The instruction seems too easy doesn't it. "Dont even think about it", but there is something that I think is missing from this translation. The more literal translation for THOUGHT is anxious or anxiety in each of these verses.
One dictionary provided this definition: full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; Let me ask the question, Who experiences anxiety? Is it a universal feeling or emotion?
I would suggest that no one is exempt. No one escapes its pursuit. In life there are very few things that we can exert direct control over. We cannot control the weather, what other people do or think about us. We cannot control the governments of the world or the influences of evil that wait for tomorrow like we do. We are powerless to stop the seasons and we are unable to stop the tides. All around us systems and organisms grind out around us, over us and through us and we are just part of the land scape
What we can control? What we can influence? What we can determine is are our thoughts. Take if from me I know this is not easy, in fact it is a lifes pursuit. Winning and losing. Building new defenses only to discover new plots to undermine peace and confidence with worry, doubt and anxiety. But it is our mind, not someone else's. We can determine what voice gets the microphone and which hecklers are thrown out of the lecture hall.
There are more instructions on winning this battle than I can share, but they are out there in books, magazines and the internet.
Think about this - take no thought for tomorrow (don't be anxious about tomorrow for tomorrow will be anxious either way.) How can we live in this moment and in this day and not project our worries a full 24, 48 or 72 hours into an unknown future. By the way we cannot control the future either. What we have is this day. What we have is this hour. What we have is this minute. What we have is this very next breath, and thats it. How can we immerse ourselves in this moment and get from it every special blessing and purpose it contains?
I need something to fix my thoughts. Not fix like repair, but to hold them down. To provide a point of reference that I can use when I venture out in my thoughts and that can guide me back. A fixed navigational point. A high point that can be seen from a distance. I said that this is not easy, but that is mostly because we have developed such a love for worry. Love like being in an abusive relationship. If I can stick this out one more day, then I can get on top of it. Everything will change and become right.
Its not going to work like that. If I want to silence the anxiousness in my mind I need to try and make this difficult thing as easy as I can. Jesus said don't worry about what you will eat, what you will wear or where you will stay, because He provides these things for creatures and if he cares for the very needs of birds and flowers how much more will be consider and provide for us.
The thing is I HAVE TO BELIEVE THIS! I have to KNOW that in spite of my fears and even my sin (my grievous sin) Jesus loves me and I cannot be separated from Him or His love. If my thoughts are fixed on this one truth and not chased about then what else will fall into place? I am a simple man with too many failures to count so I have to have simple path to follow. Honestly I think we sometimes try to over complicate things for our ego's sake, for the hope that we will learn or discover something that no one else has yet. But let me do one thing well. Let me hold one truth in its simplicity and power and stop looking for a new or greater revelation.
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