Anxiety, Worry and Tension

Fear manifests in anxiety, tension and worry and are emotions that alert us of our need to find resolve to the problems we are facing. When you are experiencing extreme times of stress, your emotions can run wild with distressing thoughts that are actually not a reality, but in fact magnify the problems instead. At the inception of fear, choose to fix your eyes on Jesus and spend extra time reading and praying His Word. Choose to move forward and remember to do whatever God has called you to do even when afraid. Take the necessary steps to deal with whatever life challenge you are facing. Remember, God will never bring you to something that He is not able to get you through. He will never tell you to do something that He has not equipped you to do. He knows your every need as you bring them to Him. Always choose to do things God’s way, honoring His Word and commit to being a person of excellence. Whatever we sow is what we will reap so choose to honor God’s principles. Choose forgiveness and submit to His Word. In this life, Jesus warned us we would have troubles but to keep our focus on Him–for He has overcome the world. (See BETRAYAL for those of you walking through betrayal) 

When you choose to rely on your own strength and try to control every aspect of life, rather than placing your trust in God and upon His Word, you are operating in doubt and unbelief. You are actually being double-minded and wavering in your opinions. You are allowing your carnal nature (fleshly nature – mind, will, and emotions)  to persuade you that God is not capable of handling the situation you are facing. Begin to magnify the Lord.  Ask God for a scripture to stand on and pray it back to Him. Ask God for wisdom and obey His instructions. Turn to the Lord and trust Him! Whatever you magnify becomes bigger. Don’t rehearse the problems. Instead, pray the scriptures God gives you for the problems you are facing when you feel fear. When you truly realize how big God is and turn to Him, peace will begin to rule and reign in your heart and mind. Commit everything to God! Focus on how big God is rather than rehearsing the problems and find hope and security in Him. He will help you through. God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (Begin to say this daily when you feel fear!) Be sure to read my second book: A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days at the Mercy Seat). As you read the amazing story of God’s divine intervention through two open-heart surgeries, two strokes and 25 days in Mercy Hospital that my husband went through– you will have hope to believe  God for anything and will be empowered to take your own leap of faith through whatever you are facing! God bless you! 

The Bible instructs you to cast all your cares (anxieties) on Him for He cares for you
(1 Peter 5:7).

What Scripture Says

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, about what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value that they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”
(Matthew 6:25-27).

“So why do you take thought (worry) for (about) raiment (clothes)? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin (the man grows the flax and the woman weaves it; the statement is meant to proclaim the fact that the beauty of the lily has nothing to do with its own effort, but is given completely to the Creator): And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these (it is said that the lilies of Israel had brilliant coloring, and especially the purple and white Huleh Lily found in Nazareth). Wherefore, if (since) God so clothed the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:28-33).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

“So we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6).

There is Hope in Jesus Christ

These emotions of anxiety, worry, tension and fear will prevent you from maturing in the Lord (Luke 8:14). Left unchecked, these emotions can lead to self-pity. As you read the Word of God and pray, you become stronger in faith to face life’s problems.

Christ said in Matthew 6:33 to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all other good things shall be yours as well. Worrying over the cares of the world will not help the situation nor will it change things. Your Heavenly Father knows your every need and can intervene and supply all your needs according to His promises as you choose to obey His principles.

Even in the midst of adversity, we must learn to give praise and thanksgiving to God (Philippians 4:6). Jesus is here right now to take your cares and worries as you give them to Him and ask Him to help you. Cry out to God and tell Him your problems. He is your Source of strength. Take Him at His Word and trust Him. Say aloud daily: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Practice the principle of praise. God inhabits our praise (Psalms 22:3).
As we praise God, He will honor your praise and minister to your need as you praise Him in faith.

AS YOU PRAY thank God that you can “cast all your cares upon Him.” Lay all your problems at the foot of the cross. Everything we will ever have need of Jesus fulfilled at the cross through His shed blood, burial, and resurrection. Begin to thank God that you have His peace in your life for every situation you will ever encounter. You can actually feel when you step over into total peace with God. You can also feel when you are getting into doubt and unbelief. By listening to negative people and repeating circumstances, you magnify the problem. Whatever you focus on in life gets bigger. Focus on God and His provision. He is a great God and loving Heavenly Father who knows every need you will ever have in this life.

Begin to thank GOD for the answer and for His provision for every need that you have. Do not panic and do not tell everyone your problem. Ask God for wisdom and direction. He will give it to you and help you when you ask. Choose to praise Him and thank Him in advance for victory. We are victors in Christ! 

Scriptures to read:

Psalm 64 (Protection from evil-doers)

1 Samuel 30 (when facing extreme challenges)

Psalm127:2 Do not get overwhelmed with everyday cares

Psalm 22:3 Magnify God, not your problem

Psalm 34:4 The Lord will deliver

1 Samuel 17:47 The battle is the Lord’s

Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety weighs you down

Matthew 13:22 Word of God choked

Luke 21:34 Do not let the cares of life rob you

James 1:2 Count it all joy

1 Cor. 10:13 God has a way of escape

Matthew 25:14-27 Effects of constant worry

Hebrews 13:15 Sacrifice of praise

1 Thess. 5:18 Thank God in all things

Romans 8:28 All things work for good