Do you struggle with anxiety or know someone that does? A lot of people do. And if you have been following along with me the last few weeks, you know I do too.
This is our third week talking about anxiety and we have discovered several tools to help us. If you missed the first two, you can check them out here; Part 1 and/or Part 2. Today, we are going to find out what is in the center of anxiety and what we can do to move past all that fear and worry.
The first week, we found scripture as a tool to help us with our anxiety. Last week, we discovered our daily practice is actually an act of self-care. But today, we want to get to the heart of the matter.
I was listening to a minister out of Charlotte the other day. As he talked about anxiety, he showed the word on the screen; ANXIETY.
a-n-x-I-e-t-y
I had never noticed the letter “I” is right in the center of anxiety. However, when I look back on my own anxiety, I can see I was focused on myself. Typically, when my anxiety occurs, it is because I am over-analyzing. My thoughts are centered around my self, my situation. my own feelings, or problem. I am focused on me, and not on God.
But just like 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to “cast our cares” on God, we are to look to God, not ourselves, in any situation.
If you recall from Part 1 of this blog series, my study note for 1 Peter 5:7 takes us to Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything…”
My the study notes for these verses says, “anxious… Self-centered, counterproductive worry, … Anxiety and prayer are two great opposing forces in Christian experience.”
Psalms 55:1-23 reads,
1-2; Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;
2 hear me and answer me.
My thoughts trouble me
22 Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken….
But as for me, I trust in you.
“But as for me, I trust in You.”
The definition of trust is; “firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.”
As I open my devotion, in Jesus Calling, to begin my daily practice, it reads, “Relax in my healing , holy Presence. Allow Me to transform you through this time alone with Me. As your thoughts center more and more on Me, trust displaces fear and worry. Your mind is somewhat like a seesaw. As your trust in me goes up, fear and worry automatically go down. Time spent with Me not only increases your trust; it also helps you discern what is important and what is not.”
“As your thoughts center on God, trust displaces fear and worry.” Center your life, your thoughts, your everything on God. Through prayer and thankfulness, your anxiety will be removed and replaces with “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding…”
One last thing, my study note for the Philippians 4:7 verse above says this, “peace of God. Not merely a psychological state of mind, but an inner tranquility based on peace with God. The opposite of anxiety. It is the tranquility that comes when believers commit all their cares to God in prayer and worry about them no more.”
If you struggle with anxiety, scripture shows us the way. Through prayer and thanksgiving, we can move past our fears and worry to a place of peace. When we trust God in all things, we are guaranteed that peace that transcends all understanding.
Put your trust in God today and let God take care of the rest. Amen.
I’ve included a YouTube video below. It is one of my mama’s favorites. If you can’t see it, open this message in your browser.
Make this your prayer today.
P.S. Leave me a comment below and let me hear from you. Forward this message to a friend who might struggle with anxiety. Share on Facebook and tag me in it. Until next time, as for me, I will trust in the Lord. -M
