By guest speaker Kent Munsey

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed with worry? You're not alone. Today, I want to share a powerful message about worry, faith, and how God shows up in the most unexpected ways - even through birds!

The Reality of Worry in Today's World

Let's be honest - we're living in anxious times. With wars, political tension, and everyday struggles, it's no wonder that over 50 million Americans deal with anxiety and worry disorders. When Jesus says "do not worry" three times in Matthew 6, you might think, "Really, Jesus? Have you seen what's going on in the world?"

My First Experience with Worry

I'll never forget my first real encounter with worry. It was 1988, and I was just eight years old. Our church had started diving deep into end-times teachings, complete with scary banners showing the mark of the beast and the four horsemen of the apocalypse. There was even a book out called "88 Reasons Why Jesus is Coming Back in 1988." Let me tell you - I didn't sleep in my own bed that entire year!

Why Worry is More Than Just a Bad Habit

Here's something crucial we need to understand: worry isn't just an inconvenience - it's actually a sin against God. Now, I know "sin" can be a heavy word, but it simply means "missing the mark" or "not the way it's supposed to be." When we worry, we're essentially telling God we don't trust His power, His promises, or His ability to keep those promises.

The Science Behind Worry vs. Worship

Let me share something fascinating with you. In 2018, Dr. Ledkey conducted research on what happens in our brains during worship. Here's what they discovered:

• After just 7 minutes of worship, up to 300 million new brain cells grow within 24 hours
• Worship creates gamma waves that help us feel God's presence
• These gamma waves actually make us smarter and increase our understanding
• Worship literally transforms us into nicer, more forgiving, and more trustful people.

Meanwhile, worry does the opposite:

• Lowers your IQ
• Increases blood pressure
• Raises stress levels

The Power of Perspective: Consider the Birds

Jesus uses what's called a "fortiori" argument in Matthew 6. He says, "Look at the birds of the air. They don't sow or reap or store away in barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them." His point? If God takes care of birds - which don't have nearly the capacity we do - how much more will He care for you, His beloved child?

My Chicago Church Story: When God Says "Consider the Birds"

Let me share a recent personal story that brought this message home for me. Our church in Chicago faced enormous challenges. During the pandemic, we went from 2,500 people to just 50. We had bought land to build a new church - the first new church building in downtown Chicago in 25 years - but faced massive opposition.

After 18 months of zoning battles, we finally got our hearing. Right before going in, I desperately asked God for a word. He led me to Matthew 6: "Consider the birds." I thought, "Really, God? The zoning committee just rejected Chick-fil-A, and You're telling me to consider the birds?"

But here's where it gets amazing. During the hearing, after all our presentations, the final committee member - known for always voting "no" - asked just one question: "Will you consider the birds in your project?"

I nearly fell out of my chair! Of course, we would consider the birds! We got unanimous approval.

God's Sense of Humor: The Bird Confirmation

But God wasn't done yet. That same day, while praying on our new land, a bird left a "message" on my right shoulder - the biggest one I'd ever seen! My friend was disgusted, but I was praising God. Then, when I drove to my dad's church to preach (which wasn't even planned), a bird followed me and stayed perched right above my parking spot the entire time.

What This Means for You

Here's what I want you to take away from this:

• Your problems aren't too big for God
• Worry doesn't make things better - worship doe
•  God cares about every detail of your life
• If He feeds the birds and clothes the flowers, He'll take care of you

Moving from Worry to Trust

It's not that your problems aren't real - they are. But your God is bigger. The same God who saved you is the same God who will keep you and sustain you. He'll make sure you have everything you need for life and godliness.

Remember: spend less time worrying and more time worshiping. Just seven minutes of worship can literally change your brain and your perspective. Instead of developing negatives in the darkroom of worry, let's focus on the light of God's promises.

A Final Thought

Whether you're facing financial stress, family issues, or uncertainty about the future, remember this: it doesn't matter who wins in November or what the headlines say - Jesus is still high and lifted up. Your problems might be big, but your God is bigger.

So next time worry tries to creep in, take a moment to consider the birds. Let them remind you that if God takes care of them, He'll certainly take care of you. After all, you're not just any creation - you're His beloved child.