"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6)

All living organisms experience some degree of stress upon their systems. We are made to be able to manage applied pressures or force systems, physically, mentally and emotionally. Stress is necessary in healthy growth and productivity. But when excessive pressures and mounting tensions abuse the system, stress turns into a destructive force.

Jesus had a radical approach to mental and emotional stress management. Worship. The root meaning of the word 'worship' is to recognize someone's 'worthship'. We were created to worship God, implying that we reckon on His 'Worthship' or 'worthiness'. He is the One we are to look to in the midst of life's pressures. He is to be known as our present help in time of trouble, our wisdom, our peace and our strength. Worship means more than expressing praise and adoration. It means surrendering our situations to Him knowing that He can handle them.

Jesus taught that anxiety is sin. It is the result of worshipping something other than God. We could be worshipping money, our profession, our relationships. Most often we slip into self-worship. Anxiety is the result of habitually looking to ourselves. "I've got to get this done." "I should have had that fixed by now." "This is making me frustrated." We no longer are looking to Christ as pre-eminent in all things. The Book of Colossians clearly teaches that He is to have first place in everything (Colossians 1:18). If we fail to put Christ first, we will demonstrate a lifestyle where we worship our own abilities rather than the God who has promised never to forsake us.

In our morning walk together my wife pointed out the abundance of berries along the roadside for the birds to pick. There was a choice of menu of red, blue and blackberries. The birds enjoy the exercise of flight and berry picking. When is the last time you've seen a bird having a nervous break down over the price of berries? (If birds suffer any nervous disorder it is most likely not due to their personal anxiety but to some over - anxious gardener who has poisoned their food with pesticides!)

Jesus said, "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:25-34 NASB).

If you find yourself getting anxious, recognize that it is a sign that you are slipping into 'self worship'. Look to the One who is worthy of your attention, devotion and praise. He is able to meet you in every moment of need with His supply.