Anxiety comes from two Greek words which placed together means,” to divide the mind!”
So, the attack is on our mind to distract us from devotion to loving Jesus Christ! So straight away we see the purpose of the temptation of anxiety! The purpose of our mind is to love God with it!
” And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” “-{Luke 10:27}
This is only possible when we are born again and out mind is continually being renewed by His Spirit through His Word- {Read Rom 12:1-3}. Anxiety is a real temptation, that’s for sure! Temptation is not sin. It is when we CHOOSE to yield then it is sin- But we must recognize we do not have to yield to it and sin against God in doing so.-( 1 Cor 10:31). We have the power to live not yielding to the temptation to anxiety!- (2 Peter 1:3-4) When we CHOOSE to Yield to it, it is to have our mind pulled in two different directions and as Proverbs 12:25 says it leads to depression.
In Luke 10 we have what I call, “THE FRUIT OF ANXIETY” from Luke 10:38-40, it is about MARTHA. MARY and JESUS; We see in this story, Jesus had come to their home and Martha was making a meal and Mary was sitting at His feet listening to His word and all Martha’s emotions of anxiety were let lose on…Jesus!
So lets look at the ” FRUIT OF ANXIETY.”
1.- DOUBT THE CARE OF JESUS.-
” Lord do You not care…” – She immediately attacks Him with questioning and Doubting He cared for her. The FRUIT of Anxiety is to DOUBT GOD CARES FOR YOU!
2.- SELF- PITY
NOTE how she turns this on Jesus, “LORD, do You not care thate my SISTER has left ME To Do all the work.”
Her focus is on her self. Anxiety reveals a self focusing individual. Did Jesus demand she did the preparing of the meal? No! Did she CHOOSE to do it ? Yes. Then why is she taking it out on Him! She is Self Occupied! And she is having a pity party! Anxious people do this. We focus on ourselves, not The Lord or others!
3.- CRITICAL; ” my SISTER has left me to do all the work…” She was critical of Mary because she was not doing what Martha wanted her to do. Anxious people are critical of what others are or are not doing!
4.- DEMANDING; ” Then tell her to help Me.”- she DEMANDS Jesus do something. In her heart at that moment Jesus existed to execute her desires, anxious people are Demanding people , even telling God what He MUST DO- for THEM!
These are but 4 FRUITS of Anxiety. Doubt God’s Care for you! Self- Pity; Demanding ( and Demeaning others); Critical! When we are distracted in our mind and anxious these are a manifestation of what is happening inwardly!
Do you recognize any or all in your life? I know I have!
THE ROOT – OF THE PROBLEM.- Jesus puts His finger on THE PROBLEM- it’s not Him, it’s not Mary- it is MARTHA! “Martha was anxious (distracted, worried) about All HER preparations, …”Martha, Martha YOU are anxious about MANY THINGS, BUT Mary has CHOSEN THE ONE THING NEEDFUL.” Some people say, “we’ll, I’m just a Martha.” But that is by PERSONAL CHOICE as The Lord shows her! He does correct her for making a meal BUT her ATTITUDE she CHOOSES while making it!
HELP FOR THE ANXIOUS;
A.- CHOOSING TO YIELD TO ANXIETY IS SIN AGAINST GOD! It is an attack on His character. It is to say, “I know You mean well, but you are incapable, impotent, indifferent to me any my situation, I must take it upon myself.”
B.- THE FRUIT IS DEVASTATING to those around you or me! Repent! TRUST God! Choosing to live by “feelings,” rather than faith in God and His Word is devastating, destructive, disobedience!
C.-THE SOLUTION IS TO RECOGNIZE IT’S PURPOSE. Reject it and Replace it with CHOOSING to do His Word, guard your heart and do what you do For the Lord’s sake and to prefer others for His Sake! – 2 Cor 4:5
(Your and my MOTIVATION in Why we do what we do- is Key! )
D. –HERE IS HOPE; Begin afresh! The blood of Jesus cleanses us and in submission to His Word, He empowers us to live anxiety free! This does not mean we are not tempted BUT it does mean we do not have to CHOOSE to yield to it!
E. – CHANGE YOUR FOCUS; Focus on the LORD, CHOOSE TO THINK ON HIM. TRUST HIS PROMISES. WALK BY FAITH FOCUSING ON HIM AND resting in his word. He is faithful!
Hope this encourages and helps you . Sending this with prayers to those who read . Please feel free to copy and share.