ANXIETY
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Scripture Reading Matthew 6:25-34 — New Living Translation (NLT) 25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?
Scripture Reading Matthew 6:25-34 — New Living Translation (NLT) 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
Scripture Reading Matthew 6:25-34 — New Living Translation (NLT) 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
Scripture Reading Matthew 6:25-34 — New Living Translation (NLT) 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Scripture Reading Philippians 4:6-7 New Living Translation (NLT) 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Definition: distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune What is the opposite of Faith? Is it Doubt or is it Fear/Anxiety? I propose that we can have faith, trust in Jesus and still entertain a certain amount of doubt. But I believe the opposite of faith is actually fear or anxiety.
“Take no thought” (KJV) (not to worry in NLT)… What kind of thoughts? • Disquieting, tormenting thoughts • Distrustful, unbelieving thoughts • Fear filled thoughts “Give no thought for your life” – Don’t worry about whether you have ‘enough’. In a survey of people from every income spectrum a number of years ago, the surveyor found that regardless of income level, just about everyone felt they’d have ‘enough’ if they only had 10% more.
“Give no thought for the comforts of your life” • Food, drink, clothing, pleasure, nicer cars, bigger homes, designer goods “Give no thought for tomorrow” • This is not a reference to planning but to the anxiety, fear for what the future holds • Why worry about tomorrow? Tackle today, and leave tomorrow until it comes
Why take no thought? • God knows your need – Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 2:18 • After all, this is what the ‘Gentiles’ seek – Matthew 16:24 -26, Matthew 20:25 – 28 • We, as people of faith, are called to live differently than the rest of the world. • We are called to faith, to trust, not to rely on our own understanding Proverbs 3:5 – 6 • So, what are we to do?
Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness • A God who supplies ALL our needs – Hebrews 11:6, Psalm 50:10 • The Story of Pastor. E.V. Hill • There’s enough to occupy our minds today – Matthew 6:11, Romans 8:38, Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 13:8
Let your requests be made known to God WITH thanksgiving Anxiety is not met with a list of ‘top ten tips’ but with a person – Jesus Colossians 2:6–7, 9–10, John 14:1, 6, Hebrew 2:18, Hebrews 4:14 - 16
Holy Spirit lives within us to help us John 14:15 – 21, Romans 5:5, Romans 8:5 We, of all people should be full of thankfulness ! Romans 5:1, Romans 8:6, Romans 14:17, John 16:33, Philippians 4:7, Colossians 1:13–14, Philippians 4:19 Be specific in your prayer requests, and then trust Him, receiving His peace that passes understanding (is beyond our circumstances)
Summary “Though my need may drive me to prayer, there I come face to face with my greatest need, an encounter with God’s own self.” Philip Yancey , ‘Prayer — Does it Make Any Difference’
The antidote to all anxiety lies in a growing trust in the Jesus who bore our infirmities and identifies fully with our humanness. He alone is our hope and stay! He came to give us an abundance of grace for every situation. 2 Corinthians 9:8
But I’ve come to see that at the root of all of that striving, attempting to prove myself, doing more, over committing, was an inner anxiety that I just wasn’t good enough. Over time, I’ve come to see myself as the Bible declares who I am. Zephaniah 3:17, John 1:12
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