Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 1363 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Worry Kills – Ask Gramps

Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase Wisdom and Create a Living Legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1363 of our trek, and it is time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday, we will ponder some of the fundamental truths and mysteries of life and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy.

As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time when we can “Ask Gramps.” Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, you are unable to. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask Dad or Gramps questions about life in many areas.

We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes, but will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable. If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com.

So the question for this week is:

“Hey, Gramps, there is so much worry about today, and I find myself and others having a difficult time making sense of all that we are going through. I know that worry causes stress, which is very damaging to my health, but what advice do you have for me to help overcome worry?”

Worry Kills

There is a story of two young recruits that had just been drafted into the Army to fight in World War II. They were both eighteen years of age. With good reason, both of them were scared of the unknown enemy that they would most certainly face.

After their lieutenant handed them their uniforms and boots, he stood before them and said, “I know you are probably frightened. If you allow that worry to overtake you, you will not come back from this war alive.” He took one of the recruit’s boots and said, “Let me give you a word picture that may help.”

He called one of the boots “trust” and the other one “obey.” The lieutenant continued, “These are left and right boot of your Christian life. Walk confidently in them each day. While you may still have fear at times, there is no other way to be walking by faith except to trust and obey that God will protect and guide you.”

Worldwide we are facing an even more insidious invisible enemy, but the same lesson applies to us today. Each day we need to put on the armor of God, starting with trusting and obeying God. He will see us through and protect us from this enemy. Allowing worry to overtake you is not healthy, and the long-term results to your health will be even worse than Covid-19.

Do you find that you worry a lot? Are you ever “struck with fear” or “seized with alarm?” Are you ever, “anxious and troubled?” Jesus never said, “Don’t worry because there is nothing to worry about.” Instead, he called us friends and assured us that we are valuable in Luke 12:4-7, and we can apply these verses to our unseen enemy today.

Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

The answer to fear and worry is to trust and obey. Jesus gives us seven ways to deal with worry, anxiety, and fear.

1. Fear God and nothing else
2. Know your value to God
3. Trust the Holy Spirit
4. Don’t miss the point of life
5. Realize that worry is futile
6. Trust God’s care and provision
7. Seek God’s kingdom

Let me share a couple more verses.

Luke 12:25-26

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

Also, Luke 12:31 encourages us to, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.”

Just like the story, I began with, trust and obedience go hand in hand or foot to foot. Just like it is challenging to walk with one boot unless we are outfitted with the whole armor of God, it is tough to defeat worry in our lives. As I finish my answer today, you may ask, what are the essential components of God’s armor for us? The answer is found in Ephesians 6:10-18.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Put on God’s armor each day because worry kills, and you are valuable and needed to be building God’s kingdom on earth.

That is a wrap for today’s question. Join us again next Friday for another question on our Ask Gramps episode. Our next trek is Mediation Monday, where we will help you reflect on what is most important in life. So encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along on Monday for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

If you would like to listen to any of the past 1362 daily treks or read the associated journals, they are all available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day will be downloaded to you automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you on Monday!