During the summer months of June, July and August, Lessons Learned on the Journey will be released bi-monthly rather than the usual weekly distribution. This week's lesson is a lesson from the past. Enjoy your summer!

Thanks ,

Lessons Learned on the Journey
By: Bob Snyder MD

Recently I have had the opportunity to worry about issues related to my work and my family. Worry seems to come so naturally. Whenever I think negatively into the future, many "what ifs" emerge. These give me ample fuel to stoke my mind's imagination - the result - sleepless nights and a knot in the pit of my stomach. This propensity to worry represents needless waste. When I worry I:

		Decrease my work efficiency
		Increase the strain on my family and work relationships
		Place increased pressure on those innocently in my way, and most importantly,
		Undermine my trust in God

What do we do with this worry that seems to creep up on us so easily? Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, (Matthew 6:29-34) gave His disciples some very practical principles:

		Take each day's problems as they come without carrying yesterday's or tomorrow's problems on our shoulders. In fact, He assigns us another activity -- to seek His kingdom and righteousness, instead of worrying
		Take our issues to God daily. Jesus reminds His disciples that the Father knows about the issues and our needs already. We need to beseech Him, for He longs to hear from us...... and then let go and,
		Rest in God's promises.

Worrying comes so naturally. Will you join me in seeking the path He provides out of the rocky way of worry?

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matthew 6:27)