Satan’s alarm clock
Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
My life is really hectic this time of year; my wife calls herself an “air conditioning widow”, for work demands regular 80hr weeks in the summer. We really don’t get to spend much quality time together. Yesterday we actually got to talk some about some of the big things going on in our life; just like you, we have a lot on our plate. The whole family went to bed early, and I went right to sleep. My mind evidently continued to race on, for at about 11pm I woke up and prepared to get up like it was morning until she asked what I was doing. As we all know, worrying many times plays into our sleep, or lack of it. I openly struggle with anxiety, which is a brother of worry, which both are sons of Satan. Satan is the author of fear and all the torment it brings in our lives.
I decided to read the Sermon on the Mount this morning. I stopped at this scripture above. It falls on the heels of my favorite verse, Matthew 6:33 Seek Ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. That scripture speaks of a focused life, of a life centered on seeking God in all that you do for each and every day. To seek Him and his Will for your life, every single day. To spend time in His Word and prayer, every single day. With that heart will bring strength and peace for that day, especially when you start the day early with Him. It seems that the later in the day is when worry seems to grow. Is that why Daniel prayed three times every day? Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Daniel practiced the life that Christ spoke about at His sermon on the Mount. Daniel knew those had plotted against him and his faith; he should have worried about what to do in regards to the law that would ultimately have him thrown into the lions den. But in his great faith he did not worry about tomorrow, he sought God today. God was glorified in and through all of Daniels life.
We do not know what tomorrow might bring; we do not know if we are given tomorrow. Why should we worry about what we are not guaranteed? We loose the opportunity for the blessings for today in the worry about tomorrow. We may miss or pass on an opportunity to be used or blessed by God because our focus is on what we cannot control. This is something that requires the diligence of Daniel; a heart such as his that seeks God throughout the day. Keep Satan and his angels at bay with the power of a heart for God and prayer. Today when the stress and worry of the world press, push back with the strength of prayer. The worry Satan brings can ultimately be used by God against him. Every stress can be an alarm that awakens your need for seeking God in prayer for strength for the day. Satan’s plans backfire and your faith grows.
oneminuteministry 