“The Russians are going to take over Mexico and then they’ll be right there!”

When I was in the 6-8 year old range my sister found me in my room crying. I was really upset. After a lot of persuation I finally told her what was wrong. With tears in my eyes I wailed, “The Russians are going to take over Mexico and then they’ll be right there!” Then the story came out. We’d been learning little bits about the Cold War in school. This was before the fall of the USSR. The teacher evidently had told a room full of kids that the Russians were eventually going to take over Mexico so they’d be close to the US. At least that’s how I remember it. I always was a kid to freak out over things and this was no exception. By the time I got home I was thinking of where I would go and hide in case of a Russian occupation. It’s become an inside joke to my family when I get overly worried about something to just say, “The Russians are going to take over Mexico.” The Russians didn’t take over Mexico. The USSR fell marking history forever. My fears were unwarranted and unnecessary.

I don’t know who came up with the phrase “you control your emotions, your emotions do not control you,” but it’s something I use in my house often. If your not careful worry and fear left unchecked can become like a runaway train.

Matthew 6:25-32 says, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow now reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”

It’s so easy to get caught up in worry. When my oldest daughter was first born I wasn’t sure how we were going to take care of her. Finances were very tight and I remember God even saying to me through a prophetic word that He’d take care of her. But that didn’t always make it easy. However, every time we had a need it was somehow taken care of. I got formula check after formula check in the mail. Someone provided a crib for her. It was miraculous. But I confess, I still worried. We were really tight. Finally one day I remember the Lord ask me, “Are you fed today? Are you clothed today?”

It is really easy if you listen to all the news reports these days to start freaking out a bit about the economy. I try avoid hearing all the negativity. If you’re not careful you’ll find yourself over into worry. But I ask you today what God asked me, “Are you fed today? Are you clothed today?” You have to do what God puts in front of you to do, but beyond that trust in your God and choose not to worry.

It is often I find myself back in that place asking myself “Are you fed today? Are you clothed today?” Continue to renew your mind. What has God said to about this situation? What do you know deep down to be true? Because if you’re not careful you’ll end up thinking that the “Russians are going to take over Mexico and then they’ll be right there.”

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