Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:6-7
Worry is a dead giveaway that we think our situation is out of control. Worry will make you focus on your abilities instead of God’s abilities.
So for today:
Don’t overthink. Don’t worry. Instead, pray.
Instead of assuming that God doesn’t know what He’s doing, pray.
Pray about everything. Tell Him you’re overthinking. Confess your worry.
Tell Him what you need—bring it to Him! He loves to hear from his children.
Then thank him for all He’s done.
When you do this, the miraculous happens. The scriptures describe it this way:
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
His peace—the peace that transcends our ability to understand—will guard your heart and mind, as you continue to follow Christ.
This is a good time—right now—to bring Him what is on your mind.
And I would love to hear what your Heavenly Father does for you as you do.
Love you, Pastor Bill
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” —Hebrews 13:5–6
Ever worried about not having enough?
Yeah, we all have. During the pandemic we were reminded how vulnerable our supply chain is. And because of it we experienced empty shelves and panic-buying.
The writer in the book of Hebrews is giving his people some basic instructions to live this new life as followers of Jesus, and in the middle of these instructions is the encouragement to keep our lives free from the love of money.
Why would he prioritize this—being free from the love of money?
It is because he understands that what we love, we will serve.
If you love God, you will serve him and his purposes. If the affections of your heart are for money, you will love and serve it. Financial advisor Dave Ramsey says that money is “a wonderful servant, but it is a horrible master.”
Why is the love of money such a problem for us? Because it competes for first place in our hearts. Jesus told us that the first of all the commandments was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. When our hearts are constantly focused on money, it misdirects the affections of our heart from God to cash.
Money promises to meet all the needs we have in life, and when we believe that, we live under the myth that we would be happier if only we had more money.
Someone has said that the only advantage that the rich have over the poor is that the rich know that money won’t make them happy.
While some love and make acquisition of money their main goal in life, we must remember that money is simply a tool. Money is neither good, nor bad. It is a tool to meet the needs of people. And if we handle it wisely, there is great reward.
Here is why he says to stay clear of the love of money: because money comes and money goes. But God has said that he would never leave you—never forsake you.
Instead of looking to my finances to meet my needs, he encourages us from Psalms 118:6-7, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” —Hebrews 13:5–6
So, keep this in mind. Money is simply a tool. It can either be used for good or bad. But rather than making cash your motive for living, prioritize God himself. Look to him. He is the one who meets every need. He is the one who will never leave, or forsake. He is the one who is your helper, your protector who gives confidence.
Trust God, be content with what you have and manage your financial resources well. When you do that you can say with confidence, “God is my helper, my provider, the source of every blessing in my life.” This is the place of contentment.
Serious contentment.
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” —Matthew 6:25–27
If there is one thing we’re reminded about every day, it is the uncertainty of life.
It’s in the headlines. it’s in financial forecasts. It is the stock and trade of insurance companies. Every day we’re reminded of another “what if.”
“What if there is another pandemic?” “What if the supply chain breaks again?” “What if I don’t get more hours at work?” “What if…”
One of the huge reasons I love Jesus’ words is that he reminds us of heaven’s perspective. His words remind us of what is true; what is eternal.
While he recognizes the shortcomings in this world, he points us to certainty in the uncertainty. Even though we live in an unpredictable world, He knows the way through and reminds us where every good thing comes from. He says:
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life.” Whether it is food, clothes, whatever it is. And he even gives us everyday visual reminders: Birds and flowers.
He says, in essence, “Look at the birds. They have no savings, 401(k)s, or even a grocery store to get what they need—and they are fine! Your heavenly Father feeds them.” And then he gives us a powerful insight into God’s heart for us:
“And aren’t you far more valuable to him then they are?”
Wait—what?! Listen to his words again:
“Aren’t you far more valuable to him then they are?” (Matthew 6:26)
The answer, of course, is “Yes.”
Wow.
He knows you. You are valuable to him. Your life is important.
If you have children, you have some idea of how God sees you. You are infinitely more valuable than any thing in this world.
So today, instead of focusing on worry—what could happen—refocus and look to your heavenly Father. He knows your needs and is truly the giver of every good thing.
Tell him what is on your mind. He is never too busy to listen.
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. —Philippians 4:8
I continue to be blown away by the warm reception from Christian Grandfather Magazine (CGM) for my posts from Your Daily Encouragement.
Scripture is clear about the importance of telling the next generation of God’s goodness, and CGM does just that. Their help us to fix our thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure lovely and admirable. And who doesn’t need more of that?
Whether you’re a parent or a grandparent, this post is for you.
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. —1 Peter 5:7
Worry is a thief.
Anxiety is stealing from you.
That is why Peter tells us to cast all of our anxieties onto God. Throw it away!
I love the image that the word “cast” brings to mind: it is the idea of throwing, or hurling something, onto someone or something else.
Peter basically says, “Throw it off—get rid of it—give it to God.”
Why? Because he cares for you. That is how good your heavenly Father is. He is there to take those worries once and for all and deal with them for you.
Don’t allow worry to sap another moment of your life. Trust that God is working on your behalf and actively release every fear that assaults your mind today.
Pause for just a moment to identify this. Ask yourself: “What is worrying me today?” Whatever it is, take it in your hand and “cast” it onto God himself. He’s got bigger shoulders—and he never sleeps.
And the even better news is that he cares for you.
Say this out loud with me, would you? “God cares for me.”
Once more: “He cares for me!”
Now, whatever it is that stirs up worry in your mind, cast it in God’s direction. Actively give it to him.
He’ll do the rest.
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. —Matthew 6:33
I enjoy a lot of the new tech we have. Whether it’s Alexa, or any of the informational platforms that give us knowledge about the world. Even crazy questions like “Alexa, how many miles is it to the moon?”
And while we have access to so much information, only Jesus gives us God’s perspective on the questions that matter most in our lives. He goes beyond the trivial and his words bring hope, help and healing.
At CenterPoint we are currently walking through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It is the best known message around the planet. And the reason it is, is that Jesus brings heaven’s perspective to our daily lives. He gives us God’s mindset where we need it most.
He’s not just a source of information, he is the source of our illumination.
More than just a source of information, Jesus is the source of our illumination.
In this message, Jesus deals with all of the things that overwhelm us with worry—like food and all of our daily needs. And because worry leads to anxiety, he instructs us to change our focus.
Jesus’ prescription? Set your eyes on God and His purposes. He uses the word Kingdom to help us understand that the world that we are so accustomed to has a shelf-life; an expiration date. That God’s Kingdom is coming and as you live in our world, looking forward to His Kingdom, Jesus tells us that God himself will supply all of our needs.
Like a good parent, your Heavenly Father already knows what you need. But He wants to hear from you. So, tell him what you need! Thank Him for his supply, and let go of the worry. Here is how Jesus frames it:
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else (put Him first place in your life), and live righteously (do what He says) and he will give you everything you need.”
Then he finishes with these words: “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” —Matthew 6:34
Simple: Focus singularly on His purposes, do what he tells you to do, and He will meet all your needs.
Today’s prayer: “Father, give me eyes to see what you are doing in our world. Help me to set my eyes on your kingdom and to do what you have for me to do. I am yours today.”
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.
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. —Matthew 6:33 The Msg
I like being independent.
I like thinking I can handle whatever comes my way. I like the idea that I am self-sufficient.
But I’m regularly reminded that this is not absolute. There are many things in life that are out of my control.
And the truth is that when I think I have to do it all by myself, it ends up in worry. And if there is one thing we share every person who has ever lived, it is our ability to worry.
I may not call it worry—I might call it “overthinking” or “fixating” on something. Whatever I call it, I can “overthink” the most trivial of things.
And while worry is common to everyone, we all know that it is not helpful. In fact, for many of us it can be debilitating.
In one of Jesus’ most familiar teachings, he tells his followers not to worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have enough to worry about on its own.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” —Matthew 6:34
Worrying about tomorrow robs us of our ability to focus today. But more than just focus, it robs us of joy.
So then, the question is: how do we deal with worry? The psalmist reminds us where our help comes from:
“Where does my help come from? My help comes from the One who made heaven and earth.” —Psalm 121:2
Listen to that again: “…the One who made heaven and earth.”
Is anything impossible with God? Nothing is too big, or too small. If He can scatter trillions of stars within the millions of galaxies across the velvety blackness of the cosmos, what can’t he do in your life?
He knows the end from the beginning. He knows the outcome of every possible decision you will make. And, in light of all this, he says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest.”
If you haven’t done it today, take a moment to bring your concerns, your worries, your frustrations—whatever is on your mind—to him. He is a Good Father. And He loves to hear from, and give wisdom to, his children.
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. —Luke 10:38-40
Have you ever been so busy that you missed something significant—right in front of you? I was with a group of friends traveling to India and we had missed a connecting domestic flight in the country. Our luggage made it, but we didn’t.
By the time we got another flight and caught up to our luggage (and the fact that I had been up for about 32 hours), I was completely out of it. And I was on a mission to find our luggage that had been there unattended for hours!
When we exited the passenger-only area, there was a very large, cheering crowd of people waiting outside the airport. The crowd was not only cheering, but jumping up to look over each other at the people coming out of the airport. I wondered who we were traveling with!
I found out later that a Bollywood star was on our flight (Bollywood is India’s equivalent of Hollywood in the US). It was then that I remembered seeing the flight attendants paying special attention to a single row of seats on the plane just ahead of me—which I didn’t think much about in the moment—and I missed the opportunity to meet them!
Luke tells us that Jesus went to the house of Mary and Martha. Think of this: Jesus. Is. In. Their. Home.
And while Mary sat at his feet, listening to him teach, Luke tells us that Martha was distracted by her duties. In the original language, this word distracted carries the idea that she was overburdened, anxious.
Sounds a lot like us. Distracted. Overburdened. Anxious. Martha is so stressed and upset with her sister that she starts giving orders to Jesus:
“Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” —Luke 10:40
“Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
Luke 10:40
Martha is so stressed that she’s making demands of Jesus!
I’m sure Martha was thinking “I’m doing this for the right reasons. I’m serving Jesus!” But, the truth is she was stressed out and overwhelmed by what she thought was important, demanding that Jesus get on the same page.
Wow.
Why is Martha overwhelmed? Her own expectations. Then Luke gives us Jesus’ response to her demand:
“But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41–42
Jesus says “Martha, you are stressed-out about things that are unnecessary! Instead of being concerned about the non-essential, be concerned for what is essential. Mary has discovered it. She is sitting at my feet, learning from me. Join her. Spend time learning from me.”
While Martha is stressed, Mary is at rest.
This is where peace is found. This is where hope is found. This is where reality is defined: at the feet of Jesus. Everything changes at the feet of Jesus.
While Martha is stressed, Mary is at rest.
Maybe you’re like me? I’ve been distracted and anxious several times already this year.
Would you join me for a moment—right now—just to take a breath? Then, push away from whatever you’re doing to consider Jesus’ words. But instead of Martha’s name, put your own name here. Today, in your distracted-overwhelmed day, Jesus is saying:
“My dear _________, you are worried and upset over many things! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. That is knowing and walking with me. When we spend time together, you will experience my peace. And it is something that will be with you forever.”
Now is a good time to take a moment to thank him for his ongoing presence, his peace and his power to live His life through you.
And, why not join us at CenterPoint this weekend? We will worship, and sit at his feet as we continue our teaching series in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. And it all starts at 10AM, PST here in Tacoma. You can find directions here.
And, in those moments to come—when you are stressed and overwhelmed—remember Everything changes at the feet of Jesus.
Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, For the Lord God is the eternal rock. —Isaiah 26:3-4
When our kids were small, Erin and I would stand in the doorway to their bedroom and listen to their breathing. Even after a long day of cleaning up after, feeding and caring for them, if we ever had frustrating days, we would love to sit and watch them sleep and think “I can’t believe they are ours!”
As they got a little older, there were nights when they were anxious and we would sit with them, read and sometimes stay until they got to sleep. In their anxious moments we would say “I’m here—I am with you.”
Over 2,700 years ago, the prophet Isaiah described God to his people. Seeing that his people had lost connection with Him, they lived anxious, fragmented lives. Isaiah wrote to help them understand what God is like—that he is good, compassionate and that he has a plan and purpose for them (Isaiah 14:24, 27).
Isaiah not only told them of God’s presence with them, but also he gave multiple glimpses of the Prince of Peace who would come—the Messiah. Emmanuel: God with us.
700 years before Christ is born, Isaiah describes Jesus’ first coming in about 40 different prophecies. But what is amazing to consider (for us today), is that Isaiah gave us more than twice that amount for his second coming (~81 specific references to what he would do when he returns). Jesus is coming back.
But what is amazing to consider is that Isaiah gave us more than twice as many prophecies for Jesus’ second coming than he did for his first. Jesus is coming back.
Although his people faced difficult times, Isaiah continued to call his people back to their Rock—the One who never changes.
Here is God’s promise in our worries. Isaiah wrote:
You will keep in perfect peace, All who trust in you,All whose thoughts are fixed on you! —Isaiah 26:3
Regardless of how old we are, or the time we live, life is marked by worry. While it is true that most of the things we worry about never come true, still anxiety and worries about what could happen plague us.
Like a good Father, God stands in the doorway, saying “I am with you. I’m here.” And his presence brings peace. But not just a little peace; He brings perfect peace. Comprehensive. Complete.
This peace comes as a result of trust. While his very presence brings peace, it begins by acknowledging his presence.
You can either focus on your worries and be anxious, or you can focus on Him and experience peace. But you can’t do both at the same time.
You can either focus on your worries, or you can focus on Him and experience peace. But you can’t do both at the same time.
In the next line, Isaiah gives us this encouragement:
Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. —Isaiah 26:4
Here is why he tells us this: when you experience God’s peace, know that in the days ahead (minutes/hours?) worry will no doubt raise its ugly head. Again. For many of us, worry has become a habit. But when that worry comes about, Isaiah says, continue to trust the Lord.
Always.
Why? Because He is the eternal Rock. Like a mountain, He is constant and never changing. His love for his people doesn’t shift based on a bad day—He is reliable and trustworthy.
Let me personalize Isaiah’s words for you:
He will keep you in perfect peace, as you trust in Him, when your thoughts are fixed on Him!
Bill Herried is a pastor in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.
Your Daily Encouragement 