I am not sure why this is, but the last two memorable messages I have heard on the subject of worry (something I must work on a lot) have come from none other than Rick Warren. Once again, last night, I discovered a really good message reminding me of the futility of worry. This message is in no way intended to endorse or rebuke pastor Warren; I simply mention the fact that I infrequently watch him online and the last two times I have received really good messages on the subject.

His style is to offer a a lot of quotes from a plethora of translations. Sometimes I like that, sometimes I don’t. For the most part, I think it is a blessing to have so many English translations from which to choose verses. No one translation hits every “nail on the head.” As my pastor says, all translations are commentaries on the original text.

Certain verses he referenced when I was watching him last night were taken from one of my favorite paraphrases, the Living Bible. I go back a long time with that version and it was my beloved mother’s favorite for the last several years of her life. My remember when I first discovered it: Billy Graham held up a copy of the green padded hardcover at one of his crusades back in the seventies and read from it. He embraced the idea and felt it was a good way to get the message into the hearts and minds of young believers in a new and fresh way. I agree with his attitude about it. The reader may or may not; I will not debate the topic here.

Anyway, here are the verses he quoted last night that really hit home: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7 (TLB)

I think nothing more need be written on the subject for now. May God richly bless you as you study His Word.