The Worry Killer: Luke 12:22-34 (Peace)

Read Galatians 5:22-23:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Are you ready to make an investment in the Fruit of Peace?

Read Luke 12: 22-34:

"Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Read Oswald Chamber's observations on Luke 12: 22-34:

Jesus sums up common-sense carefulness in a disciple as infidelity. If we have received the Spirit of God, He will press through and say - Now where does God come in in this relationship, in this mapped out holiday, in these new books? He always presses the point until we learn to make Him our first consideration. Whenever we put other things first, there is confusion.

"Take no thought . . ." don't take the pressure of forethought upon yourself. It is not only wrong to worry, it is infidelity, because worrying means that we do not think that God can look after the practical details of our lives, and it is never any thing else that worries us. Have you ever noticed what Jesus said would choke the word He puts in? The devil? No, the cares of this world. It is the little worries always. I will not trust where I cannot see, that is where infidelity begins. The only cure for infidelity is obedience to the Spirit.

The great word of Jesus to His disciples is abandon."

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Are you curious as what is blocking you from trusting God with the details of your life, to trust Him where you cannot see?

Take a moment now to get quiet before The Lord. When you are ready, pray this simple prayer:

'Lord, reveal to me what is blocking me from trusting You with all the details of my life. Why am I not able to fully abandon myself to You, to trust You where I cannot see? I ask this in Jesus name.'

Write down anything you receive.

Now, whatever The Lord revealed to you, take time now to talk to Him about it.

Talk to Him about your thoughts concerning what He revealed to you and what, if anything, you want to do about it. Feel free to express yourself open and honestly -without the sense of being judged for your response. (Note: If you did not receive anything in Step 5, consider going back and starting this Trail from Step 2 again.)

If you like, you can write down the details of this transaction in the space provided.

Now read Luke 12: 22-34 again:

"Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Write down any revelation you received in this second reading that you did not receive in the first.

Take a moment to imagine that you were living your life fully abandoned to God, trusting Him with every detail of your life.

Stay with this until you have the image fully established in your mind.

How would your life be different?

Oswald states:

"Jesus sums up common-sense carefulness in a disciple as infidelity"?

Webster defines the word infidelity as: "Unfaithfulness, especially to one's husband, wife or committed partner."

As a disciple, what are your thoughts on seeing your own worrying and common-sense carefulness as an act of in infidelity against Jesus?

Write your response in the space below.

As your first act of moving toward a life without common-sense carefulness or worry, are you willing to share the vision of yourself in Step 9 with one other disciple?

If so, use the Sharing Options at the bottom of this Navitent to share your responses with a trusted disciple.

(Note: if you do not know another trusted disciple, join the Faith of the Mustard Seed Campfire. You will find many other disciples there ready to greet you.)

(Optional) For a modern day, non-biblical, rendering of Luke 12:22-34, go to 'DOCUMENTS'.

For a great visual of the Luke 12 verses being played out in a movie, check out from a library, rent or purchase Frank Capra's classic 'You Can't Take It With You’.

How much has this Trail increased His fruit of Peace in your present disposition?