Anxiety Relief

 

Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God."  

This week, Michael writes: How much fear should fill our soul? When it comes to anxiety and fear, God requires zero tolerance. Prayer, specific requests, and thanksgiving are the antidote to anxiety. A grateful heart is the key to joy and rejoicing despite trials and pain. As Paul said, "the testing of your faith produces patience." Anything that forces us to our knees in prayer is our "friends." Trials and tribulations are guaranteed in life, this side of eternity. However, doubt, worry, and fear are optional. Our challenge is, in everything to give thanks. King David said, "O Lord, you're right when you correct me." Psalm 34:18 says, God is near to the broken-hearted. The sacrifices we make to God are a broken and a contrite heart. God doesn't want your sacrifice, he wants your heart. A broken spirit he will never cast out.

Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise.”

The troubles of this world are either problems from the enemy or challenges to prove the power of God. Anxiety is the absence of gratitude in the presence of fear and sometimes in the presence of anger. From God's perspective, there are no bad reports. Our challenge is to align our perspective with His perspective, for God is still in control...He is Sovereign over all. The Apostle Paul was thrown into a Roman prison for preaching the gospel. He sent Epaphroditus to Philippi with a letter from his prison cell to bless the Philippians. Paul's testimony was that whatever the trial, I will choose to praise His holy name. Can God trust you to praise His name and glorify Him in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, in good times and bad?  As Paul said, whether I'm, in need or abounding, everything is for the furtherance of the good news of the Gospel of Christ.  

Success in the world's eyes is to focus on our own comfort and fulfillment.  However, try as we may, we're truly not in control over the circumstances of life. Our times are in Thy hands, oh God. We get to choose our attitude. If we've been filled with the spirit and changed according to the newness of life, all things work for the advancement of the gospel. The Apostle Paul understood his calling as a bond servant of His Lord Jesus Christ. He understood his calling to be set apart as an Apostle of his Lord. Like Paul, we can choose to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. We are witnesses of the gospel of Salvation. He has called us as His living epistles.  

Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

The problem with a "living sacrifice" is that it wants to crawl off the altar. To present ourselves a living sacrifice we must die to self in order to live for Him.  Our choice is to pray, "not my will but thine be done."  When we decide to make His will our will and His desire our desire, then God will work in us and through us to will and to do of His good pleasure.  

The solution to anxiety is prayer and supplication with thanksgiving unto God.  When we decide to praise, honor and glorify God no matter the consequences, then we will know the peace of God that passes all understanding in Christ Jesus. Our calling is to rest in His purpose and in His strength. When we put our hopes and dreams in that which cannot be taken away, then we will find peace in our Lord. That is true anxiety relief. Therefore, be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

May God richly bless you!

Your brother in Christ, Michael