God Is With You: Dealing With Fear, Discouragement and AnxietySample

ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING

Anxiety is not a foreigner to the human equation. And being a believer does not exempt us from contending with anxiety. In fact, the above passage is not addressed to unbelievers, but rather Paul is writing to the church in Philippi. In other words, we are not alone in this fight, and neither will you defeat anxiety alone.

First, to defeat anxiety you must know the battleground. You cannot defeat anxiety in your own mind. In other words, you are not going to be able to think yourself out of anxiety. In all likelihood the more time you give it in your mind, the more anxious you will become. The more you meditate upon it the more deeply rooted your anxiety becomes.

So first, take the thing you are anxious about out of your mind and take it to God through prayer! Stop talking to yourself about the situation and start talking to God about it! And don’t begin talking to God by talking about the issue. Begin talking to God with worship. Not only is God worthy of your worship but exalting God also dethrones the circumstance and re-enthrones God’s love and faithfulness in your heart.

Secondly, “Thanksgiving!" Thanksgiving is not a feeling, but it is a deliberate attitude of trust. Thanksgiving says to God and your own heart, “I trust you, God!" It means you cannot only bring it to God, but you can also leave it with God. This is key! Because while many of us can “bring” our anxieties to God we have a hard time “leaving” it with God! Hence why Paul instructs us not just to pray but to pray with “Thanksgiving!" Thanksgiving postures our hearts to a place of trust—trusting that God has it in His hands. And in God’s hands is the only place where the victory can and will happen.

Life Application

1.    Be sure to take time daily to worship God.
2.    Boldly take your requests to God. Remember Jesus asked for your burdens. He wants you to trust him enough to bring them to Him.
3.    Bring your burdens with trust and leave your burdens with Thanksgiving.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you that Your hands are greater than my thoughts. I trust you now, and I place and leave the object(s) of my anxiety into your hands.