As we are told in Hebrews 12 and other verses, everything that can be shaken will be shaken. However, we have been given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. A primary way that we build our lives on the kingdom that cannot be shaken is to use the key of the kingdom for every major decision in our lives. The key of the kingdom is described in Matthew 6:31-33:   

    “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.”

    The first thing the Lord tells us to do is to refuse anxiety. Anxiety is a lack of faith in God. This is an especial affront to God because when we are anxious, we are implying that the problems are bigger than God. Whenever we begin to feel anxious, we must learn to look at God and resolve that we are going to use our trials to increase our faith in Him. He is much bigger than all of the world’s problems combined.

    God is the ultimate answer to every human problem, and He wants to demonstrate this, starting with ours. We must trust Him, and anxiety is evidence that we do not trust Him. Reject anxiety. It is the sin of unbelief. We repent of sin by confessing it and then turning away from it. Determine that your response to a problem will not be to feel anxious, but to see it as a wonderful opportunity to grow in our faith in Him. We read in I Peter 1:6-9:

    In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
    that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
    and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
    obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

 To be tempted is not sin. We can all be tempted to doubt and to be anxious, but the quicker we recognize it and turn away from it, turning our attention instead to God, the more we will learn to walk in the peace of God. Walking in the peace of God is basic to a victorious life, as we are told in Romans 16:20: “And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Notice that he did not say that the “Lord of hosts,” which means the “Lord of armies” would crush Satan, but the God of peace would. It is the peace of God that is an impregnable fortress. The peace of God is the linchpin fruit of the Spirit, which if we lose it, all of the other fruits of the Spirit will also be lost. Think about it: If you lose your peace, you will quickly lose your patience and faith—then it is hard to love…. We must guard our peace.

We can count on this being tested this year by many events in the world. Let us resolve now that instead of worrying about the things happening in the world, that we are going to grow in our trust in the Lord because He has already overcome the world. He is bigger than the world.

    The best way to put our trust in the Lord is the next thing the Lord said to do after telling us not to be anxious—seek first His kingdom in everything we do. If we are anxious, it can be a sign that we have not been building our lives on the kingdom God, but rather the things of this world. Regardless of how far off the path we have gone, we can get back on the path by determining now to seek first the kingdom in everything we do, making it the most basic issue in every major decision that we make. When we know we are seeking the Lord first and His kingdom, the peace of God will come upon us. Having the peace of God rule in our lives will be critical in the times to come.