2010 is nearly upon us here, folks.

A new year typically brings with it feelings of hope and excitement.  Resolutions are broken made with a hope of things changing.  But, this world really doesn’t do that, does it?  Even in our “best” year, we can always find something that held it back from being worthy of thanks.  Each year gets harder to look forward to.  Heck, tomorrow looks pretty grim.  I tend to just try to hang on and just make it through the year, hoping that it doesn’t kill me.  Fear and anxiety begins to creep in, affecting each and every decision I make.  And, with current times being pretty tough, it seems like one thing after another takes me down the road of panic and fear faster and faster than ever before.

But, I want to challenge all of us to make our resolution for 2010 this: Not worry.

You know, fear is a big deal.  Anxiety is a huge problem in our world. I’m pretty sure I’ve experienced some sort of panic attack in my life. Paul said that God did not create in us a spirit of fear; but one of power and love and self-control. (2 Tim 1:7) So, how come we still have it? It must be that in this fallen world, we are prone and conditioned to fear first instead of seeking the kingdom of God.

Jesus talked about this in the Sermon on the Mount, which would be the moment in history that he unveiled, if you will, what the kingdom of God looked like. We can pick it up in Matthew 6:25…..

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,²⁹yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ³⁴“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Now, from what I’ve read, when something is repeated like this is scripture, it’s pretty important.  Do you think, perhaps, that Jesus may know our tendecies?  I think so.

The statistics are pretty staggering. Of all the worrying we do, it is broken down like this: (via Thomas S. Kepler)

40% of worry is about future events that never happen
30% of worry is about past events that have already happened
12% of worry is about “petty” issues
10% of worry is about needless health concerns (which probably worsen health btw)
8% of worry is about legitimate concerns

Are you an analytical person like me when reading this, saying “See!  Eight percent is real!”?  If you just did, I’ll join in with you so you don’t feel so alone.  I think these stats do show us that we really have little control in regards to what we worry over.

And look at what Paul says in Romans 8:35 & 37-38:

³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, from what I’m reading here, we shouldn’t worry at all. It seems to be reiterated over and over again in scripture. Do a search of the Bible and see how many times the phrase “Fear not” or “Have no fear” is said. **hint**: it’s a lot.

A new year is upon us, and with it a chance to put this into practice.  It’ll be hard, but let’s get a firm grip on God’s promises. Let’s live in a way that shows confidence in him.  Let’s love others without fear.  His promises are good, and he’ never broken one of them.  I know my New Year’s resolution success rate, and I know God’s promises.  His are so much better.

Happy New Year!