New Thoughts on Anxiety

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If you haven’t already, let me invite you to read today’s devotion from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young:

October 17

Anxiety is a result of envisioning the future without Me. So the best defense against worry is staying in communication with Me. When you turn your thoughts toward Me, you can think much more positively. Remember to listen, as well as to speak, making your thoughts a dialogue with Me.

If you must consider upcoming events, follow these rules: 1) Do not linger in the future, because anxieties sprout up like mushrooms when you wander there. 2) Remember the promise of My continual Presence; include Me in any imagery that comes to mind. This mental discipline does not come easily, because you are accustomed to being god of your fantasies. However, the reality of My Presence with you, now and forevermore, outshines any fantasy you could ever imagine.

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
—Luke 12:22–26

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
—Ephesians 3:20–21 - http://bit.ly/eF5kSq

“Anxiety is a result of envisioning the future without Me.” Let that sink in for a moment…

If that statement is true… and it certainly seems to be… then I think we can make the following conclusion: My anxiety is a pride issue because it is a result of me trying to do life alone and NOT relying on God to help me.

Wow!

Now before you get upset with yourself or me, let me also say that anxiety is very REAL. And for many of us, it is a physical/mental response to our circumstances, not merely a spiritual response. But I think the problem starts when we succumb to the anxiety. When we let it take us over and rule our lives, it becomes a god and replaces the real God.

So what do we do? Pray. And ask God to guide you to some practical ways to cope with and potentially overcome your anxiety. For some that might mean counseling or accountability with a safe person. For others it may mean seeking medical help. I personally have found great success with homeopathic remedies.

God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. If we were, we wouldn’t need Him. But He does want us to be constantly seeking Him. I think this is just a great reminder of how much we truly need Him.

Who are you envisioning the future with?