Daily Ornament

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Don’t Worry – Be Happy”
"... whoever listens to [M]e will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." – Proverbs 1:33

The conclusion of Proverbs, chapter one, in my opinion, sums up the entire Bible. If we live for God and not for ourselves, listen to what He has to say and then will act upon it, we are awarded a peace of mind beyond compare! What is key is knowing how to get to this point which has been the pursuit of many an individual through the centuries.
In 1988 a song plagued the airwaves that actually reached #1 on the Billboard Charts. No instruments were played and only one person performed on the recording. His name is Bobby McFerrin and prior to this recording was known for his ability to use his voice to create a variety of sounds. The name of the song? Well, after taking a look at some of the words you will see:

Here is a little song I wrote, You might want to sing it note for note Don't worry be happy In every life we have some trouble, When you worry you make it double Don't worry, be happy...... Ain't got no place to lay your head, Somebody came and took your bed Don't worry, be happy The land lord say your rent is late, He may have to litigate Don't worry, be happy Look at me I am happy—Don’t worry, be happy Here I give you my phone number, When you worry call me I make you happy, Don't worry, be happy Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style, ain't got no girl to make you smile But don't worry be happy Cause when you worry your face will frown—and that will bring everybody down So don't worry, be happy (now).....
How could such insanely ridiculous lyrics make this a number one hit? Most of it was largely due to McFerrin’s incredible vocal talents but it could also be that it struck a chord with many people’s psyche…we are incessant worriers!!
We have so many "fears" in life and in truth the vast, vast majority of them are completely unnecessary. We fear the future; “What will happen to me?” We fear the past; “Did I do the wrong thing or did I do the right thing?” We fear the unseen; “What will they do?” We fear the unknown; “What will happen if…”. It is against the backdrop of all these fears that the great deceiver steps in and causes us to stumble and fall.
In his devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes, “Worry (fear) is calculating life without God.” The more I think about that statement the more it resonates within me. Do I really pay attention to God’s Words and do I trust enough in what He says enough to live my life in peace and in safety? Is He truly my “Shelter in the Time of Storm?” or is that only rhetoric?
I experienced this first hand as a boy and then early into my adult life. I watched as my mother literally “worried” herself to death. Everyone was out to get her. She was constantly “looking over her shoulder,” at unseen prowlers or extortionists. She trusted in no one…not even her own family. She changed her will several times mostly after someone upset her – it was her only means of control – at least, that is what she thought. Jesus said, “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch?” – Matthew 6:27 (The Message)
Its one thing to be cautious – to keep a watchful eye against things that could destroy. It is another altogether to allow life to destroy our spirit without allowing God the opportunity to give us His peace and assurance. Can we say, “My Lord, I know there have been many times when I have not been listening – times when other voices and words were stronger and louder. Help me to tune them out and listen only to what you have to say to me – through Your Holy Word or by that still small voice within.”
Pastor J. T. Carnell.