file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db940305.txt
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          OUR DAILY BREAD                        Saturday, March 5, 1994
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          Read:  Matthew 6:25-34

                                     PLAYING GOD

                          Do not worry about tomorrow, for
                      tomorrow will worry about its own things.
                                   --Matthew 6:34

          I  had  never  thought  of worry as a form  of  taking  on  God's
          responsibility.  But  the  more I thought about it,  the  more  I
          realized that worry, in its naked form, comes close to doing just
          that.  I  thought of this after seeing a sign in a  church  foyer
          that read:

                          DO NOT FEEL TOTALLY, PERSONALLY,
                       IRREVOCABLY RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING.
                                   THAT'S MY JOB.
                                        --GOD

          This  advice does not absolve us of all responsibility,  however.
          The   force  of  the  statement  lies  in  the  words   "totally,
          personally, irrevocably, and everything."  We often feel we  must
          solve all our problems ourselves, and that unless we come up with
          the right solution all will be lost.

          Of  course, we must take responsibility for our  own  lives.  Yet
          God  wants us to rely on His guidance.  When problems arise,  our
          first  duty  is to bring them to Him in prayer.  He may  show  us
          that  we've  created our own difficulty, and may reveal  that  we
          must  make  changes to resolve it.  He'll grant  forgiveness  and
          give the strength to change.  Or He'll assure us that we're doing
          all we can, and say, "Leave it with Me.  Just do your next duty."

          Only  God has sufficient energy and wisdom to  handle  everything
          well.  Worry  will  gradually lose its hold on our  lives  if  we
          learn to stop playing God.

          Author:  Dennis J. De Haan

                          I walked life's path with worry,
                            Disturbed and quite unblest,
                               Until I trusted Jesus;
                              Now faith has given rest.
                                        -HGB

          THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
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          When worry walks in, strength runs out, but strength returns when
          we let God in.

          THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:   Deuteronomy 17-19
          
          
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