Best of 2020: God's Answer to Fear, Worry, & Anxiety: Let God Take Over

Everybody Greg Laurie here 2020 has been a banner year for us at harvest ministries. Listen to this. We have seen 140,000 people make a profession of faith to follow Jesus Christ. It's incredible. We have shipped over 25,000 new believers Bibles to those who have said I want to follow Jesus Christ and just what I want to do more than 20, 21, but I can't do it alone.

I need you the support beat with prayer and with your finances, and together we can reach more people than ever think about that and thanks for your response. If you don't want to live in fear, anxiety and worry your concerns in the hands of God.

Don't be afraid to commit an unknown future to a known God with all this going on this year is easy to let anxiety take over pastor Greg Laurie says let God take instead.

Someone wisely said when your knees start knocking Neil on the intern your panic in the prayer and often bring fear and worry, make it difficult to solve problems that cause more fear and worry many of us have been caught in a downward spiral like that especially this year. Today on a new beginning. Greg Laurie helps us learn how to and watches her series of benchtop messages of 2020 will go to Scripture, God's answer to fear, worry and anxiety help is on the way your challenges.

I returned to passages with me. Matthew chapter 6 in Philippians chapter 4 well, I've spent a lot of time looking at birds Godiva birdfeeder right in front of my kitchen and I'll sit there, my kitchen, and have breakfast in the morning and I watch the birds, and I also have a squirrel that's sort of an interloper and become Zenon and steel seed from the birds and by the way, it's a squirrel proof bird feeder. But somehow this world is quite an Acrobat. I have to say things on it upside down eating the seed that is shaking his tail out us just come on what you what you guys want some of this crazy thing. What's a little birds. There's a lot we can learn from birds. By the way, Jesus made that .2 thousand years ago and I want to read to what he said from Matthew chapter 6 verse 25 and by the way I'm reading from the new living translation there's a Jesus says I'm telling you, don't worry about everyday life. Whether you have enough food or drink enough close to where is in life more than food in your body more than clothing that Jesus has led to the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable to him. Then them. So why do you worry about these things can all of your worries at a single moment of time to your life. Why do you worry about clothing. Jesus says look at the flowers in the field. Look at how they grow, yet I say to you that Solomon in all of his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If God's can they care so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow will certainly care for you, why do you have such little faith so don't worry about these things.

Say, what shall we eat, what shall we drink, what shall we wear these things dominate the thoughts of nonbelievers, but your heavenly father knows all of your needs. I love the statement, Jesus says, but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.

So I concludes don't worry about tomorrow.

Tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. I have 10 things I want to share with you that will help you to not worry. Point number one very simple. The believer should not worry now. Jesus is not saying we should be concerned about the needs of life. He's not saying we should be concerned about food on the table close on our back a roof over our heads, but what he is saying is don't worry about these things. Listen to this worry and anxiety can actually cause deep depression 90. The experts tell us is what the Bible told is this a long time ago. In Proverbs 1225 it says anxiety in the heart of man causes depression so you want to be depressed a lot of times. What were self absorbed and I would ask you right now is worth facing this coronavirus together to not be selfish.

I would ask you to be self less and I'll tell you why that's important. It's important for your own benefit because you feel better. You know, studies have been done that have determined that when you help others you feel better yourself. I see you have a 10 step program to cure you of depression. Step number one do something for someone who is greater needs than you.

Step number two. Repeat step number 19 more times got it so there's someone around you.

That's a neat it's maybe a neighbor maybe a family member someone that could really use a helping hand. You know they've actually called this the helpers may determine when you're actually not thinking about yourself, but thinking about someone else. It will elevate your mood. The helpers I so would someone asked what you did last Sunday. You could say I got high really. Yes, helping people in the name of Jesus Christ, so focus on that worry is not a good thing. I think something to think worry is some kind of a virtue but let me say something that might surprise you.

Worry can actually be a sin. Why, because worry is a failure to trust God. Why should we not worry, Jesus illustrates Jesus birds. Don't worry, why do you worry have you overseen the stressed-out bird ever seen a bird popping a Valium. Don't you ever seen a bird getting therapy made maybe from a squirrel I don't give in therapy but you know, of course you haven't. Birds just go out there and live there little bird life. Snowbird is ever been promised eternal life.

Snowbird is a hope of heaven. But what if you do every morning, they wake us up with their singing and they're happy and that doesn't mean the birds don't take action to get food.

I mention I have a birdfeeder to come and get the seat or the resting on a McDonald's away from Fry to get the ground, but they do their due diligence. What they don't worry about it. There's an old Palm Kathy. I wonder if you remember it, never the one about the sparrow and the Robin Devitt memorized send the rod into the sparrow friend. I'd really like to know why these anxious human beings rush about in worries that send the sparrow to the Robin friend. I think that it must be that they have no heavenly father such as, cares for you and me. While that's pretty good so that's true.

So God tended to care. Birds is going to take care of you and Jesus illustrates the flowers look at flowers.

They don't worry. Why should you Solomon in all of his glory and his royal robes and is gold encrusted thrown wasn't as beautiful as a simple wildflowers of calla lilies of the point that Jesus is making his God takes care of these things. He's going to take care of you. Here's another point worry does not make your life longer.

It just makes it more miserable. Listen to this worry can actually shorten your life a medical experts have determined that worry can disease the nervous system, the digestive system. It's really a very bad thing so we don't want to live that way and here's what Jesus is saying in verse 27 can all of your worries at a single moment to your life. Listen, you live as long as God wants you to live.

Nobody changes that a virus doesn't change that a threat against your life doesn't change that. And as I mentioned last time, the Christian is indestructible until God is done with them and I think in many ways this coronavirus is a national test effective many ways it's a global test and for many, it's a nightmare, but it should not be for a Christian infected should be a challenge to us some 27 verse five says in the day of trouble will keep me safe in his dwelling you'll hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high up on a rock. You can shelter in place in the Lord, not just in your home or your apartment or wherever you happen to live, you know. And while you're there.

Redeem the time, the Bible says redeem the time, because the days are evil. The word redeem means make sacred and wise use of every opportunity in one of the things you can do when you're at home is read the Bible that brings me to another point we grow in the faith that were often lacking, causing us to worry, we don't read the Bible, but if you want to grow in your faith and have more faith instead of worry. Read your Bible believe what it says, because Romans 1017 says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Most of you have a Bible in your home. That was the view of more than one copy. 93% of American households have a Bible affect the average American household has four Bibles. I'll be honest, I've even more than for I have lots of Bibles. Maybe some of you do as well in the center for Bible engagement did an interesting study.

They came up with this conclusion. If you are not reading your Bible four or more times a week you will make no significant choices or changes any different than someone who does not read the Bible, so obviously it's very important to read your Bible, not once, not twice, not even 3�4 times a week. Better to read it every day. However, the study goes on the show if you read your Bible more than four times a week. Your propensity for pornography goes down 61% your propensity for substance abuse goes down 57%. Your propensity for gambling goes down 74%. Even your obesity will go down 20%. So if you want to lose weight, read your Bible right but the study goes on to show this. Listen to this. This is cool if you read your Bible, at least four days a week you'll ever 228% greater chance of sharing your faith. If you read your Bible at least four days a week 11 231% chance of discipling others.

And here's a good one you love a 407% chance of memorizing Scripture.

So I'm reading my Bible four times a week or more, all of a 400% chance of wanting to memorize verses just for scriptural touches can change your life. So let the word of God bolster your faith for Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message just a moment. So many listeners have commented on the help they received from these daily messages were administered often gets them through some dark hours right really angry you love the Lord. There are only 11 hours before uniting me waiting for a 300 and anything for help. Monitors were able to get a little rain that you not order any clear about not wanting to live with anything let her go and find you here me weeping. I like that you never really get over and get all that Rob only got to bring her home. No more around the corner so I need to learn how to completely out of the equation on me. I pray for you that you will continue to be important that having God in the light or not. May God continue to bless you and your family. Thank you so much, probably some distance like this, knowing that this broadcast is helping. Would you like to share your story with pastor Greg called 1-866-871-1144.

Once again, 866-871-1144 will today. Pastor Greg is offering 10 things that will help us avoid, fear, anxiety and worry, here's the next on the list stranger worry for worship. Look at what Jesus says in Matthew 633 seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness put God first in your life. Put God first in your priorities.

Put God first in your marriage, put God first in your singleness put God first in your career. Put God first in your finances.

Honor the Lord let him have his way in your life.

Jesus taught us to pray in the Lord's prayer to say thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

As one preacher said is named Alan Redpath.

We cannot pray, thy kingdom come, until we first pray my kingdom go to God's plan for your better than your plans for yourself. Don't be afraid to commit an unknown future to a known God put God's kingdom first and turn your panic in the prayer I told you to turn to Philippians 4 let's flip over there now read a very familiar verse. Philippians 46 Paul says don't worry about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Now this promise and the peace of God that passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. If you don't want to live in fear, anxiety and worry, put your concerns in the hands of God, as someone wisely said when your knees start knocking Neil on them. Now our natural inclination is when we face adversity to reach out to people for help. The people have their place but ultimately we must turn to God. Here's another really important key given to us in Philippians 4 verse six in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Don't wait for the answer to the prayer to give thanks. Give thanks.

Now I give thanks to the Lord for he is good and his mercy endures forever. I don't give thanks to the Lord because I feel good because maybe you don't feel good right now I don't give thanks to the Lord because things are good." I give thanks to the Lord because he is good and his mercy and doors forever. My final thought for you replace thoughts of anxiety, worry and panic with godly thoughts.

Philippians 48 says this, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, and pure and lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue or anything praiseworthy in these things, then meditate on them, meditate, you know.

Some people say will II meditate the fine piece. The Bible talks about meditation but it's different than Eastern meditation and Eastern meditation you empty your mind in biblical meditation. You fill your mind with the word of God, and someone says blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly are stands in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful is the light is in God's word. Listen in it.

He meditates day and night so you think about it you ponder it and you fill your mind with God's word. Why because as a man thinks Proverbs 23, seven says so is he. You need to train your mind to think biblically.

Why so of thought reconnect. So an act reap a habit. So I have it, the character, so a character, reap a destiny.

It starts with your mind. Think godly thoughts of the next time you fly into a panic, or you're worried about something. Remind yourself of what the word of God says quote Scripture to yourself. Remind yourself of what is true, whatsoever things are true and lovely and virtuous and good report, think on these things. So fill your mind with God's word.

That's a good place to do that is harvest.org you can come here will of inspiring messages for you. Praise and worship for you movies for you to watch and have great Christian themes but the most important thing is open up the word of God and read it for yourself and that's how we can spend our time and so you replace your worry with worship as I've said before, turn your panic in the prayer and turn your fear in the faith lesson all these things I'm sharing with you these two Zephyr believers only.

I don't know some of you might remember this long time ago. There used to be those jackets.

We were called members only for members only. Remember those I had one. I don't even know what I was a member, but I had a for members only. Check it. Listen what I'm telling you this is for believers only. You see what you mean by that I mean what I'm sharing with you is only for people who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. I'll be honest with you, you're not a Christian.

Right now you're probably freaking out. Maybe want to be because what hope do you have do you think technology is going to save you. Do you think Hollywood skin is AB with the new blockbuster film. You can even go to the theaters right now. Do you think governments gonna save you there do what they can but they can't save you. Only Jesus can save you of your sins and there someone watching me right now that does not have this hope.

I've talked about ridge of the words of the apostle Paul. He said don't worry about anything, pray about everything in the peace of God that passes all human understanding, will guard your heart and mind.

I have peace right now.

I know things are chaotic. I know that there's uncertainty in the air. I know these are scary times but I have peace in the middle of a storm, that peace comes from my relationship with God and ask you, do you have that piece you're looking to find it in a bottle, you cannot find it in a drug you're not gonna find it in a helpful little sayings you read on Instagram or Pinterest. You need God's word.

You need truth man and most of all, you need Jesus. And guess what Jesus is here for you right now he's ready to come into your life because being a Christian is not just being religious, being a Christian is having a relationship with God where Jesus comes and lives inside of you and some of you don't know him know you're stressed out your agitated you're afraid. Here's what Jesus says come to me all of you that are weary and stressed out. He says come to me and I will give you rest. Come to him is able don't I need to clean my life up first know you don't clean your life up and come to Christ to come to Christ to clean your life up. Listen, I'm telling you on the authority of the Bible which is God's word.

You can be forgiven of all of your sin, you can replace your fear with faith in you can have hope in a hopeless time can hope is that it's the hope of heaven because no matter what the Christian knows will go to heaven is a will.

No one can know that the lecture you can't because Jesus said for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but they'll have ever lasting life. Listen, I know I'm going to heaven when I die, say, how do you know that I put my faith in Jesus and the Bible says, for as many as received him, he gave them the power to become sons and daughters of God. The Bible says these things we write to you that believe in the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life if you don't know that you have eternal life. If you are not sure that your sin is forgiven. If you don't have the confidence that you go to heaven when you die of your life is filled with turmoil and fear can change right now by you asking Jesus to come into your life. He's just a prayer away is a hello I do that you just pray that could be my honor to lead you in a prayer, a simple prayer so simple a child can pray pray these words were Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin rose again from the dead. Jesus come into my life. I call out to you in Jesus name I pray.

Prayer Pastor Greg Laurie those were making a change in their relationship with God today here on a new beginning. And if you just pray with pastor Greg and ask Jesus to be your Savior would like to follow up with you by sending a free resource. It's our new believers growth packet will send it to help you begin to live this new life.

Just ask for when you write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 were here to take your call around-the-clock, seven days a week. So again, call 1-800-821-3300 or just go online to harvest.org and click the two words no God triggers a lot of talk about voting this year. Yes, our listeners may not realize it but they vote to keep this study coming their way. They vote by partnering with us yet their support is what helps these programs keep coming their way and we just want to say, the polls are open. That's right, they are open and that is a way that we know that were impacting you when you write us when you contact us when you communicate with us and say I'm listening I been impacted by what you're offering and also when you support us financially because that enables us to reach even more people I know so many of you listen every single day or every other day and it's a part of your life and you share these broadcasts are podcasts with other people were thankful for that and we want to continue to be able to come into your home into your vehicle wherever it is your listening to us and we want to come at other people's lives as well because people need to hear the word of God. Don't you think Simon ask you as we come to the end of 2020 to prayerfully consider making a financial contribution to harvest ministries when you do this, you share in the spiritual fruit of what were doing. The apostle Paul wrote to the believers knee said I thought that I want to give but I want fruit to abound to your account.

So when you give toward this ministry.

That's what's going to happen for you too, and we have seen thousands of people come to Christ well over 100,000 people have made a profession of faith to follow Christ through our online ministry through our outreach through our film, a rush of hope and of course our radio and television and so forth and were praying. The next year will even be greater. So listen with that gift that you send our way would ever it can be. I want to say thanks by sending you a copy of a brand-new resource that we have never offered before. It is the DVD version of a rush of hope.

You sought online in many visit I want my own copy.

Now you can have one you can watch it as many times as you want to watch it and you can show it to as many people as you want to show it to and you can do it wherever you want to do it and you'll have your own copy, along with some special resources we've developed a booklet that's called answering life's most important questions that you could give out to a nonbeliever that you know also a piece that we wrote that will show you how to host a watch party so will send you a copy of this DVD for your gift of any size I wanted to say in advance.

Thank you for believing in what we do and let's pray that next year is our greatest year ever. Amen. And in that regard. Your gift couldn't come at a more strategic time your gift in the waning moments of 2020 is so very important. Joy will go contact us today for your copy of a rush of hope along with all the extras not only are we offering this on the DVD, but there's also a special digital download code. We will provide for you. What that means is to let the DVD the show to wherever you want to show to but you can downloaded to your phone you can downloaded to your tablet device or to your computer and then watch it or show it when ever you want carried around with you event and you can have an evangelistic crusade in your pocket, its rights or contact us today with your generous your intonation at a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300 1-800-821-3300 and we can take your call 24 seven or just go online to harvest.org everybody Greg Laurie here personally inviting you to join us for what we call Harvest at Home. It's a Bible study. It's a worship service. It church in your home. If you're not able to get out your church right now. If so, join us Harvest at Home people are listening this from around the world listen to this.

We have seen thousands of people make a commitment to follow Christ. Join us this weekend harvest@homeharvest.org next time as pastor. Greg continues her series of most popular messages of the year. He brings a powerful step-by-step study on how to follow the Lord's plans were more successful and rewarding career life. Join us next time your new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie message from Greg Laurie was made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions@harvest.org