Overcoming Anxiety

Anxiety is a horrifying malady. It strikes when we least expect it and has some sources that are subconscious and not apparent to the conscience mind. The healing process for anxiety often eludes us.

Anxiety may have its roots in unresolved conflicts of our past and is fueled by lies, which Satan planted there. Often our medication taken for medical issues will also trigger unexplained and unfounded panic attacks.

We chastise our self for these feelings, believing that we should be able to overcome them. The exciting truth is that anxiety cannot harm us. We have authority over the attacks in Jesus' name.

Focusing on the anxiety only increases the fears within us. Instead, we can focus on Christian music, fellowship or memorized Bible verses until the attack passes (Isaiah 41:10). Herbal relaxants also calm us.

Human faith is limited, and dependent on our five senses and physical circumstances. Faith in God replaces our fear of life's uncertainties (Isaiah 43:1). This supernatural faith understands what our human senses cannot even perceive (Hebrews 1:11).

God's Spirit is right there in us and with us, protecting us and guiding us through the travesties of life. His fruit replaces our carnal nature with the character of God (Galatians 5:22-23).

Hearing God's Word and standing on Jesus, the firm Rock of our salvation, also increases our faith in God (Romans 10:17). They renew our mind and heal us from past trauma by helping us to expose Satan's lies and to resolve those issues (Proverbs 12:25; www.theophostic.com )

Regardless of our experiences, God strengthens our resolve as we trust ONLY in Him, obey His commandments and believe without a doubt that He is always only a prayer away (Psalm 94:19).

There is no human way that we can control life, regardless of how much we obsess or attempt to keep our self and our loved ones safe. As we trust in God instead of our self, we experience His supernatural peace which exceeds all human comprehension (Psalm 56:3).

Prayer:

Father God, regardless of our experiences, either past or present, or our fears of the future, there is no trial that You will not walk through with us. You carry us through the rocky roads and the fire scorched earth to a place of safety tucked away in the cleft of the Rock of Christ (1 John 4:18).

You teach us that our mind is Satan's battleground, which he uses to take control of our life and to make us ineffectual for Your Kingdom work on the earth. Thank You for strengthening our resolve to deal with, or to turn over to You, the source of any negative thought or emotion in our life, and to put our trust in Your control over our circumstances (2 Timothy 1:7; 1 Peter 5:6-7).

Thought for the Day:

The result of sitting quietly in God's presence is a renewed sense of intimacy with Him, spiritual power to take authority over Satan's interference in our life and peace that surpasses human understanding.

 - Philippians 4:6-7; James 4:7-8; John 14:27

Hide Me in the Cleft of the Rock

God has our best interest at heart, although according to human reasoning, it does not always appear so. We often unwittingly pray against the will of God in our life, and He cannot answer those prayers (1 John 5:14). We fight life’s negative circumstances and cry out for Him to correct them; when He is actually using them to correct our course in life (James 1:2). His desire is for us to fully surrender to Him in trials, so that He can use them to do His perfect work in us (James 1:2-12). The comfort we seek often first depends upon our repentance of our current sins (2 Corinthians 7:10).

The lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life often fuel our prayers and our activities in life (1 John 2:16). We want bragging rights for our hard earned achievements, rather than realizing they are the result of God’s Spirit working in and through our life. We want worldly gain, when God’s will is for us to walk in holiness (Isaiah 35:8). As we seek first His Kingdom, He provides us with everything we need (Matthew 6:33). The flesh is worthless, but God’s Spirit gives us life. We find both life and spirit in the words of Jesus (John 6:63).

When we suffer from stress, abandonment, grief, anxiety, failure or illness and we feel overwhelmed and defeated by life, God hides us in the cleft of the rock and reveals Himself to us (Exodus 33:22). Our Rock of Ages is ever present to help us in our time of need (Isaiah 26:4). If we only seek His provision, we will never be happy; however, if we seek Him and His presence in our life, we will live a fulfilled life regardless of our circumstances. We can dwell with the most disappointing husband, rebellious children, horrible work experience, most devastating illness or the driest church life and still live in the fullness of God through Christ in us (Galatians 2:20).

God desires that we live in such constant fellowship with Him that His rivers of living water flow in us, through us and out of us and upon everyone we come in contact with throughout our day (John 7:38). When the comforts of this life fail us, we find our refuge in the love of Christ within us (Psalm 46:1). He reassures us as no one else can, because He lives inside of us and knows our every thought (Colossian 1:27). He inhabits eternity and uses all of His power and authority to meet our needs (Isaiah 57:15). He is waiting with open arms to embrace us at any moment we care to cast our soul upon Him.

As the Lord searches our heart, He understands the motives behind our thoughts (1 Chronicles 28:9). His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). God hides us in the cleft of Salvation, through Jesus Christ our Rock, before revealing Himself to us (Ps 18:2; 62:6; Exodus 33:22). We live as imitators of God, as His beloved child (Ephesians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 11:1). As we walk as a fragrant gift in surrender to God’s will, we savor the sweet love Christ gives to us (Ephesians 5:1-2). Even if we fall, we are never utterly cast down, because He sustains us in His hand (Psalm 37:24; Song of Solomon 8:3).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, overflowing with Your divine fullness we find that nothing is impossible for us to achieve according to Your will (Philippians 2:12-13). You brought us up out of the miry pit of self-centeredness and set our feet upon the Rock of Christ (Psalm 27:5, 40:2; 1 Corinthians 10:4). In troubling times, You hide us in Your tabernacle. There is nothing to fear, because nothing can separate us from your love: not the trials of life, spiritual powers, the past or the future, no mountain top or deep valley of circumstance, no created thing and not even death (Jeremiah 42:11; Romans 8:38-39). You hide us in the depth of Your love (Acts 17:11).

Thought for the Day:
Is Jesus Christ actually dwelling within you? – 2 Corinthians 13:5






Thank you, Vickie Liu, for the use of your photo.