Anxiety is Not Your Friend!

 

 

I would like to say that I have never struggled with anxiety, but that simply would not be true. In fact, I would really like to say that I was able to defeat every anxious thought, and that I never have any bit of anxiety creep into my heart, mind or spirit......but that would also not be true. I know there are many of you that have had the same struggle as me.....Anxiety is a very real enemy?

 

You see, although anxiety is a very real struggle for me, I have realized that anxiety is not my friend. So when I wake up in the middle of the night anxious about something, or struggle getting myself to fall asleep.......I can find perfect peace because God has already defeated this enemy of my mind!

 

Too many times we can get caught up in the moment and let our mind run away with us, but there is hope and peace to be found in the Word of God. Use God's Word to quiet your spirit. Use God's Word as your prayer in times of anxiety. Psalm 4:8 has been my "go to" verse for years because I have struggled with quieting my mind to fall asleep. It says, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." So for those of you that may have a hard time going to sleep at night.....pray this verse over yourself. Maybe you have children that struggle with anxiety, arm them with the Word of God before bedtime. God's Word is powerful and mighty to the pulling down of strongholds!!

 

God has equipped us with what we need to live a victorious life, if we simply take advantage of it. My pastor told a story last week of a boy that was trying to complete a task that was too hard for him. He tried and tried to no avail and was getting frustrated that he was not going to be able to finish what he started. Frustrated he was talking with his dad and telling him that he used all his strength, but it still wasn't enough to complete this daunting task. To which his dad responded...."You didn't use all your strength, because you didn't ask for my help." How often do we dive into things simply to find ourselves frustrated because we are trying to use what limited resources that our human bodies and minds can contain.....and we never ask God for help. He is where our strength comes from....He is the most important piece......OUCH! 

Think about it....we face these challenges on our own. Relying on our fragile bodies to cope, sustain, equip, defeat......whatever it is, and then we wonder why we are anxious. We weren't made to do these things on our own. Joshua 1:9 says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

WE ARE NOT ALONE!! So we don't have to face anything alone. When we do, that is a choice we are making to leave God out of it.

 

So when you find yourself anxious, pull out the Word of God and change what you think about. We can choose to think differently. We can choose to change our minds.......