- Have you given things worth that should have no value in your life?
- You give value to something with your time and energy.
- The more time or energy you spend thinking on something, the more value you give it.
- Praying and fasting is all about giving Jesus the value and worth He deserves.
- It’s saying, “You are most important, so I intentionally put you in the rightful place in my life."
- Many time we can spend our whole day worrying about something that we have no control over.
- We can get all worked up over something somebody said or didn't say to us.
- We can spend countless hours thinking about what we should have said or would like to say to someone.
- This is giving a problem value or worth.
- The apostle Paul is saying that EVERYTHING else is worthless...compared to knowing Christ.
- Everything else has no value.
- It needs to be thrown away until Jesus is put in His rightful place in your life.
- The second half of Phil. 3:8 says, "For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.
- He has to be first!
- He's either first or he's not.
- He doesn't share that position.
- When He is your first thought and your main focus then everything else must go through Him.
- It changes the way you think about your problems.
- It changes the way you deal with situations and people.
- 1 Peter 5:7 (AMP) says, "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully."
- All of your anxiety
- All of your worries
- All of your concerns
- Once and for all!
- Put them in their rightful place!
- Don't give them value or worth by spending your time and energy worrying about something that you were never meant to try and handle.
- Focus on Jesus first.
- Give Him value and worth by spending time in the Word and prayer.
- Spend time in His presence, focusing on him.
- then watch and see how He can relieve the stress and pressure that comes from casting all of your cares on Him!
- So the big question is...Is He first?
- Is He really first?
- If not, then surrender everything to Him this morning.
- All of your problems, fears, anxieties, concerns...
- Everything!
- Have a great Thursday!