When the things we fear continue into a more general, sustained, long-term uneasy state of mind it becomes anxiety. Anxiety is distracting care. While there are legitimate daily concerns about things like health, safety, and relationships, anxiety is a state of mind where our thoughts are continually pulled to dwell on circumstances.
Behind anxiety is the basic assumption that God isn't involved in our situation for our good. Looking at things from that perspective, our nature is to think and respond to things apart from God in the picture.
The Lord tells us not to be anxious. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God...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” (Philippians 4:6-9 NIV).
When you worry, it’s like you’re carrying around a heavy burden. You’re weighed down with anxiety and you can’t think clearly. Wouldn’t it be so much easier to give your burdens and worries over to God? He says He’ll take it and will give you peace in return. That’s a pretty good exchange.
You know what causes stress? Anxiety. Do you know how to rid your life of anxiety? Rest. Resting in Christ is the quickest way to rid your life of harmful stress. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
If you want to relax and get rid of anxiety, you need to lighten up. Are you typically harsh or critical? Try cultivating a more gentle and understanding approach to life. “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.”
We don’t like to think about death, but the Bible says believers have nothing to fear—we have a Shepherd, Jesus, who will walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death when the time comes.
Eternity isn’t something we like to think about, but each of us will certainly enter it one day. The question is...where will we spend it?
Adolescence is both an amazing and challenging time…for kids and parents! Here is some practical and realistic advice for getting through the years of change.
Take all the time you need to bring your life to God in prayer by listing out what is making you anxious. When you do He promises to replace your fears and anxious woes with a perfect peace to guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Many of us are currently enduring a crisis. Yes, crisis changes the course of our lives. But what we often forget is that the changes can open doors to a life better than what would have been if the crisis had not happened.
The term worry is derived from the old German word wurgen, which means "to choke." Somehow, by extension, the word came to denote "mental strangulation," and, finally, to describe the condition of being harassed with anxiety.
Chuck Swindoll has four simple words of advice for dealing with fear and they all have to do with choosing to trust the Lord instead of running scared.
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