I hope everyone is having a great day, or if you aren't having a great day, I hope that this will encourage you and strengthen you today.
Today I want to talk about Anxiety. We all struggle with this. It is something thats been in our world since the Fall of Man in Genesis 3.
Here are some examples of anxiety I would like to share with you.
1. meeting deadlines
2. studying for tests
3. figuring out what to cook for dinner
4. jobs
5.financial situation
6. family issues
7. Having completed everything on our daily task list.
8. finding mr. or mrs. Right
9. worried about getting to our destinations on time
10. failure
11.doing the right thing regardless of peer pressure or temptation from Satan.
*These are just the few examples we have anxiety over in our daily lives.
The first question we have to ask ourselves:
1. WHAT IS ANXIETY?
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/anxiety Gives us the definition of anxiety
Anxiety- distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune: He felt anxiety about the possible loss of his job.
So we have this constant pressure knocking at our door. The next question that comes to mind...
2.What can we do to decrease our anxiety?
There are two ways to handle anxiety.
The WORLD'S WAY. or GOD'S WAY.
Let's look at how both handle Anxiety.
The WORLD'S WAY: (Positive/negative sides)
Positive Perspective:1. Listen to relaxing music
2. Take a 30 minute nap
3. Take a bubble bath
4. Exercise
5. read a book
Negative Perspective:
1.take drugs
2.have pre-marital sex
3. getting drunk
4. put yourself in a harmful situation
5. fight
6. party all night
7. be lazy all day.
NOW PLEASE DON'T GET ME WRONG. There are many individuals who would choose to do the positive relaxation techniques that the world says to do. BUT temptation can creep in and sometimes we give in to what we shouldn't do. God has given every individual a choice. Either Follow HIM or NOT. I know you and I make choices everyday. We try to do the right thing but yet we fall short of God's grace at times but we must choose to NOT give up.
What I am saying though, is that God's way doesn't INCLUDE A NEGATIVE PERSPECTIVE!!!!
Lets look at what God says about Anxiety and how to deal with it from His perspective!
God's Way:
- Psalm 94:17-19- "Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O Lord, supported me. When ANXIETY was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." (Emphasis mine).
*Wow. Isn't that wonderful to know that if we let God look into our hearts and let Him know that we are struggling with Anxiety, He will comfort us and it should bring a smile on our face and JOY in our hearts that HE loves us and is willing to listen to us if we let Him in and talk to Him through prayer. Isn't that comforting to know?? I believe so!! *
2.Ecclesiastes 2: 22-25-"What does it a man get for all the toil and ANXIOUS striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. A man can do nothing better than to eat and drinking and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?" (Emphasis mine).
* This sounds like many of the "workaholics" and many people who are constantly on a tight schedule. Meeting deadlines, making conference calls, attending work meetings, working long hours and getting home late to their families and all they want to do is "plop" on the couch and fall asleep until it is time to go to bed and wake up to another busy work day with new expectations. OR it could be that college student who is trying to make great grades, has to meet certain deadlines for projects, and trying to balance every aspect of his or her life. Most of us can identify with these types of people. All human kind wants to be successful and thinks they are "superman" or "wonderwoman." We worry constantly that IF we don't get EVERYTHING DONE in ONE DAY, WE HAVE FAILED. We're afraid of failure. / What this verse is saying is that if we constantly worry and have anxiety about life we don't let our minds rest and we loose sleep and we wake up the next morning and we aren't ever happy. IF we let God take care of our anxiety and to take one step at a time and strive for confidence in Him, we can become content and find enjoyment in our lives. Just because we don't get EVERYTHING done on our task list, doesn't mean we are failures! We just continue by doing those tasks the next day we are given by God.
3. Philippians 4:4-9-" Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be ANXIOUS about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Emphasis mine).
This is certainly encouraging to me. If we just rely on God, He will take care of us and comfort us! He is the only one that will be there for you at every aspect in your life! He wants to show you that HIS LOVE is the REAL THING. He wants to have an intamite RELATIONSHIP with you and be your guide in your life. We just have to only LET HIM!
This is going to be a daily devotional blog.. Of course I will keep you all up do date whats going on in my life, but I want to focus on our Relationship with God and how we can strive to strengthen it and help eachother with problems that we face in our everyday life. I want all who read my daily blogs, to give me your thoughts on each subject that I will be discussing and sharing my opinions with you.
As we grow In Christ together, let us be strengthened and guide each other toward a home in Heaven!
Please, if you haven't go ahead and read my previous blog posts and feel free to share your opinions.
Hope you are encouraged as I have been!
Until I write again,
Lauren
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