This document discusses how to stop worrying and instead focus on God. It provides several Bible verses that instruct believers not to worry and in every situation to pray and present requests to God. The document examines Jesus' teachings about not worrying about basic necessities like food and clothing and instead focusing on God's kingdom and righteousness. It encourages looking to nature like birds and flowers for evidence of God's provision and care, and casting all anxiety on God through prayer since he cares for his people.

1. “How To Stop Worry
Taking Over Your
Life”
Matthew 6.25-34

2. Even Jesus’ followers would have things to worry about!
“But when they arrest you, do not
worry about what to say or how to
say it. At that time you will be
given what to say,”
(Matthew 10:19 NIV11)

3. Worry can make us unfruitful
“The seed falling among the
thorns refers to someone who
hears the word, but the worries of
this life and the deceitfulness of
wealth choke the word, making it
unfruitful.”
(Matthew 13:22 NIV11)

4. Not worrying is a command. Worrying in itself since this
seems so difficult!
“Do not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your
requests to God.”
(Philippians 4:6 NIV11)

5. Four words are in the imperative in this passage
• Worry: merimnate
• Look: emblepsate
• See: katamathete
• Seek: zeteite

6. 1. Look at the Birds
vv26-27

7. emblepo
to look attentively, gaze
earnestly, at an object; to
look searchingly or
significantly

8. My mother-in-law is a keen ornithologist. Seen here with a
vulture on her arm. She is someone serious about looking at
the birds!

9. 500 million birds migrate through the Middle East every year
http://www.wysinfo.com/Migratory_Birds/Migratory_Birds_Without_Boundaries.htm#Migration_path
s

10. 2. See the Flowers
vv28-32

11. katamanthano
to learn or observe
thoroughly; to consider
accurately & diligently,
contemplate

12. 3. Seek First His
Kingdom
v33

13. zeteo
to seek, look for; to search after; to be on
the watch for; to pursue, endeavour to
obtain; to desire, wish, want; strive for; to
require, demand; to inquire or ask
questions; to deliberate, to seek to kill.

14. James warns us of over-thinking our future plans
“Now listen, you who say, “Today or
tomorrow we will go to this or that city,
spend a year there, carry on business
and make money.” Why, you do not even
know what will happen tomorrow. What
is your life? You are a mist that appears
for a little while and then vanishes.”
(James 4:13–14 NIV11)

15. Peter tells us what to do with our worries
“Cast all your anxiety on
him because he cares
for you.”
(1 Peter 5:7 NIV11)

16. 3 Places to Look
1. Look up
2. Look around
3. Look to God

17. 3 Solutions to Worry
1. Read the Sermon on the Mount
2. Live One Day at a Time
3. Pray your Anxieties onto God

18. Said the robin to the sparrow:
‘I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.’
Said the sparrow to the robin:
‘Friend, I think it must be
That they have no heavenly Father,
Such as cares for you and me.’