Higher Ground

I would like to talk to you today about

freedom from worry. The signs of the

time create anxiety in thoughtful minds.

Every race is filled with fear, suspicion,

and distrust. Is there anywhere a place

of security? No matter how self-assured

we are, the cry of our hearts should be

“Lead thou me to the Rock that is higher

than I.”

Jesus warned us against the sin of the

distressful cares of this life. Anxiety is

often a good sign that both our treasure

and our hearts are fixed upon this earth.

All are guilty of useless anxiety. It causes

us to lose time from work, joy from living,

and health from our years. A pilot was

making a long-distance flight. After he

had been in the air a few hours, he heard

the gnawing of a rat, somewhere inside

the plane, which somehow had entered

while grounded. Not knowing what

delicate machinery those sharp teeth might

be cutting, he was filled with fear. He

reasoned that the rat was a rodent not

made for heights. The pilot began to

climb. One thousand feet. Then two

thousand feet until the plane had reached

20,000 feet. The gnawing ceased. Two

hours upon landing, there was a dead

rodent in the pit of the plane. Worry is like

a that rodent. It cannot live in the secret

places of the Most High. It cannot breathe

in an atmosphere made vital by prayer. How

it moves the heart of God to see his children

filled with cares that destroy our peace and

higher desires of the soul.

Father, lift us to heights today where

anxiety cannot dwell.

Amen.