“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matt 6:27)

Don’t worry about tomorrow 

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matt. 6:34 NLT)

Don’t worry about your life

“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 than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matt. 6:25 NIV)

Therefore… 

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.’” (Luke 12:22)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Phil. 4:6) 

Quotes:

“When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.” – Winston Churchill

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” - Corrie Ten Boom

“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” (Psalm 25:9 NIV)

God guides in the paths of righteousness

“He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.” (Psalm 23:3 ESV)

The Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13 ESV)

Ask God to guide you

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7 ESV)

“Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.” (Psalm 27:11 ESV)

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6 ESV)

Therefore…

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8 ESV)

 “And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: "This is the way. Walk in it.” (Isa. 30:21 ESV)

Quote:

“Does it make sense to pray for guidance about the future if we are not obeying in the thing that lies before us today? How many momentous events in Scripture depended on one person's seemingly small act of obedience! Rest assured: Do what God tells you to do now, and, depend upon it, you will be shown what to do next.” - Elisabeth Elliot

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28 NASB)

The Lord bears us up daily

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.” (Psalm 68:19 ESV)

God will satisfy every weary and languishing soul 

“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” (Jer. 31:25 ESV)

The Lord upholds and raises up all who are falling 

“The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.” (Psalm 145:14 ESV)

Therefore…

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:29-30 NIV)

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved (Psalm 55:22 ESV)

“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2 ESV)

Quote:

“Heaven gives us hope and makes our present burdens easier to bear.” - Billy Graham

“Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.” (Prov. 1:19 ESV)

Be on your guard about all kinds of greed 

“Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” “And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:13-21 NIV)

Greed will trouble your own household 

“Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.” (Prov. 15:27 ESV)

The greedy is among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God 

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor. 6:9-11 ESV)

Therefore…

“A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.” (Prov. 27:25 ESV)

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Col. 3:5 ESV 

Quotes:

“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.” – Socrates

“Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, ‘What’s in it for me’.”  - Brian Tracy

“For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:3 ESV)

Always be zealous for the fear of the LORD

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.” (Prov. 23:17 NIV)

Do not choose any of their ways

“Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways.” (Prov. 30:31 NIV)

Therefore…

“Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:7 NLT)

“Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.” (Psalm 37:1-2 NIV)

“That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless momentary?” (Job 20:5 NASB)

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:8-12 ESV)

 Quotes:

 “The wicked exist in this world either to be converted or that through them the good may exercise patience. - Saint Augustine

 “The riches of His free grace cause me daily to triumph over all the temptations of the wicked one, who is very vigilant, and seeks all occasions to disturb me.” - George Whitefield

“Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.” (Eccles. 7:9 ESV)

Anger: a strong feeling of displeasure aroused by injury, injustice, wrong, etc.; wrath; ire. 

Even Jesus got angry

During His sinless life Jesus expressed righteous indignation with those who desecrated the temple of God, (John 2:15-7), with injustice, with hypocrisy and with hard heartedness.

“… After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.” (Mark 3:4-6)

Take care of anger quickly

“In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Eph. 4:26-27 NIV) 

Be slow to anger

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19:20 ESV)

“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” (Prov. 15:11 ESV)

“The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.” (Prov. 12:16 ESV)

Therefore…

“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”  (Prov. 16:22 ESV)

Quote:

“Do not say, "I cannot help having a bad temper." Friend, you must help it. Pray to God to help you overcome it at once, for either you must kill it, or it will kill you. You cannot carry a bad temper into heaven.” - Charles Spurgeon

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Eph. 3:20 NLT)

You may have abundance for every good deed

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” (2 Cor. 9:8 NASB) 

God will supply from his glorious riches in Christ Jesus

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:18 NLT)

Therefore…

“Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time.” (Rom. 16:25 NLT)

Quote:

“Our high and privileged calling is to do the will of God in the power of God for the glory of God.” - J. I. Packer

“Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.” (Exo. 4:12 NIV)

The Holy Spirit will help you speak 

“…for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12:12 NIV)

“For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matt. 10:20 NLT)

God will give you speech and wisdom

“For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.” (Luke 21:15 NIV)

The Word continues to work in you who believe

“Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.” (1 Thess. 2:13 NLT)

Therefore…

“Then the LORD asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD?” (Exo. 4:11 NLT)

“Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11 NLT)

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:15:16 ESV)

“For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.” (2 Cor. 2:17)

Quote:

“Because God gave you your makeup and superintended every moment of your past, including all the hardship, pain, and struggles, He wants to use your words in a unique manner. No one else can speak through your vocal cords, and, equally important, no one else has your story.” - Charles R. Swindoll

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt. 5:11-12 NIV)

Do not be afraid of people’s scorn

“Listen to me, you who know right from wrong, you who cherish my law in your hearts. Do not be afraid of people’s scorn, nor fear their insults.” (Isa. 51:7 NLT)

You are blessed when people persecute you because of Christ

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” (Matt. 5:11 NIV) 

Therefore…

“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (1 Pet. 4:14 NIV)

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Heb. 10:23 ESV)

“He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign LORD will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The LORD has spoken!” (Isa. 25:8 NLT)

Quote:

“God had a Son that had no fault, but He never had a son that was not found fault with. God Himself was slandered in paradise by Satan. Let us not expect, therefore, to escape from the venomous tongue.” - Charles Spurgeon