What I Would Tell My Younger Self: Worry Less, Pray More

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You wondered what you and your hand really does rush out today on a new beginning. Laurie helps us lay down which we will offer some practical would tell my younger self inside everyone. Let me give you a little bit of advice maybe you don't have a mom and a dad that are doing this for your grandfather. Let me be your dad for a few minutes or your grandfather and say things to you that you need said to you as a younger person. This first one may be surprising, but I want to start with this. Whatever you're going through.

It's going to be okay. Whatever you're going through. It's going to be okay. I know when you're young and you're experiencing things for the first time life can seem kind of scary.

You're wondering about what you're going to do with your life where you're going to go who you're going to marry what career path you're going to choose and then maybe something bad happens to you. You have a huge setback you break up with your boyfriend or your girlfriend, and it almost seems like your world is just ended. Listen, it's going to be okay. Whatever you're going through, you're going to get through it.

Number two what I say to my younger self. Good God first in your life. Put God first in your life. This of course starts with asking Christ to come of your life. But then, the means following Jesus summed it up this way. Matthew 633 seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you know what was he talking about when he said all these things Jesus said don't be like the nonbelievers. All they think about is what the gun aware what they're going to drink what they're going to eat but I said you seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and these things will be added to you and were obsessed with all the things what will lead mobile drink bubble where what will go will drive where we will work we will live. These are not bad things about the way to think about. But Jesus is saying don't make those. The focus of your life. Put God first in your life. Seek first the kingdom of God.

What is that mean the kingdom of God is the rule and reign of Christ in your life see one day will go to guy Brennan and her into the kingdom of God and the kingdom of God will come to work but also when the Bible tells us to seek. At first it means just put Jesus first think about God's will. When you make those decisions don't put money first. Don't put career first.

Don't put politics first. Don't even put ministry first put Jesus first and he will take care of you in life. There was a young Solomon ascending to the throne of his father David died, the Lord comes to Solomon and says Solomon asked me for what ever you want and I will give it to you. Imagine for a moment of God give you and said that's what you want, I'll give it to you, what would you ask for. Solomon said Lord I pray for wisdom. Wisdom to lead your people the Lord in effect said because you didn't pray first off, you didn't pray for possessions you didn't pray for great wealth or honor, to give you the wisdom you asked for, and all these other things as well. It's a perfect illustration of why putting God first is the right thing to do. That doesn't mean that God's going to make everybody incredibly wealthy, but what it does mean is God, the Bible says will supply all of your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus Oakwood God first in your life. That's where I would start what is the will of God, you might ask about this thing. I'm about to do.

How do you know the will of God answer by reading the word of God will reveal his will to you in Scripture understand this. Why are you in this earth and this enters the big question. The question of why am I here what is the meaning of my life. Here's the answer. The meaning of your life. You are here to bring glory to God not to bring glory to yourself. Isaiah 43, seven, God says, everyone who was called by my name, whom I created for my glory.

That's why you're here so know this God wants to speak to you. God wants to fill you with those Holy Spirit each and every day, put God first in your life and the rest will be blessed. Point number three. What would I say to my younger self. I would say young Greg read the Bible every day and I pretty much followed that advice. Thankfully and I hope many of you are following it as well because sometimes I think Christians as they grow in their faith think well I don't need to read the Bible is much as I used to know. Listen, you need to read the Bible every single day. You should start today with it. You should end the day with it and someone it says happy is the man or the woman who doesn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful. Listen it is the light is in the word of the Lord, and in it does seem meditate day and night. Then it goes on to say, to be like a tree planted by the rivers of water is leave shall not weather and whatsoever he does shall prosper. Happy is MN you want to be a happy man you want to be a happy woman read the word of God. It says meditate in it in Eastern Europe meditation one seeks to empty their mind and biblical meditation one fills their minds with the word of God. This is how you're going to grow spiritually. This is how you will be able to resist temptation were told in the Psalms. How silly young man cleanse his way answer by listening to what the word of God says so you need to read the Bible every day because Scripture says study to show yourself approved on the God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Listen to this success or failure in the Christian life depends on how much of the Bible you get into your life on a regular basis and how obedient you are to it, repeat that success or failure in the Christian life depends on how much of the word of God you get into your life in a regular basis and how obedient you are to it.

So read the word treasure.

The word memorize the word. I've never met a strong Christian who is not full of Scripture or Greg Laurie of the second half of this message moment right after a quick look at the way a new beginning touches the lives of listeners. 20 years ago I gave my life to Jesus. After listening to you on the radio. God bless you always.

Thank you for leading years ago are you majoring in my life and I can't thank you enough. Early last year. I found the Lord that harvest Christian Fellowship God is so I'm happy to partner with you in your mission more folks that know me know that I often in my message, no matter what the topic with an invitation for people to come to Christ because there's always someone out there that doesn't know the Lord may be there in the congregation. Maybe there listening, then radio maybe there watching online, and I want those people to know they can never relationship with Christ and I know that this is what God wants, because the Lord says he's not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, so I'd like to throw the net and as you know, if you listen to a new beginning we throw the net a lot and you know what we see thousands of people come to Christ every year through our radio program alone so that is why am thankful when you invest in our ministry because you enable us to reach a lot of people that I can never reach otherwise they'll never darken the doorway of the church, but they might be churning the radio dial income upon our show and say what is this all about, and I've had more than one person tell me that's all they found their program and ended up listening and coming to Christ, so that's what were all about. So when you support as you help us to reach more people like the ones you just heard from with the message of the gospel, you can make a generous year-end donation today by going to harvest.org you tuned in for a fascinating study from Pastor Greg today called what I would tell my younger self but continue.

Here's 1/4 thing I would say to a younger me stop worrying and start praying. I know we all love things to worry about life and I'm reminded of the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 4 when he says don't worry about anything, pray about everything. Tell God what you need.

Think of Raleigh is done then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.

His peace will guard your heart and mind as you live in Christ Jesus. Worry worry can ruin your day. It can ruin your week. It can ruin your month actually worry can effectively ruin your life.

The word worry come from a root word that means to choke or strangle a number of years ago, my grandkids would like to come up and choked me from behind. I thought that was very cute and fun. It was okay.

There were very small. They were hurting me and so they would come over to public and we choke you will as I've gotten older.

If I let them do that now. I might die so we can play that game anymore, but that's worry does it show to out it doesn't make things better. It makes them worse. John Curtis, director of the University of Wisconsin stress management Institute says oh I believe that 90% of the stress we face is brought on by not living in the present moment, worrying about what's already happened or what's going to happen or what could happen.

Listen to this. When you worry about the future you cripple yourself in the present worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow.

It empties today of its strength. I mean, even when things are going well all it's a good day. Nothing is going wrong and then you start worry what's going to go wrong, something is going to go wrong.

I just know what Woodside all about that cannot be helpful. I read it. Comic strip Charlie Brown says I have a new philosophy. I'm only going to dread one day at a time. Well, actually, Jesus said this. Today's trouble is enough for today.

Don't worry about tomorrow.

Just take each day and take that worry and churning into prayer I would compare this to a natural reflex and a conditioned reflex to learn how to turn, worry in the prayer is a conditioned reflex limits what natural reflex you don't have to teach us about it, even a little child touches a hot stove. They pulled her hand back right because they know that's hot. They know they should not touch but that's a natural reflex. If you touch a hot iron. The same thing happens I heard about a guy that went to see a doctor yet to horribly burned ears.

So the doctor said what happened you sizzle.I was ironing and I got a phone call and I answered the iron instead of the phone doctor was horrified.

I can't believe you did that, but what happened to the other air gets his will he call back today so anyway that's a reflex. I tried something hot.

I pull back again.

But then there's a conditioned reflex.

This is something I'm taught to do. I have a granddaughter name Allie. She is swim meets on Saturdays and before the meat begins. They have someone sing the national anthem.

What is everyone do we stand we put our hand over our heart in respect for our nation, which is represented by our flag that we look toward that is a conditioned reflex.

I would not of done that naturally someone had to teach me to do that same thing with driving you know when you first learned to drive. Remember five a granddaughter that just learning how to drive. So I let her drive the other day and I was next to her and you know she had to think about everything you know 010. I do not turn your turn need to go on our own parking that's a situation visited trying to figure that out so you want to consciously think about everything you're doing and if you're in a stick shift car manual transmission okay got a push in the clutch. I'd have it in gear. I slowly release the clutch.

Then I get the accelerator you know a lot of things to remember whatever while you think about it anymore. You drive you eat Doritos you do your taxes, you actually should put you to all kinds of things in your driving because you concerned that into a condition reaction. A conditioned way to respond to what you're facing. So known, the same way worry gets anxiety gets predicates right away. Pray oh I'm scared let's pray let's pray stop everything you're doing and committed to the Lord.

First Peter five we read these words give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares for you. By the way of the original language that signifies a definite act of our will.

Where we choose to stop worrying and let God assume the responsibility for our welfare. You take out the trash.

I don't know why that is but men have been basically chosen to take the trash out. That is our job and that's what were supposed to do and I don't know why but I always put off taking the trash. It's not hard by these big plastic cans with a handle and a wheel on it to do so. The tribes in the can take it out a few feet put in front of my house and the tribesman picks it up, but I have to take it out your worries, your anxieties are like trash take them out and make a deliberate choice to give them over to the Lord. The same is true of all anxiety and worry.

Pray more and worry less. Billy Graham was interviewed and he was asked the question if he had his life to live over what would you do differently. Billy's response was quote I would study more, I would pray more, I would travel less tickler speaking engagements right-handed to do all over again. Billy said I would spend more time in meditation and prayer. Just telling the Lord how much I love and adore him and looking forward to the time where I will spend with him for all eternity. Will Billy's in that time, Billy's and have but I love always in a way I like to do over this and said speak more. I do more, he says. I'd pray more and I would spend more time in God's presence.

I think that's really good advice. Remember this God is in control of your life. There are no accidents in the life of a Christian.

Only Providence we don't believe in fate.

We believe in faith is another thing an older Greg would say to a younger Greg advice I would give to anyone young people, but older people as well have an attitude of gratitude have an attitude of gratitude back to the recycled in Philippians 4. Thank God for all he has done then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can under stand, listen, there are things in life that happened was that make no sense, inexplicable things. Yes it is true.

Bad things happen to good people.

Sometimes bad things even happen to godly people take Job as an example. This was a godly man. This man was so godly the Lord was bragging on him in heaven. But the Lord allowed a series of calamities that will follow his servant and Job loss pretty much everything he lost members of his family. He lost his possessions. He lost his health and we read that Job gave thanks to God for what was happening, but despite what was happening. Joe gave thanks to the Lord. And so we should have an attitude of gratitude we say Lord I don't know why this is happening, but I am rejoicing that your soul on the throne having to give thanks to you because you are good and you are in control of my life so spend less time complaining and spend more time rejoicing. You'll feel better if you do actually a medical research is been done. That is, revealed that people who gave gratitude to God and keep things for what they had experienced fewer heart issues, fewer aches and pains in a change their outlook on life is another piece of advice in older me would give to a younger me that I would give to any person, especially a young person live with honesty and integrity.

What is integrity.

Integrity is what you are in the dark when nobody is watching you and I bring this up because you know there are people in life that she and Eli and the steel and they cut corners and they seem to get away with it and is a why shouldn't I do that. Why should I play by the rules.

They don't play by the rules look they got that job because they live in their resume or they got that job to build a building even though they cut corners didn't pull the proper permits or look at person cheated on their spouse and they got away with it and I been faithful to my spouse. And why should I do with they do because in the end all these people are going to reap what they saw. The Bible says don't be deceived, God is not mocked whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap.

Listen, the longer I live the more impressed I am with character over charisma. I've seen a lot of preachers with dynamic personalities flameout because they did not seek to maintain honesty and integrity. Psalm 101 verse two says I'm careful to live a blameless life. I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. Then someone 19 one says joyful people are people of integrity. The great evangelist Neil Moody once said, if I take care of my character, God will take care of my reputation. The Bible we read of Daniel, a man of integrity amended did the right thing affect one time he was arrested for it because he prayed after the King had signed a decree that no one can pray to. When he got except him. Will Daniel prayed anyway and his enemies came in out of arrested and thrown into a lion's den.

Pretty bleak scenario, but out of that story and all the very men that lied about Daniel ended up being eaten by the lions and Daniel live to pray another day, same thing is true of Joseph, the stories in the book of Genesis. This is a young man who lived with honesty and integrity, though he was falsely accused of raping the white part of her. He was vindicated in the and and you will be to pastor Greg Laurie's message called what I would tell my younger self is much more to come as this message continues here on a new beginning. Have you ever wondered what would've been like to walk alongside Jesus during his earthly ministry listening to his conversations with Mary Magdalena and Nicodemus the moment Jesus told Simon and Andrew to cash their nets and then they hold in a great catch of fish well of the TV series called the chosen. You're right there with Jesus in each episode. The series is impressed so many people that John Erickson taught us said thank you for telling the old, old story in such an impossibly fresh way after pastor Greg saw them re-create Jesus conversation with Nicodemus, he said, wow they got it. It was one of his favorite episodes and out we want to send you season one of the chosen to thank you for your donation this important time of the year here harvest ministries. We are obviously committed to preaching the gospel and we believe in the power of film to reach people with that message. That's why were excited about making this critically acclaimed resource available on DVD. Let us send this to you to thank you for your generous donation.

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