Trust Relieves Anxiety

Anxiety and fear usually work together. The Bible has lots to say about both. How does it work? You are afraid of snakes. So if it is a strong enough fear, just thinking about snakes makes you fee anxious. But if one crosses your path, you could go into flight or fight mode or just freeze on the spot. In either reaction, you get some physical symptoms...acid stomach, heart palpitations, jaw clinching, mouth watering, etc. So be aware of the physical reactions you have to anxiety. These can result in illness over time.

In many passages, the Bible throws money or wanting what we do not have in the mix with fear and anxiety. We fear loosing our money or having them rob us. Or we spend every waking hour thinking about how to make money or working to make it. And often we are rewarded with anxiety and a resulting physical condition. What are we supposed to do? It take money to live. Everything we need costs money. Or so we think. It's not using money to care for our needs that gets us into trouble, is it? No, it's loving money more than we love the Lord; spending more time being concerned about money than we are spending time with the Lord and following him; or spending more time working for money than we do in using it responsibly like spending time with our family or accumulating material goods. It's the misuse that results in anxiety and worry which can lead to serious illness or more serious loss over time. So here is the solution:

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 ESV

So which is more important? Loving the Lord or loving money? Has he not promised you to provide for your needs? Then trust him more than the stock market or your the news.

Frozen by Anxiety or Freed by Christ

Have you ever had to take anti-anxiety medicine? What happens when you feel anxious? Have you ever felt so anxious that you just shut down, were completely incapacitated? What about when you just shut down on a test you had prepared for and could not recall any answers? Did you ever choke up at bat and couldn't connect with the ball when a run could make the difference between a win for the team or loss of the championship? When I was counseling, anxiety disorders were my favorite to work with. If you've never experienced severe anxiety that just shut you down, you can't appreciate what Jesus offers in the verses that talk about anxiety and offer a cure.

We usually skip verse 5 in Philippians 4 when referring to passages on anxiety. Yet, when you've experienced anxiety, were you reasonable or did you just act completely compulsive or not act at all?  Either response is destructive. I can result in a disaster. When we can react to a situation in peace the results are much better than when we freeze. So lets remember this verse and go to the Lord when anxiety threatens to shut us down. He is the best counselor and anti-anxiety medicine we can go to and the cost is very reasonable and results positive.

" Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus."Philippians 4:5-7

Something New is Coming

It is already the second day of the New Year, Is 2015 moving as fast as 2014 did? We'd better hang onto our hats and quit procrastinating on the things we need to do and what needs to change. How are you doing on your list of resolutions? Where do you need to put more emphasis or just get started?
A new year can be a new beginning. What do you need to leave behind? Will you? Or will you go back and pick it up again and keep doing what hasn't been working? In Isaiah, the Lord is telling the people that things are going to change, He has a better plan for them and it is coming. It's the same with us. He has a better plan for our ives, but first we must be willing to let go of all that holds us back. What holds you back? Pray about it. Ask the Lord to give you strength and courage to let go and let him be in control. Give him the reins of your ilife and when he says "gee" go and "haw: stop. Your can relax, let go and let God.
"Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
“Behold, I will do something new," Isaiah 43:18-19 a