All posts by mjharvell

Welcome, friend—I’m glad you’ve pulled up a chair on the front porch of my little corner of the internet. My name is Michael Joe Harvell, and I live my life with one simple mission: to glorify God, encourage people, and leave this world a little better than I found it. I’m a husband, father, pastor, writer, Jeep enthusiast, and front-porch thinker who believes that life is best lived on purpose. I serve as pastor of Eureka Baptist Church in Anderson, South Carolina, where I get the joy of preaching, teaching, and walking with people through the ups and downs of everyday life. Over the years, I’ve discovered that faith isn’t just about Sunday mornings—it’s about living every single day in the presence and power of God. I’m also an author. My books—including The Grace Exchange: How Forgiven People Forgive People and The Word Works—grow out of the sermons, stories, and lessons I’ve learned on this journey. I write in a style that’s conversational, a little front-porch-rocking-chair, and full of stories, quotes, and Scripture that point us back to the goodness of God’s Word. When I’m not writing or preaching, you might find me sitting outside with my Bible and journal, cruising the backroads in my Jeep Gladiator, or sharing a meal and some laughs with the good folks God has put in my life. I love helping people find peace in their spirit, strength in their body, and encouragement in their soul. This blog is simply an extension of that mission. Here you’ll find devotions, encouragement, reflections, and practical insights for living a life of purpose, peace, and joy. So grab a cup of coffee, pull up a rocking chair, and stay awhile—I’d be honored to walk this road of faith with you.

Worry Can’t Win Unless You Let It!

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” -Matthew 6:25 (KJV)

Friend, if we’re honest, worry has a way of showing up uninvited. It whispers, “What if?” It keeps us awake at night, steals our joy during the day, and convinces us that somehow everything depends on us.

But Jesus says something remarkable in Matthew 6:25: “Take no thought for your life.” He isn’t telling us to ignore our responsibilities. He’s reminding us not to carry burdens that belong to God.

Think about it. The same God who gave you life is more than capable of taking care of your life.

He has already seen tomorrow. He knows every need you’ll have before you ever ask. Not once has God been surprised by your circumstances, and not once has He failed to keep His promises.

Worry cannot change yesterday, and it cannot control tomorrow. All it can do is rob you of the peace God wants you to experience today.

So instead of feeding your fears, feed your faith. Instead of rehearsing every possible problem, remember every time God has already brought you through.

If He has been faithful before, He will be faithful again.

Today, take a deep breath, place your concerns into the hands of your Heavenly Father, and keep walking by faith. The God who holds the universe in His hands is holding you too.