Tuesday, February 20, 2018

5 Anxiety Fighting Statements

"Do not be anxious about anything...." Philippians 4:6




I have had anxious moments.

So have you.

There are times I catch myself worrying over something I shouldn't.

You probably have too.

That is not what Paul has in mind when he pens these words. The root word he uses for "anxious" literally means "to choke" or "to squeeze". He is referring to being so overcome by fear, worry and anxiety that your energy is low and your blood pressure is high and your sleep is troubled.

The Apostle, writing from a dark, damp prison chained to a Roman guard knowing his life depends on the whims of a psychotic Emperor named Nero. If anyone had reason to be anxious it was him. Yet he wrote with complete integrity when he admonished the Philippians to be anxious for nothing!

I have had an anxiety attack. I never want to have another one. I was overcome by worry, despair and hopelessness and felt absolutely powerless to do anything about it. It was the lowest moment of my life. I emptied every glass, coffee cup and dish in my cabinet and shattered them against my brick fireplace.

It wasn't until I began cleaning up the mess that I realized how totally out of control I had been.

Once you are overcome by anxiety it is followed by deep feelings of shame and guilt. Before you know it you are caught in a powerful downward spiral.

Studies have found that 17% of Americans suffer from severe anxiety. When you do the math it factors to 56,000,000 people!

Prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications have more than doubled in the past 20 years.

If worry was an Olympic event America would take the Gold Medal.

But in view of all those facts Paul assures us it is possible to "be anxious for nothing"! How can that be?

Here's the answers! There are five anxiety fighting statements below. Can you find them?

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Fin ally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:4-9

February 20, 2018

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" Mark 8:36

Imagine you had a car with an engine that, with minimal maintenance would run forever. In fact, with that routine amount of attention you know your engine will outlast the body of your automobile. Would you neglect that engine and devote all your energy to making the exterior of the vehicle look good?

I doubt it! That would be foolish!

You may not have an eternal motor, not even a Toyota lasts forever, but you do have an eternal soul! That soul is the core of your being and it is what keeps your body up and running. Your soul is eternal because it was placed within you by an eternal God.

So, how is your soul?

How is your maintenance record?

Are you devoting more time, money and energy on your exterior or on your soul?

In your natural vain flawed judgment you will focus on the temporary and neglect the eternal. Even one as spiritual as the Prophet Samuel needed to be reminded, "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." I Samuel 16:7

Many of the religious leaders of Jesus' day were caught up in this foolish priority of looking good while neglecting their eternal souls and Jesus had a graphic description for them, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean." Matthew 23:27

I think you get the point!

So, what are you going to do about it today? Will you spend AT LEAST as much time with God in His Word and in prayer as you do with your grooming?

Spend more time on the eternal today.