Thanksgiving Is An Anxiety Buster!
THANKFULNESS IS HUGE in PRAYERFULLY battling Anxiety (Read Phil 4:6 and the promise to those who practice v 6 is found in v 7).
Thank God for who He is. Thank God for His promises which are true. Thank God for the ability to apply them. Thank God that Jesus died for the SIN of Anxiety that you may NEVER BE A SLAVE TO IT AGAIN! If it is not in His life it is not to be in yours or mine! This DOES NOT MEAN, that the TEMPTATION to anxiety is a sin. It is only when we yield to those thoughts and act upon them by rejecting God, His Word then we are sinning.
The word “anxiety,” comes from two Greek words which means to ‘Divide’ the ‘mind.’ To “separate.” To be “troubled.” The purpose of our mind is to LOVE GOD with all your Mind.-{Read Luke 10:27}. So the evil one tries to divide our mind from devotion, dependence upon the LORD.
Anxiety and fear travel together as seen in Luke 12:22,25,32. Both destructive emotions bent on seeking to dishearten you and distract you from your Sufficiency In Christ, His Word, promises!
The word “worry,” comes from a word meaning “to choke, strangle.” What that is in the physical realm in the spiritual realm it seeks to strangle faith and focusing on God’s Sovereignty, Goodness, and faithfulness. His character!
ANXIETY is a common response to stressful circumstances. Anxiety in Scripture is inconsistent with Trust in God. It is an uneasy feeling, agitation, dread or fear, burdened. It affects the mind, emotions, health. The verb merizo = “to distract, to divide, to draw different directions.” Anxiety pulls the mind in different directions.
“Anxiety frequently manifests itself in ungodly concern about provision, performance, or reputation, and appears to be rooted in incomplete knowledge, lack of control over circumstances, or failure to take an “eternal” perspective on things ( Matt 6:25-34 ; 10:19 ; Mark 13:11 ; Luke 12:11-12 Luke 12:22-34 ).
Freedom from anxiety begins with confession that it is not God’s will. In fact, anxiety is a subtle insinuation that God is either unable or disinclined to see to our welfare. Other remedial measures include recognizing the futility of worry ( Matt 6:27 ; Luke 12:25 ); cultivating a growing understanding of God’s power and fatherly disposition ( Matt 6:26 ; Luke 12:30 ); entrusting to God the things that we cannot control ( 1 Pe 5:7 ); increasingly viewing things in eternal perspective ( Matt 6:32-34 ; Luke 12:30-34 ); and substituting prayer for worry ( Php 4:6 ). -Ralph E. Enlow, Jr.” -{Baker’s Evangelical Theology}
Often we have responded by submitting to anxiety and giving it Authority over us in our lives, in our thinking, which affects and distorting our feelings and influences our decision making, the actions we make! It is a SINFUL response… And until we see that, we will continue down this road accepting “this is my life!” That’s a lie! You have been freed from the sin of anxiety and though tempted you do not have to YIELD to the temptation to sin against God.-{Read John 8;31-32; Gal 5:1}.
Anxiety, worry, is an attack on the character of God, His Word, promises. It says He cannot be trusted, He is not good, He is not in control! It travels with fear!
Anxiety says, “God, I know You mean well but I cannot trust You, so I will handle this myself! ” And how has that worked out for you? If you’re like me – not too well! Why do we act like this again and again? There is the key “again, and again,” it has become a habit pattern, perhaps even before we gave our lives to the LORD and this is how we have always responded and we need to know we are no longer under the authority of the evil one who injects thoughts of anxiety to pull our thoughts away from God and His provision in His Word for us and leave us looking at our own deficient resources rather than the sufficiency of Him.
We need to look to Him when tempted. Think and speak His Word to ourselves to remind us of Who He is. When an Anxious thought comes it is trying to divide your thoughts from loving God and seeks to tempt you to believe you are alone, there is no help and seeks to turn you inward away from Him. But raise up His Word, The “Sword of the Spirit,” and use by reminding yourself of Who He is…Focus on Him
“Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.“- {Jer 32:17};”I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.“-{Psalm 121;1-2};”And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”-{Phil 4:19};”I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”-{Phil 4;13};”…Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.“-{Matt 28;18};”for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” – {Heb 13:5};”For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“- {Rom 8:38-39};”And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.“-{Luke 12:22-32}.
We need to renew our thinking as Romans 12:2 teaches, and we do this by hiding His Word in our mind and meditating on it, and applying it. Is it easy? At times No! For the evil one hates God and you, and so at times the fight of faith to trust the Lord can be intense “But God…” He gives us His Word where we find “…A Good Word…” from His “precious and magnificent promises”-{Read 2 Peter 1:4}. Note the promises are not one, though that would be enough but “plural.”
He lavishes us with words of PROMISES which He has the ability to Keep and He DOES. Promises of encouragement, hope, comfort, power, strength, wisdom, to gladden our heart such as…
- – He gives us “everything pertaining to life and Godliness.” -{Read 2 Peter 1:-4}
- -“I can do ALL things through Christ who infuses me with strength” -{Read Phil 4:13}.
- – ” Not that we are adequate{sufficient} in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy {sufficiency} is from God,”-{2 Cor 3:5}. These are three good promises to meditate upon and also
- Phil 4:6 “Be anxious …” now if we stopped there to obey this command, we could often say we are following this, but it does not stop there it says, “be anxious in NOTHING but in everything by prayer, supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God…” and note HIS PROTECTIVE PROMISE in verse 7 to those who follow His prescription.
- – ” and the PEACE OF GOD which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!” -{Phil 4:7}. It takes faith to pray and apply it… but it also takes faith in self to REJECT Him and His Word! So where will we find a “Good Word?” Hmm… in His WORD! As I said to someone recently,” If I had brains. I’d be dangerous!”
A CHOICE YOU HAVE TO MAKE AND MAINTAIN;
“Anxiety in the heart weighs it down{depression} BUT a good word makes it glad.”-{Prov 1;25}
CHOOSE to keep from spiraling into depression, or if you are there, choose to break the spiral by THINKING about “A Good word” about God, His Promises, and your heart will be nourished, comforted, strengthened, uplifted, and GLADDENED! “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you RICHLY…” – Col 3:16
CHOOSE TO TAKE CAPTIVE anxious thoughts through THINKING ON “A GOOD WORD,” -God’s character and God’s Promises, and your heart will be GLAD!
CHOOSE TO CAST YOUR CARES ON THE LORD- for He Cares for you.-{1 Peter 5;7}. With each care, anxious thoughts that come to you immediately give it to the LORD.
“casting”– (vivid verb used only one other time and describes when the disciples casting their coats on a colt in Luke 19:35)”ALL”-(WITHOUT Exception.) your – those things that specifically weigh you down cares (noun merimna = anxieties, worries, concerns) upon Him for He cares- Note He knows about you, and those things that worry you. It is the picture of god watching you exercising His personal care, love, affection, and interest in you, whom HE CALLS His Beloved-{Rom 1:7}. This affectionate care is seen in Luke 21:18 for His children and in 1 Peter 5;7 for you!
The psalmist writes
“Cast” (in Hebrew = a command) your burden upon the LORD (releasing the weight of if) and He will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)
You are not meant to carry any anxiety, but prayerfully give it to the LORD, it is His Will for you! His ability, His love for you enables you to give it to Him, knowing He is glad to take it off you! If the thought comes back then remind yourself you have already given it to Him and stand on His faithfulness!
HELPING THE ANXIOUS, DESPONDENT HEART;
*** If you are not the one who is anxious BUT come across a person who is “anxious” and bowed down, you can ENCOURAGE, COMFORT, Speak KINDNESS with a timely word. You can be part of God’s healing process.
What better word is there than His Word,…
It DOES “COMFORT” -{Psalm 119:50}.
It DOES “ENCOURAGE.” -{Romans 15:4}.
It DOES give HOPE -{Romans 15:4}.
It DOES impart WISDOM-{James:15}.
It DOES show us how to be SAVED.-{2 Tim 3:15}.
It DOES give ASSURANCE of ETERNAL LIFE. -{1 John 5:13}.
It DOES teach us HOW TO LOVE.-{1 Cor 13:4-7}.
It DOES reveal JESUS CHRIST to us. -{Luke 24:27}.
Be being kind to those who are anxious. They need an ENCOURAGING word. Be ready to serve them in love, we all need such people in our lives. It may be your example that spurs others to do likewise. It may be you who is in need some time. God bless and encourage you.
When you prayerfully, thankfully choose HIS Way, then you can be assured HE RESPONDS gifting you PEACE for your mind and heart. That you have a secure, stable and healthy mentality. It takes faith to trust Him. It takes faith not to! It is a choice whom you choose to rely upon, self or the Savior?
Keep encouraging yourself and others with a “Good word.” HOW?
A. PERSONALLY Chew on the Word, Meditate upon it -{Read Psalm 1:2; Col 3:16 “…let the WORD of Christ dwell in you RICHLY.”}. Apply it to your circumstances. -{Read Matt 7:24; James 1:22}.
B.- PRESENT it to others, lovingly, graciously, kindly, compassionately, watch your tone… Share the LORD, and WHO He is and What He says – {Read 1 Peter 3:15; 2 Tim 2:24-25; Phil 2:16}.
Perhaps God will use you to turn someone from anxiety and depression through the “Good Word” you share with them and or to keep them living with gladness of heart! Be kind to the anxious and despairing, be kind with your words, and tone of speech, and build them up with a “Good word” that they may live to the right-hand side of the “But” in the verse!
I once had a person who was very ill and struggled with sleep who wrote and told me when they could not sleep through the night, they would look up the references I used in my devotionals. That is one way to get a “GOOD WORD” in you. Read the verses listed above and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you and through you as He “…equips” you with His Word “for every good work.”-{Read 2 Tim 3:17; Heb 13:21}.
TRAIN YOURSELF TO PRACTICE THANKFULNESS; By THINKING on His Word.
God bless and may HE WHO gives perseverance and encouragement through His WORD… encourage you with Hope and a means to offer a “glad word,” to others! -{Read Rom 15:4-5}.