You Can Choose Worry or Faith

33bSteep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:33b-34 (The Message)

Read the first line again and the first part of verse 34. What is getting your attention right now, worries or living life? As we talked yesterday, we do not have to let our worries take time away from our life. We can trust our life to God.

Let me share a little story.

A friend of mine had been caring for her ill husband for many years. After years of surgeries and complications, his health began to fade more. Doctors finally gave up hope and placed him on Hospice (care for those who are going to die). But his precious, godly wife chose not to believe and worry about reality, but to believe and trust in her mighty, healing God. When she was told by doctors and others to face the truth and realize he was dying, she did not begin to worry. She began to pray and found others who would truly believe God could heal to pray with her.

Two years ago, he was put on hospice. A month ago, I sat down at the dinner table with them to celebrate their anniversary. He is not on hospice anymore. While he still has more healing to come, this man who looked liked he was dead, now looks alive and responds to others and has a wonderful smile.

My friend chose faith over worries. At times worries would start to creep up, but she would not give them control. She was "steep in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provision."

What about you and I? What are we steep in? Worries? God?

Do you think just maybe that you and even myself, could turn our worries into prayers and trust in God? Could we not start to worry when God may provide a different way than we wanted?

You worry about having friends, but instead you choose to trust God to provide the friends he sees best. Maybe you worry about getting into a certain class or school, can you choose instead to trust God to open doors to the school or class he sees best? You worry about the mistakes of going to far with your boyfriend, can you choose to remove yourself form the situation and trust God to give you a godly boyfriend at the right time?

It seems like it would be so easy, but I personally know it is not. Many times I start to worry before I choose to trust. But let's make a pack that next time we worry, you or I will stop worrying, pray and choose to trust God.

(And please do not hesitate to contact if you need someone to pray with you.)

This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: Matthew 6:33
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for letting my worries consume me and distract me.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see the worries that keep me from seeing and believing him.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help my mouth claim the his truth and faith in who God is.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God

Choose To Be Like the Birds

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

Matthew 6:27

I like the question Matthew asked. Is all this worrying going to change anything? Is worrying about making friends or what your friends think going to make a difference? Is worrying if your grades are good enough going to get you accepted to college? Is worrying about pleasing your parents going to please them? Is worrying....

Together for a minute, let's just think about all the time we spend worrying. Can you even calculate the minutes, hours that you worried this past week or even today? Matthew asked if worrying added an hour to our life, but I am going to ask you if worrying takes an hour away from your life?

For a moment imagine what you could accomplish if you were doing instead of worrying...now reread the scripture below. This time I am using The Message translation.

25-26"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

27-29"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Hmmm...makes you think a little more. So my question for you to ponder and discuss with God is:

"What if instead of worrying,

you focused on God, trusted God, and followed His will for you? "

Ponder the thought of not worrying, but just choosing to live for and trust God for provision, for the future, for this minute. And if you made this choice, what would God be able to accomplish through you when you change your worry to action?

This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: Matthew 6:33
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for letting my worries consume me and distract me.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see the worries that keep me from seeing and believing him.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help my mouth claim the his truth and faith in who God is.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God

Choose Not To Worry

What are your worries today, tomorrow, next week or this year? What worries consume your thoughts, maybe even keep you up at night? Do you control your worries or do they control you?

While the teen years come with new freedoms and experiences, they also come with worries. Worries about the clothes you wear, your hair, being accepted, passing the class of the evil teacher, getting along with your parents, your future after high school. They all start to consume you. Eventually they do not only consume you, but can bring you down. This week we are going to look at what God says about worrying and learn how to handle those worries.

Today, I just want you to read the passage below. And instead of worrying on the way to school, notice the birds of the air, the flowers, the trees and remember these words:

Do Not Worry
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34

This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: Matthew 6:33
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for letting my worries consume me and distract me.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see the worries that keep me from seeing and believing him.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help my mouth claim the his truth and faith in who God is.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God

It is Your Choice

I wrote, you read. You probably agreed or thought I made a good point. So, today all I have to say is:

Will you choose to apply it to your life?

Will you choose God?

Will you choose to let God influence you by spending time with him?

Will you choose to work on your inner beauty?

Will you choose to believe who you are in Christ?

I pray that you do.

This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for not choocing him first.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see who I am in Christ.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help my words glorify him.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God

Choose To Believe Who You Are

Your parents have an opinion of who you are and who they want you to be. Your friends and fellow classmates have an opinion of who you are. If you asked them to describe you in 5 words there would be some similarities and some differences. Maybe even your school friends would have a different view of who you are than your church friends. But today, I want you to know who you are...who you are in Christ.

1. You Were Created By God
Psalm 139:13
For You formed my inward parts;You wove me in my mother's womb

Genesis 1:27
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them

2.You Were Chosen By God
2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth

3. You Are Loved By God
Romans 8:39
39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8
8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

4. Read your verse for the week.

Whether you are cool or not, size 0 or 12, blonde, red or brunette, tan or pale...You, my sweet girl, were created by God (every part of you), you were chosen by God, you are loved by God (to the point He gave his son for you), and God will never leave you and is with you.

Now, choose to believe it!!

This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for not believing who I am in Christ.

*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see who I am in Christ.

*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help the words I speak and believe who I am in Christ.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God

Beauty 101: Inner Beauty Shine

The hair, the outfit, the make up...you care about it in some sort of way. Whether you spend hours or minutes you care about your appearance. And while there is nothing wrong with make up, clothes and cute hair, why do we not choose to care or even think about our inner beauty? We do not usually leave for school in our pj's (even though pj days are great), why do we leave without preparing and beautifying our attitudes?

If a bad hair day can ruin our day, just think about what a bad attitude can do. And just like we wash, spray, whatever to our hair to fix it, we need to spend the time cleansing and preparing our mind, soul and spirit. Trying to throw a fake smile over a bad attitude is like trying to throw a cap over a bad hair day, people see right through it.

This week we have been talking about letting God influence us. And most days as a teenager, you need help and some positive influence on your attitude. So as I have said before, why not start your day with God and his word.

Seeking forgiveness for your mess ups is like washing your hair to get the crud out. Filling your mind with God's word is like using your hair product to make your hair shine. So as I have asked before, why not start your day with God so your inner beauty will shine? Why not turn heads because everyone notices there is something different and special about you.


This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for not living my life for him and losing sight of what is important.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see and understand how to live my life for him at school this year.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help the words I speak glorify him.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God

Choose to Let God Influence You First

For something or anything to influence you, you must be around it or spend time with it. So if you truly want God to influence your life you need to....

Even though I know you are smart enough to know the answer, let's still discuss it.


You start your day either rushing because you slept too late or you start your day checking facebook. Or maybe you turn up the radio and blare music to get you going. Whatever your choice, something is influencing you just like the weather influences what you will wear. So, why not choose to let God influence your first thoughts, your first actions?

Choosing to talk to God as you get up and moving and claiming the truth in his word is the best influence to start your day. Why not be encouraged about who you are in Christ every morning? Why not remember who is on your side? Why not remember that you are not alone? Why not remind yourself that God loves you?

So, unless you have an argument on why you should not let God be your first influence...then try this for the first month of school:

1. Write our weekly verse on a bathroom or bedroom mirror. (I choose the mirror because we all know as girls that is where we look the most.)
2. Repeat the verse as you get ready. Claim it as truth in your life.
3. Pray as you get ready. Use the prayer ideas I give you if necessary. (brushing hair: seek forgiveness, brushing teeth: pray for your mouth, eyes: open to see things, getting dressed: put on armor of God, etc.)

And remember trying it is not going to do you any harm.


This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for not living my life for him and losing sight of what is important.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see and understand how to live my life for him at school this year.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help the words I speak glorify him.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God

My school year, I choose...

Unfortunately, you cannot choose for it to stay summertime. But the new school year brings many choices for you to make and so far the choices have included clothes and school supplies. But I have a question for you, have you thought about who you are going to live for this school year? Who is going to influence the choices you make?

Parents and teachers will have some influence, but friends will probably have the most. You may be living your life to please your parents or friends. Now, while neither of those may be bad, should you choose to live for something else? Should you have something else that influences you more than anything else?

Or maybe you are choosing to live your life for a guy, a boyfriend. You make your choices based on what he wants or what will get his attention and love. You cannot decide anything without knowing it is okay with him (even the clothes you wear.) But when one person influences your choices so much, you might be heading down a road that leads to heartbreak.

My prayer for you this school year is that you will choose to live your life for Christ and choose to let God influence every choice that you make. And I pray you will see the difference you will make when you live your life for Christ.

Just think about a typical school day for a minute, and say "what if.."

* you choose to pray every morning and give your day to God.
* you choose to quote scripture on who you are in Christ before you walk in the school doors.
* you choose to let your inner beauty shine by being kind to all who cross your path.
* you choose to fall in love with God this year.
* you choose to do your best as if everything you do is for God.

Will you think about it? Will you pray about it? Will you talk with me about it?

I will be writing daily again on the blog as we start this journey and choose to live this year for Christ. Please join me every school day. Before you go on facebook, read the blog that will discuss the choices above and so much more.

(If you are new to the blog, you may want to go back and read the first blog to understand the next part.)

This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me for not living my life for him and losing sight of what is important.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see and understand how to live my life for him at school this year.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help the words I speak glorify him.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God