by Gloria Copeland
Seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtledoves, and a partridge in a pear tree…That’s a lot of birds in one Christmas carol!
Birds, like robins and red cardinals, not only appear on Christmas cards, but they also have great symbolism in the Bible. God references eagles, doves and sparrows, among many others. They play a significant part in many well-known stories in the Bible.
I have sat at my kitchen table and looked out the window at the birds. In the cold of winter, I have seen a bird and thought, God has put Himself on the line to provide for that bird. Then I have gone out and thrown him something to eat.
Do you know that in all the times I’ve done that, I have never seen a bird looking worried about where his next meal would come from. God said He would provide for the birds, and He keeps His Word. He’s a good God.
So what about you? Are you worried? Do you feel like you’re spinning your wheels trying to get the things you need?
Then you aren’t living in a revelation of the goodness of God and His willingness to bless you. You aren’t following Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 6:25-34 to receive the good things God has laid up for you.
Why Worry?
You may think, But I’ve already heard that God is good, and He wants to bless me.
Then why are you worrying instead of receiving?
Many people believe God is good, but head knowledge alone doesn’t affect their daily lives. It takes more than head knowledge to change your circumstances—it takes a revelation from the Word of God.
Do you know what a revelation is? It’s a truth that becomes so real to you, as the Holy Spirit shines light on it, that it becomes a part of your life. You don’t just hear it and then forget about it. You act on it. It is knowledge acted on that brings results.
This is what happened to me years ago when this passage in Matthew 6 became my first encounter with a revelation from the Word of God.
I had been raised in a church where they didn’t really think God was interested or would get involved in their lives. As a result, they worried about everything—and they taught me to worry. I even believed it was irresponsible not to worry!
But when I read that God was even interested in the birds, I knew He must care about me! This scripture put great faith in me. It became a revelation to me, and I asked God to take my life and do something with it. I found out that when you give God just a little opening, He will come right in.
How to Not Worry
Now understand, just because I received revelation about worry doesn’t mean the temptation to worry immediately left me. When I took hold of these scriptures, I had to learn to not worry.
Minute by minute I would reject worried thoughts that came at me from every direction. Though I didn’t know it at the time, I was doing what 2 Corinthians 10:5 says. I was “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (KJV).
At the time, Ken and I were in desperate need of all kinds of things. We were drowning in a sea of debts and trouble, and the Word became our life preserver! I had read in Matthew 6:33 that if I would seek God first, He would take care of the “things.” This was such good news to me, I wanted to learn more.
My way out of worry and into the reality of God’s goodness all started with one scripture. Revelation from God’s Word has to be the basis for any real change you make. The Word has to be No. 1.
I would like to say this is always easy. But it’s not.
In this busy world, especially at Christmastime, what is easy is to get our priorities out of order. We can become so caught up in the cares of daily life that we don’t make time for God and His kingdom to be first place.
As a result, the Word gets choked out by cares and distractions—what Jesus called “thorns” in Mark 4:18-19.
If watching the news puts care, fear and worry into you, don’t watch. Nowadays you can watch bad news 24 hours a day, but that doesn’t mean you should! Spend that time in the “good news”—that’s what the word gospel means.
How do you stop worrying? You replace worrying with believing what the Word says. You can refuse worrying as you replace it with believing what the Word says
You see, meditation on the Word is more than just reading. It’s applying what is says to your life and changing your situation.
Trust God’s Goodness
God wants you to trust Him for everything you need. Look at Psalm 31:19: “How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.”
When you trust Him, you can receive the good things He has laid up for you. To build that trust, you have to keep the Word as the center of your focus.
But if you’re listening to the devil’s lies and agreeing with them instead, you can’t be in faith. You’re sure to be anxious and worried.
When you worry, you’re in little or no faith, and that’s no place for a believer. Matthew 6:30 says, “And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”
So choose to trust God. Choose to believe He will take care of you—even down to what you will eat, drink and wear.
Win the Battle of the Mind
Casting your cares on God is an act of faith. It may not be easy at first, but it is necessary if you want to live in victory.
First Peter 5:8-9, KJV, says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
You can’t worry and be in faith at the same time. Resist the devil’s lies and give him no place (James 4:7; Ephesians 4:27). As Matthew 6:25, KJV, says, “Take no thought….” You have to consciously refuse to take those worried thoughts he brings.
The result will be perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).
That’s what I have done all these years, and I hardly ever have a worried thought anymore. I walk in the peace that passes understanding. It doesn’t make sense to the natural mind, but, I’m not living a natural life.
Whenever you are tempted to worry, just look at a bird. Does it seem worried? No, it has a heavenly Father who cares about it.
Well you have that same Father, and He delights in providing for you.
Remember, the Lord is good to all.
That includes you. So why worry?
My prayer is that you won’t. You’ll be just like the birds, and you will enjoy a worry-free Christmas!
Dare to Shine His Light on Worry This Christmas!
- God is on the line to take care of the birds, and He’s on the line to take care of you, too. Meditate on these truths as you watch the birds outside your own window.
- Refuse to worry! Commit to be obedient to Jesus’ command and to receive all God has for you (Matthew 6:25-34).
- For every issue you’re tempted to worry about, find scriptures that apply to your situation. Keep them in front of your eyes, and going in your ears and out your mouth, until that truth gets into your heart.
- Whenever you find yourself worrying about anything, say out loud, “I take no thought about that.” Then speak a scripture promise that applies to what you were tempted to worry about.
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