Worry and Trust
Daily Reading: (Psalm 112:7-8 Matthew 6:33-34):
“They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.”
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
“They will have no fear of bad news.” That is next level living. To be at such a place, that whenever bad news might come, our reaction can be to choose to not fear anything. This is the way I want to live my life and we will see the way this is done is by making a choice to seek something that will bring us to trust.
When you look at this verse through the eyes of the original audience you gain even more insight. The Hebrew word for evil or bad used in Psalm 112:7 is ‘ra and it just so happens to be the same name as the Egyptian god of the sun.
The Israelites won’t fear (‘ra) their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord” (Psalm 112:7). This is a reminder to God’s people, that the enemy they used to fear had already been defeated. The sun god was drown in the Red Sea along with his worshippers. Just as God led His people into the Promised Land through Joshua and Caleb, God has led you into the Promised Land through Christ so chose to put your trust in Him today despite whatever evil bad news comes against you, because your enemies have already been defeated in Jesus’ name.
Their hearts are established fixed on and stable in the Lord and as a result of their secure hearts, they will have no fear. In the end they will look in triumph on their foes. When you fix your eyes on Jesus you see the marvelous love God has for you, you will have no fear, as the Holy Spirit testifies to the fact that we are more than conquerors in Jesus and we will see victory on the horizon because Jesus is our champion.
The Psalmist uses the defeated, drowned evil bad (‘Ra) out in their lives as a way to remember God’s protection, God’s care, and God’s leading them to victory. This is done to instill confident steadfast hearts whose trust is in the Lord.
The kingdom of God was not something outside of you flowing in—“the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking”, but something inside you flowing out—“righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”. So to seek first God’s kingdom means to make it a priority every day to have your inner being flowing with righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The kingdom is the king’s reign which is about these three things: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).
It is all about righteousness, peace, and joy. It should be noted that 2/3rds of the king’s reign is an emotional state. When you are in the king’s reign you have the two primary emotions of His domain which are peace and joy. Righteousness is a sheer gift. Righteousness in God’s kingdom cannot be earned, it can only be received. We put our faith in Jesus and we are given His righteousness. Our sins are placed on His account and His righteousness is then deposited into our account. We are not only forgiven of our sins. We are viewed by God as being perfect. The Bible says this is what the King’s reign is all about. The king’s reign is all about making people as righteous as the King (Romans 14:17). As we are mindful of the righteousness King Jesus has given us, we are led to the Kingdom emotions of joy and peace in the Holy Spirit.
Many Christians live their lives consumed with what they do (secondary) to who you are (primary) which can’t change as it is anchored to Jesus and His finished work. This is something the devil can never take from you. He can only convince you to focus on what would be anything but the kingdom to get you to worry. So, trust in Jesus and His perfect and complete work that has made you righteous. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Therefore you won’t have to worry about tomorrow, you won’t have to fear bad news, because you sought the kingdom and it has ushered in peace and joy, a steadfast heart because your trust is in the Lord.