Everywhere I look and every place I listen, everyone is concerned about the downturn in the economy. Interest rates have risen along with gas and food prices, while housing values and sales have dropped. More and more people are out of work and out of money.

Jesus didn't come to take us out of the world and its goings on, He came to keep us from the evil in it (Jn. 17:15). As a result, though we're on our way to heaven, we live here on earth. That means we must deal with the ins and outs of earthly life for now, and that includes downturns in the economy. What would Jesus do with today's news if He were still living here? We already know the answer to that question in at least five areas by looking into the Word, where the instructions speak for themselves:

First, don't worry.
"Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you put on" (Mt. 6:25).
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6).

Second, trust Him and praise Him anyhow.
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river. And will not fear when heat comes; But it's leaf will be green and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit" (Jer. 17:7-8).
"Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls--yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Hab. 3:17-18).

Third, be wise and be advised by other wise and godly people.
"Be wise as a serpent and as harmless as a dove" (Mt. 10:16).
"In the multitude of counselors there is safety" (Pro. 11:14).

Fourth, put Him first, and that includes giving our tithes and offerings with a cheerful heart.
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and these things shall be added to you" (Mt. 6:33).
" 'Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,' says the Lord of hosts, 'If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it' " (Mal. 3:10)

Fifth, don't treasure the wrong things.
"One's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he posseses" (Mt.12:15).
" 'Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also' " (Mt. 6:19-21).

Most economists say that what is happening is a market correction, where the system is trying to make things right and bring back to an even keel. In simplistic terms it means that what goes up must come down. One known economist wrote, "Often, the wise response to an economic correction is 'Don't just do something, stand there,' because the market is doing the right things."

During this market correction, let's take some time and make some corrections of our own. Let's not go nutso, do anything drastic, or start believing we're going down the tubes. Instead, let's check these five areas and and make needed changes. After we do that? Then we can just rest in Him. Why? "[We] know whom [we] have believed and [are] persuaded that He is able to keep what [we] have committed to Him until that Day" (2 Timothy 1:12).

And that's living the persuaded life!