January 8: Say No to Anxiety!

Matthew 6:19-34

Amplified Bible (AMP)

19 Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.

20 But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal;

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22 The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your entire body will be full of light.

23 But if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the very light in you [your conscience] is darkened, how dense is that darkness!

24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in).

25 Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?

26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?

27 And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature orto the span of his life?

28 And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.

29 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these.

30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?

32 For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.

33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

anx·i·e·ty

aNGˈzī-itē/
noun

1. 1.

   a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

   "he felt a surge of anxiety"

   synonyms:

   worry, concern, apprehension, apprehensiveness, uneasiness, unease, fearfulness, fear, disquiet, disquietude, inquietude, perturbation,agitation,  angst, misgiving, nervousness, nerves, tension, tenseness

anx·ious

ˈaNG(k)SHəs/

adjective

1. 1.

   experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

   "she was extremely anxious about her exams"

   synonyms:

   worried, concerned, uneasy, apprehensive, fearful, perturbed, troubled, bothered, disturbed, distressed, disquieted, fretful, agitated, nervous,edgy, antsy, unquiet, on edge, tense, overwrought, worked up, keyed up, jumpy, worried sick, with one's stomach in knots, with one's heart in one's mouth;
2. 2.

   wanting something very much, typically with a feeling of unease.

   "the company was anxious to avoid any trouble"

   synonyms:

   eager, keen, desirous, impatient

Is your whole life ruled by anxiety? Are your steps ruled by your anxious thoughts? Is every decision you make based on fear? 

Six years ago, my life was ruled by fear. I had struggled with depression on and off for most of my life, but in 2008, my fears escalated to the point that I literally felt like a giant boulder was on my chest at all times. And I mean ALL the time. Whether I was sleeping, awake, praying, reading my Bible, working, going for a walk, at the health club, at the grocery store, watching a movie, eating, in church, and everything and everywhere else in between. This boulder would not leave. I tried everything. I even went to a psychiatrist. I started taking anxiety meds. They didnt help at all. The boulder was still there plus I was addicted to pills. 

One day I gave up. I stopped wondering what was wrong with me and told God, "Okay. I give up. I accept this whatever it is. I am going to worship You for the rest of my life even if I take this boulder to the grave with me." And I did just that. Did I feel any better? Only when I was in God's presence. But every time I got up from prayer, the boulder hit my chest again. And stayed. 

One Saturday morning, the boulder was so heavy. I was having trouble breathing. I called my friend Peggy Moran who had experienced anxiety attacks. She suggested I rebuke the devil. And I stood in the kitchen and did just that. And I reminded him of his future. 

Revelation 20:10

Amplified Bible (AMP)

10 Then the devil who had led them astray [deceiving and seducing them] was hurled into the fiery lake of burning brimstone, where the beast and false prophet were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (through the ages of the ages).

And then I reminded him of MY future.

Revelation 22:5

King James Version (KJV)

5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

And then I worshiped and danced and shouted praises to God! And the boulder left! Did it come back? Many times. Every time it came, I just rebuked satan, reminded him of his future again, and started worshiping my Deliverer. That was April 12, 2008. And I have not been the same since. I am totally and completely healed. 
"Dear Jesus, I've given this amazing testimony of Your healing power many times. But I know someone is reading this right now who is at a very low point in her life. She has even had thoughts of suicide. She has lost ALL hope of things turning around for her. She is filled with anxious thoughts constantly. She wakes up in the middle of the night with a grip of fear on her chest. Only You can heal and deliver. I'm asking You to empower her by Your Holy Spirit. She is rebuking satan and worshiping her way out of the pit she's in. In Jesus' name I pray. By Your blood and by Your name, she is taking charge of every anxious thought satan is planting in her mind. By Your power, she is handing every negative thought over to You. She is submitting herself to You and the devil is running away!  

James 4:7

King James Version (KJV)

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Thank You Almighty God! You do all things perfectly! AMEN."