Anxiety

Have you ever had a time in your life when things were so overwhelming that you could not sleep? Have there been times when you were so preoccupied with a problem that you didn't seem to be able to function? Have there been issues of your life that seem to dominate every waking thought? If so, you have known anxiety.

  

Worry and Anxiety are different from Concern and Excitement. You can be excited about something and be thrilled with anticipation. That is not the same as worry.

  

Jesus said:

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-9)

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened”.  (Matthew 7:7,8)

Often a parent wants to help their child but knows that a child needs to learn to do things on their own. Sometimes we want to help but we know that help will be seen as an infringement on their freedom. Sometimes our help is resented if it is given without solicitation. So, we stand back. We wait. We watch. We are ready to help as soon as we are called upon. Deep down we are hoping that our children will ask for our help. We delight to help them but we don't want to make them feel that they are incapable, so we wait.

God is our Father and he delights when we ask Him for help.

A fable about a Mr Jones who dies and goes to heaven

Peter is waiting at the gates to give him a tour. Amid the splendour of golden streets, beautiful mansions, and choirs of angels that Peter shows him, Mr Jones notices an odd-looking building. He thinks it looks like an enormous warehouse -- it has no windows and only one door. But when he asks to see inside, Peter hesitates. "You really don't want to see what's in there," he tells the new arrival.

Why would there be any secrets in heaven? Jones wonders. What incredible surprise could be waiting for me in there? When the official tour is over he's still wondering, so he asks again to see inside the structure.

Finally Peter relents. When the apostle opens the door, Mr Jones almost knocks him over in his haste to enter. It turns out that the enormous building is filled with row after row of shelves, floor to ceiling, each stacked neatly with white boxes ties in red ribbons.

"These boxes all have names on them," Mr Jones muses along. Then turning to Peter he asks, "Do I have one?"

"Yes, you do," Peter tries to guide Mr. Jones back outside. "Frankly," Peter says, "if I were you . . ." But Mr Jones is already dashing toward the "J" aisle to find his box.

Peter follows, shaking his head. He catches up with Mr Jones just as he is slipping the red ribbon off his box and popping the lid. Looking inside, Jones has a moment of instant recognition, and he lets out a deep sigh like the ones Peter has heard so many times before.

Because there in Mr Jones's white box are all the blessings that God wanted to give to him while he was on earth . . .but Mr Jones had never asked. [Prayer of Jabez (Multnomah) p. 25-27]

When we pray we must be specific. We must ask God for help. But not only are we told to "ask", we are also told to do so with thanksgiving. Let's go back to our children again. We are eager to help if we feel that our help will be appreciated. When your generosity is taken for granted, when it is something that is demanded or expected then we resist. I think God is the same way. When we appreciate what God has given and thank Him for what He will do, God delights to help us.

Promises to Keep
Hebrew 13:5 records that Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." When your world falls feels as though it's coming apart, that's precisely the time to remember this promise. God has said that He will never leave you. He's with you. You are not alone. Job loss, money worries, no food in the pantry, a car in need of repair, healing from illness, a new suit for work - life is full of needs...and needs are different from wants. While you may WANT a million dollars, you NEED a way to pay the rent. God understands that we have needs. So if you need a car, will He see that you get one?

Here’s where a word of caution is in order. God knows your needs and He will meet them. You might think you have to have a car, but God provides you with a ride to work courtesy of a kind neighbour. Or you might think you’ve got to have money to pay the rent, when God knows that letting you get evicted will get you out of a bad neighbourhood. God knows best. And when you can accept that, you won’t look at His promises the way children do the list of Christmas wishes they hand Santa Claus in shopping centres. You can present God’s promises to Him, believe that He hears, know what He has promised and trust Him to do what’s best in your situation.

When God promises something, you can count on it coming to pass.

God's Word On Anxiety

Are you walking in His peace? Or are you weighed down by anxiety, worry and tension?

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; thy do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then saying What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:26-34)

As You Pray

Take a few moments right now to enter into the rest God has for you: "Father, forgive me for my unbelief. I no longer want to trust in my own strength. Thank You for caring so deeply for me. I give You all my worries. I know I can trust You with these situations. I accept Your rest. Please teach me how to walk in Your rest each and every day. In Jesus' name. Amen"

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One Last Thing

God is Love and Love is POSITIVE. When words are phrased, you have to choose your words wisely. For example, NEGATIVE words aren't 'heard' the same way we hear them. If you say, "I don't want to get in a car accident", the God energy only 'hears' "I want to get in a car accident' - the 'don't' gets left out of the interpretation. The better phrase would be "I want to travel safely". So remember when you say your prayers, put in your intent, meditate, focus on the law of attraction, create affirmations etc... to phrase your thoughts in a way that avoids words like don't, won't, shouldn't, can't, never, not, no..etc. Be direct, clear and positively oriented.

And always find something to be thankful for.