPEAT)

Verse 2
I sit and worship You my Father
I sit and worship You my God
Lord I sit at Your feet
And pour out my love
I sit and worship You my King
(REPEAT)

Verse 3
I lift my hands to You my Father
I lift my hands to You my God
Lord I sit at Your feet
And pour out my love
I lift my hands to You my Lord”

For more information on how to live a powerful worry free life, check out this powerful book that was ranked as an Amazon #2 Best Seller in the categories of Missions/Missionary Work and Pastoral Counseling/Recovery. It is called LIVING ON MISSION IN SPITE OF MY WORRY: Biblical Advice On Relieving An Anxious Heart.

In it you will learn about

• 6 Biblical principles

• and 5 Biblical practices that will lead you into a life without worry.

CLICK HERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION

What Curtis Sergeant Has To Say About LIVING ON MISSION IN SPITE OF MY WORRY!

Curtis Sergeant

I pretty excited to share that my new book LIVING ON MISSION IN SPITE OF MY WORRY has received a powerful recommendation/review from Curtis Sergeant.  

Here's little bit about Curtis which will explain why I am so honored to have his recommendation.  

Curtis has served our Lord in some very powerful positions.  Here are a few:

• He is the founder and lead trainer for MetaCamp. A group to train people to live out powerful missional lives. 

• He has served with E3 Partners as Director of Global Strategies and Vice President.  E3 Partners is a mission agency intended to ignite church planting movements all over the world. 

• Director Of Church Planting at Saddleback Community Church.

• Served with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in the following positions: Associate Vice President For Global Strategy; Strategy Associate For East Asia; Global Strategy Coordinator & Church Planting Trainer; and Strategy Coordinator.  

This guy has served our Lord faithfully for the purpose of saturating our world with the Gospel of Jesus.  

Here's what he has to say about LIVING ON MISSION IN SPITE OF MY WORRY:

"Jay's book follows a similar pattern to many of Paul's epistles, with the first half consisting of theology and principles and the second half being practical application.  The second half is culture-specific.  The first half is universal in application.  The first half is timely and much-needed in our day.  It provides a critically important perspective which has come to be alarmingly rare in recent years.  Its message is simple but not easy.  It directly confronts the idolatry of comfort and convenience in current expressions of Christianity.  It challenges us to live the abundant lives the Lord intends for us to live, the life of a disciple, the life of a servant rather than one who is to be served.  It is worth reading for one's own growth and passing on to the disciples we are making.  I recommend it." ~ Curtis Sergeant

It is my sincerest desire that this book helps God's people to shed the worry that plagues them to join Him on his mission of making disciples of the whole world.  

If you are a Follower of Christ and worry holds you back from joining Christ on His mission or holds you back from doing anything that you know God wants you to do, then it’s time to get rid of that worry and begin to live a worry free life. GET YOUR COPY OF THIS POWERFUL BOOK TODAY & LEARN HOW!

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF THIS POWERFUL BOOK

Please feel free to share this message with you friends on Facebook & Twitter.  

LIVING ON MISSION IN SPITE OF MY WORRY: A MUST READ

My very good friend Pastor Billy Galloska has taken the time out of his busy schedule to write me a very wonderful but honest endorsement for my new book LIVING ON MISSION IN SPITE OF MY WORRY.

Pastor Billy is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Glenns Ferry, Idaho.  I love the way he works with his congregation to intentionally equip them live powerful missional lives that brightly shines the Light of Christ in their part of this dark world through making disciples for Jesus Christ.  He and his wife, December, have a powerful testimony of God's transforming power.  Billy understands the needs of ordinary christians and what it takes to empower them to share Christ.  I greatly value his endorsement and what he has to say about my new book, LIVING ON MISSION IN SPITE OF MY WORRY. 

Take a few seconds and read what he has to say about it.

"Worry is a part of every life. Even as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ we can experience worry that sometimes cripples our work. It is no wonder then that ordinary Christians find themselves in the midst of worry that cripples them from sharing God's love in their part of this dark world.

Author Jay Moore uses Living on Mission in Spite Of My Worry to show that even in our worry God can and does empower us to inspire and connect with people in our part of this dark world to share the good news of Jesus when we seek His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Jay has not only hit the mark with this book, he has driven it home. If you have become crippled by worry, whether you are an ordinary Christian or you are a minister, this book is a must-read that will not only keep you reading but make you want to hit the neighborhood halfway through!"

Pastor Billy Galloska
First Baptist Church
Glenns Ferry, Idaho

Check Out This Powerful New Book For Yourself

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR COPY OF

LIVING ON MISSION IN SPITE OF MY WORRY

A GUIDE TO A WORRY FREE LIFE – Part 2 Trusting In The Sovereignty Of God

“I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize that He is able to carry out His will for me.  It does not matter where He places me, or how.  That is for Him to consider, not me, for in the easiest positions He will give me grace, and in the most difficult ones His grace is sufficient.” – Hudson Taylor

The prospect of attaining a worry free life is a wonderful proposition for many but has, at the same, seemed like a pie in the sky ideal that is completely unreachable.  The lesson we learned in Part 1 is that it’s not an unattainable goal but actually a completely Biblical one that Christians can make part of their daily lifestyle. 

We saw how both Hudson Taylor and the Apostle Paul claimed to achieve that state of being and we also learned that Jesus taught that living a worry free life should be the kind of life that His followers should experience.

In today’s lesson, we are going to learn where to start in the development of that worry free disposition.  Every journey starts with taking the first step.  So, today we are going to look at the first step in ridding our life from the stress, worry and anxiety that life throws at us.  

Lesson #2:  

Trusting In The Sovereignty Of God

We will start this lesson by looking at the second statement that Hudson Taylor made in his quote.

“ … I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will for me…” 

In this one short phrase, Hudson Taylor gives us the starting point for developing the worry free life that we’ve been talking about.  For him there could be no other first step.  All other subsequent steps are dependent upon this first step being actively embraced.  If a Christian fails to take this first step, then all the other steps are unattainable for this first step lays the foundation upon which to build all other steps. 

What is that first step?  It is simply this:  Trusting In The Sovereignty Of God!

While that may sound profound, what exactly does it mean?  To help us answer that question here’s a definition that resonates with me:

“God, as the ruler of the universe, has the right to do whatever He wants and whenever He wants and also has the ability and power to bring it about.”

In other words, God has both the authority and power to do whatever He decides to do.  It means that nothing is out of God’s control or outside His authority.  Or, you might even say that God’s will, will be done!

From this statement in Hudson Taylor’s quote, we can conclude that he came to the place in his walk with Christ that he sincerely believed that God is able and willing to accomplish whatever He has planned.  Taylor realized that there was no need to worry since God would be successful in accomplishing His endeavors.  He knew that God would be successful and would never fail. 

Taylor wasn’t concerned that people, in their sinful actions, would mess up God’s plans.  He wasn’t concerned that Satan with all of his scheming and deceitfulness could alter God’s will.  Why?  The answer is, because Taylor understood all of creation, whether angel, man, or demon, is under the complete authority of God.  Taylor truly believed that with just one word from God all of creation, both willing and unwilling, would do His bidding. 

Listen how the Bible describes the power and authority of God in Romans 9:19-21 (NIV):

“One of you will say to me: ‘Then why does God still blame us?  For who is able to resist his will?’  But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?  Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’  Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?”

In this verse, the Apostle Paul asks a couple of rhetorical questions,

• “For who is able to resist God?”  And the obvious answer is, no one. 
• “But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?”  And, again the answer is, no one.

Here’s the point of this whole verse: God is in control!  Nothing exists that is outside of God’s control.  This was something that Hudson Taylor understood and believed in the very depths of his heart, and it was the foundation that brought him peace and allowed him to live a worry free life.

 Hudson Taylor also applied this truth to his own life!  Take a look at that quote again.  Notice that it says, 

“…I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will for me…”

The last two words at the end of the quote make it so powerful and so personal at the same time.  The phrase, “For me,” is so powerful.  Why?  The reason is because if one doesn’t truly believe that the truths of God apply to them personally then they will never experience them personally.   Hudson Taylor could say that he no longer got anxious about things because he applied the truth of God’s sovereignty to his own life.

How peaceful and restful it is when we finally come to the place where we truly know and believe that nothing is able to hinder or prevent God’s will from being worked out in us and through us.  Think about it for just a moment.  Other people cannot mess up God’s will for your life. You can’t even mess God’s will for your life!

Once a person truly understand and believes, with their whole heart, that God is truly and completely in control and His will, will be done there’s no need to worry. THINK ABOUT IT:

• Worrying about something will not change God’s will!  
• Stressing over the outcome of something is not going to change what God has planned.
• Being filled with stress about whether or not something is going to happen is not going to change the final outcome.  

Jesus said it well in Matthew 6:27,

 “Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worry?’

 The obvious answer is “No.”  And here’s the lesson: Worrying over something cannot change what is or will be! 

• God has made you so tall so accept it and stop worrying about! 
• God had you born into a certain family.  Deal with it and stop stressing over it. 
• Worrying over something has never changed the facts or the outcome!

 If we truly want to join Hudson Taylor and the Apostle Paul in a worry free life, then three things need to take place:

1. We must become convinced that God is fully and totally in control of all things, including our own lives;
2. Understand there’s absolutely nothing we can do to change His will.
3. Total surrender of our lives to the care and control of God.

Once we successfully accomplish those three things, we will have laid the foundation from which a worry free life can be built. 

Click Here To Read Part 1

A GUIDE TO A WORRY FREE LIFE!

“I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize that He is able to carry out His will for me. It does not matter where He places me, or how.  That is for Him to consider, not me, for in the easiest positions He will give me grace, and in the most difficult ones His grace is sufficient.”

― James Hudson Taylor

Hudson Taylor was the great missionary that came from England to China.  Many of his quotes have been persevered over the years that allow us to learn some valuable lesson into missional living. 

One of the biggest lessons that we need to learn is how to join God on His mission without being overwhelmed with worry and anxiety.  Experiencing God’s peace in the midst of trials, tribulations and the lack of resources is an essential disposition for all Christians to have especially if they are going to brightly shine the Light of Christ.

From Hudson Taylor’s quote, we learn how to develop that worry free disposition so that we are able to join him in saying, 

“I am no longer anxious about anything.”

Can you say that for yourself?  Are you free from worry or do you still get a little anxious or maybe even extremely stressed out about uncertain circumstances? 

Over the next few posts, we are going to learn those lessons that Hudson Taylor learned in living a worry free life and how we can apply them to our life.  There’s a total 7 of them. 

Lesson #1:  Embrace The Reality Of A Worry Free Life  

Again, what did Hudson Taylor say? Read it one more time and let it really sink in!

"I am no longer anxious about anything ..."

WOW! What a claim! He is saying that he has come to a point in his growth in Christ that he is no longer gets anxious, no longer worries about or gets stressed out over the things of this life.  

He is saying that he was experiencing the worry free life.

Hudson Taylor believed that the worry free life was not only a possibility but also something that every Christian should seek after and attain.

What are we to conclude about such a statement? We can come to the conclusion that Hudson Taylor was either:

• Liar that is making statements that are not true. Or,
• Deluded and was not in his right mind. Or, 
• Truthful and he truly was experiencing a worry free life.

But before we get to far along in judging Hudson Taylor let's take a look at what the Apostle Paul had to say about the topic of worry and about experiencing personal contentment. (My Definition Of Contentment Is: The state of mind that is freed from a life of worry).

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Do you see it there?  Paul is basically saying the same thing that Hudson Taylor said.  Paul is telling us that there is no need to be anxious about anything!  What does “anything” include?  It includes everything.  In other words, there is absolutely nothing that you will go through in life that you need to worry about if your life is in Christ.  Those that belong to Jesus have no need to worry about anything!  That’s exactly what this verse is teaching.

So, if the Bible is telling us to stop worrying then it must be possible to do!

There's no question in Paul's mind that living a worry free life is not only possible but also should be expected!

Paul doesn't stop there.  He goes on to tell people what to do when the circumstances of life are uncertain.  Paul clearly instructs us to to stop the worrying, which is our normal response to uncertainty, and start praying about it.

In other words, do an exchange! Instead of worrying over the uncertainties of life exchange that activity with the activity of talking to God about it.  Place your faith in the god who's not uncertain about what the future hold but actually controls it.

PRAYER IS A LEARNED BEHAVIOR THAT MUST BE NURTURED IF WE WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE A WORRY FREE LIFE!

Paul says in Philippians 4:12 that he has discovered the "SECRET OF BEING CONTENT"! Isn't it interesting that the Apostle Paul refers to contentment as being a secret?  Why would he do that? Maybe it's because this contentment that so many of us are striving for is also what has alluded us so often and hard to hold onto! 

This contentment that Paul is talking about is to be found in any and every situation! Not just some situations but in all situations and circumstances.  Meditate on that thought for a just a little bit!

• Do you really think that is possible?
• Do you believe what the Bibles teach on the reality of this spiritual condition?
• And wouldn't having that contentment in every situation be a marvelous state of mind on a moment-by-moment and situation-by-situation basis?

And then Paul shares what that secret is in Philippians 4:13,

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

The secret of contentment is trusting in Christ who helps us do all things and specifically being content in the midst of the most uncertain of situations.  It is clear that the Apostle totally agrees with Hudson Taylor that a worry free life is the expected life style of God's people.

BOTH HUDSON TAYLOR AND THE APOSTLE PAUL AGREE - THE WORRY FREE LIFE IS EXPECTED AND DESIRED LIFESTYLE FOR GOD'S PEOPLE!

But, just in case you think that both the Apostle Paul and Hudson Taylor were crazy let's also take a look at what Jesus himself had to say about a worry free life.

In Matthew 6:25-43 Jesus talks about worry at length as part of the Sermon On The Mount. Let's look at a couple of statements that Jesus made about worry and how to view it:

• "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear." (v. 25)
• "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear." (v. 28)
• "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'what shall we wear?" (v. 31)
• "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (v. 34)

Did you notice that in the spam of 9 verses Jesus instructed us four different times NOT TO WORRY!  Basically Jesus was saying,

"STOP WORRYING"

What does that tell us about Jesus position on being anxious or worried?  Simple this:  It’s not part of the lifestyle that He has planned for His disciples to have, it's an unnecessary activity and if we are chronically suffering from a lifestyle of worry we are not experiencing the life he has intended for us to live.

But before you experience that stress free – worry free life you have to embrace that kind of lifestyle as attainable.  In order to get there you have to believe that others have made it and that you can too, with Christ help and strength, can make it.

NO ONE CAN EXPERIENCE A WORRY FREE LIFE IF THEY DON’T BELIEVE IT’S POSSIBLE!

The starting point is to just to believe that with Christ and through Christ an anxious free life is possible.  

So, are you ready to take the plunge?  Are you ready to draw the line in the sand and declare that it is God’s will that you no longer worry about anything but pray about everything and allow the peace of God that transcends all understanding to guard your heart from disappointments and your mind from confusion, as you stand firm in the contentment that Christ provides you regardless of the circumstances God allows you to go through, rich or poor, healthy or unhealthy, slave or free? 

Are you ready?

If so, you are one step closer to making the worry free life your reality!

 Click Here To Read Part 2