Date:
July 12-15, 2019Freeing Yourself Up to Laugh Again
Anxiety can be an addiction. The good news is that God has provided an escape—a way of liberation to laugh again.
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Anxiety
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).
Four Ways to Deal With Fear
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.
Discipline
Pray about everything. When you pray you’re giving your worries to God. He understands what you’re worrying about and He knows exactly what He’s doing. If you leave it to Him, He’ll work it out.
Loneliness
When you feel lonely remember the Lord is with you. He hasn’t left you alone. In these times cling to His promises to never abandon you, never fail your, and never forsake you.
Telling the Truth
We all need wisdom and courage to stand up to false accusations. If you’re on the receiving end of hurtful words stay calm, speak the truth, and trust your defence to the Lord.
Leave it With the Specialist
When faced with impossible situations refuse to worry. Instead, hand them over to God. Ask Him to take charge. After all, He’s the specialist.
The Anxieties of Life
You can’t escape the trials of life, but you can choose how you react to them. When you choose to give your worries to God, you stop allowing life to intimidate you.
Stop Worrying and Start Trusting
The word “addiction” typically makes us think of alcohol, cigarettes, or illegal drugs. But in this message, Chuck Swindoll will describe another kind of addiction…that’s far more subtle, yet just as enslaving. In fact, you might be an addict and not even know it!
Creating a Legacy of Responsibility
The 18th century preacher Jonathan Edwards wrote 70 resolutions before the age of 20. He knew obstacles were inevitable, so many of his resolutions were written to address this challenge. No matter the difficulties that came before him, he resolved to continue upon the path laid out for him by God. That’s responsibility, which is our topic for this message.
Strengthening Your Grip on Prayer
This lesson will help us open up the lines of continual communication with our Lord, giving us joy, hope, and stability in our anxiety-producing world.
