Be Anxious for Nothing

Be Anxious for Nothing

By Pastor Gary Wayne

Eph. 1:17-19, 3:15-19

1Pe.5:7-11 Ver.7 NIV – “cast all your anxiety” The word care denoted distractions, anxieties, burdens, and worries.
The emphasis is because our Father provides everything we need.

Text: Luke 12:22-30, 1 Peter 5:7-11, Philippians 4:6-8

Ps 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” NIV

One of the first steps towards freedom from anxiety is to acknowledge what is there.

It is important to be real with this. Ignoring it or hiding it can make it worse.

Unfortunately, the “religious church” does not understand depression, grief, and anxiety. Its answer is, “get over it! You shouldn’t feel bad, because Jesus gives us joy, so there must be sin in your life.”

Not everything is spiritually based. Go to a doctor and talk to them.
I have some good friends, and actually Heatherann, who have worked with a doctor to help. Medication can help take the edge off.
Seek out someone to talk to and help you – don’t stand alone!

It might not be spiritually based, but our enemy will take advantage of anything he can to keep us in pain.

So when it comes to this area, start changing the way you “think.”

I acknowledge anxiety is there, now what am I going to do about it?
A truth is that anxiety actually can't hurt you. How you deal with it, can.
"God, how should I deal with anxiety’s presence?"

Is there something else contributing to this? (Unforgiveness? Bitterness?
Un-healed memories?)

Is how I am thinking towards anxiety adding to it?
Changing the way I think, can start with what is coming out of my mouth. (2Cor.10:3-5)
I make a choice to say what God says about me. (Say it out loud)
Out of my mouth I am going to choose to NOT agree with anxiety.

Instead of dwelling on what is wrong, or what might happen, or how bad I feel, I intentionally choose to meditate on what God says.
I stop my thoughts from rehearsing my past, and predicting my future based on how I feel.

How I feel is not a great analyzer of past events.
It is terrible at predicting the future.
Instead - "God what are you doing in my life?"
What are the small things that are good in my life?
Phil.4:8 think on these things

Again, find someone to stand with you in prayer!

Ephesians 1:17-19, 3:16-19 I pray:
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of my understanding would be enlightened –

that I would know the hope to which He has called me, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power (made available to) me as I believe, according to His mighty power.

That He would grant me, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in my inner man, that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith; that I, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints,

What is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; That I may be filled with all the fullness of God!