Anxiety is one of the most common maladies in America today. Fortunately for the Christian the Bible has a drug-free cure for anxiety that works every time no matter what the circumstances you may find yourself in. I would like to share three verses that when properly understood and applied will cause anxiety to flee.
(Philippians 4:6-7)
“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.”
In these two verses we see that God tells us to never be anxious. When anxious thoughts try to invade our minds, we need to take them to the Lord in prayer. (1 Peter 5:7) amplifies this thought when it tells us: “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” God loves us and knows that we are not equipped to carry all the heavy emotional burdens that we so often are bogged down with. So, He tells us to cast them on Him and in return allow God’s amazing peace to flood our souls. God may not change the circumstances we find ourselves in but He will allow us to realize that He will carry us through whatever trials come our way. Notice that in addition to praying to God for a release from our anxiety He tells us to be thankful. Being thankful is so important because it shows God that we not only believe He will help us but it puts us in a positive frame of mind to meditate on our deliverance from anxiety.
(Isaiah 61:3)
“…The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…”
Praise is one of the greatest ways to lift one up from a heavy spirit. When you are feeling down and anxious start praising God for all of your blessings and I guarantee you that your state of mind will begin to change from down and out to peace and joy in the Lord. You see when we praise the Lord we take the focus off ourselves and place it on God’s goodness. Thus, praise has a therapeutic element that no medicine can compete with!
(Matthew 6:31-33)
“Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
My friends so often the reason we are anxious is that we are worrying about our needs being met. I challenge you to read (Matthew 6:25-34), which I believe is the greatest passage in all of Scripture on how to defeat the twin cousin of anxiety – worry. Again, as we can see from the verses above, our priority should be to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, not our own needs, and then watch how God supplies everything that we are worrying about.
When we put God first through prayer, thanksgiving, and praise watch how He meets not only our needs but provides us with the peace and joy that makes life so worthwhile. And oh yes, worry and anxiety cannot exist when we are living and experiencing the presence of the Lord.
Yes, we should count our blessings. Amen.