Definitely ‘Scary’ [v228]
FEBRUARY 2018
Late last month, my brother was admitted into the hospital, and the doctors were having a hard time finding out what was wrong. That’s definitely ‘SCARY’!
So, why do we even get scared of things? Why do we get physiological reactions to what we perceive around us? Well, it has to do with a basic instinct you probably have heard of: “fight or flight.” Effectively, when we are faced with a danger, we have two simple options. We can fight back, or if we aren’t prepared for that, we can run away (flight). Either way, our body needs to act, and act fast. As such, our nervous system goes into a kind of ‘overdrive’:
– The heart beats faster to get more blood to the body
– Our muscles receive more blood and become tense, ready to spring into action
– We breathe more ‘aggressively’ to deliver more oxygen throughout the body
– Blood clots more easily, so if we are injured it can heal better and faster
– Our pupils dilate so we can take in more information
– Adrenaline kicks in to focus our perceptions on the danger
– All of this is sure to a cause a bit of overheating, so we also sweat to cool ourselves down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjLamj-b0I8
Statistically, the top ten things most of us are anxious about are:
1. Public speaking
2. Spiders/Snakes
3. Confined Spaces
4. Heights
5. Rejection
6. Thunder/Lightning
7. The Dentist
8. Darkness
9. Old Age/Poverty
10. Death
We all experience anxiety. For example, speaking in front of a group can make us anxious, but that anxiety also motivates us to prepare and practice. Driving in heavy traffic is another common source of anxiety, but it helps keep us alert and cautious to avoid accidents. However, feelings of intense fear and distress can become overwhelming, and prevent us from doing everyday activities.
The thing is, most things we are anxious about NEVER HAPPEN (statistically about 90%). But, we’re ‘emotional’ beings—not ‘robots’—and anxieties are not ‘logical’ most of the time. They are a natural response to some kind of danger we experiencing or ‘creating’.
I’m reminded of the acronym “F.E.A.R.”, which stands for “False Evidence Appearing Real.” Anxieties can ‘appear’ real, even though it may have no actual substance—arising when we feel threatened or unsettled, which makes us cling to the known and familiar. Such anxieties can create apprehension, paranoia, and even nervous ‘disorders’.
“Agnosiophobia” is the medical term for an Anxiety Disorder. It is defined as an irrational fear of not knowing what will happen or is happening. Psychologists say that making a willed decision to face the issue with determination can ‘manage’ the fear, and once the person is successful in doing so multiple times, the fear and anxiety usually disappears.
An important distinction of the anxiety and stress disorder is between the ‘constructs’ of fear and anxiety. Fear and anxiety have considerable ‘overlap’ with respect to subjective, behavioral, physiological, and neurological characteristics. However, there are some key differences separate the two.
Fear is typically defined as a phasic and abrupt fight-or-flight response accompanied by an intense response to an immediate and identifiable threat. Alternatively, anxiety is often defined by a more prolonged state of tension, worry, and apprehension regarding uncertain, and potentially negative, future events.
Fear and anxiety serve important functions to keep us safe. Fear allows us to combat or avoid immediate threats or danger, whereas anxiety increases vigilance and improves our ability to identify uncertain or potential threats. Still, disorders can develop when anxiety or fear responding is excessive or occurs in the absence of a ‘true’ threat—either immediate or in the future.
[ For more specific details on anxiety disorders, read the following studies:
“The Neurcircuitry of Fear, Stress, and Anxiety Disorders”:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3055419/
and “Neural Circuits in Anxiety and Stress Disorders”:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4315464/ ]
We are living in an anxiety-ridden culture. The amazing thing about it is that this is the most indulged, lavish, comfortable society ever. However, it is also the most angst-ridden, anxious, stressed out, and panicked culture ever—and there is a massive medical ‘industry’ that is intensely focused on helping people with these stresses. No worry goes unnamed. No worry goes undefined. No worry goes uncataloged. No worry goes undiagnosed. No worry goes unmedicated. They just GO UNRELIEVED. Their primary goal is to ‘MANAGE’ the anxieties you feel.
Anxiety gets to be pretty serious for many people. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, anxiety and stress disorders are characterized by an excessive fear response and/or worry that interferes with functioning or causes significant distress. About 40M adults in America experience some kind of psychiatric anxiety disorder annually—the most common mental health concern in the United States—with a lifetime prevalence of 28 percent. The disorders are categorized as follows:
– General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
– Obsessive Compulsive Anxiety Disorder (OCD)
– Panic Disorder (PD)
– Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
– Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
– Specific Phobias (SP) [ Glossophobia, Arachnephobia, Ophidiophobia, Claustrophobia, Acrophobia, Kakorrhaphiophobia, Astraphobia, Dentophobia, Achluophobia, Gerascophobia, Peniaphobia, Thanatophobia, etc. ].
When left untreated, anxiety symptoms persist and are associated with significant impairments in functioning, poor quality of life, and a huge economic burden. Anxiety disorders are of particular importance in the context of recent and ongoing world conflicts, and as environmental factors, can have a strong impact on anxiety and stress disorder development—particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The thing is, it is hard to specifically ‘pin point’ anxiety disorders, since they develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.
[ Ever wonder if you are prone to an anxiety “disorder”? If so, take this test:
http://www.fearof.net/anxiety-disorder-test-your-fear-level/ ].
As I mentioned previously, the best the psychologists can offer is to ‘MANAGE’ your anxiety with cognitive behavior therapy, or a long list of drugs. However, THERE IS HOPE that the anxiety can be OVERCOME and ELIMINATED altogether! Interested on how? Well, GOD TELLS US!
Now, one must understand the promises and purposes of God to be able to experience anxiety-free living. So, let me try to simply present them to you.
All of our anxiety basically stems from a failure to understand God: His sovereign love; His sovereign care; and His sovereign resources. There are also only two ‘realms’ in which you can worry—what is ‘earthly’, or what is ‘Heavenly’. This is just what Jesus told His disciples (and us), that they needn’t be concerned with either ‘worry’ anymore.
During a time of teaching a crowd, Jesus tells them all not to be “anxious for their lives” (what they are going to eat or wear—earthly things), then He told them that, “your Father has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom” (having eternal life with Him—Heavenly things). So, Jesus essentially said, you’re left with nothing to worry about, nothing to be anxious about, nothing to be stressed-out about, and nothing to panic over.
At its best, anxiety distracts us from our relationship with God and the truth that He is “Lord of Heaven and earth” (Matthew 11:25). At its worst, anxiety is a crippling disease, that can ‘take over’ our minds and plunge our thoughts into ‘darkness’ (Romans 1:21).
When we are anxious, we are allowing situations divide our attention and distract us from focusing on Jesus. (The devil loves to distract us from the goodness and grace of God).
Jesus then said to His disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing” [ Luke 12:22-23 ]. Later in the Bible, the Apostle Paul emphasizes this and leaves us no room for guessing: “Do not be anxious about anything” [ Philippians 4:6 ]. He uses a word that is a “present imperative” or ‘command’ in the Greek. This word ‘stresses’ to us that not worrying should be the normal ‘pattern’ of our life.
The Apostle Paul goes on to ‘instruct’ us on what to do to counteract anxiety: “…but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” [ Philippians 4:6a-7 ].
Paul’s instructions don’t stop there. He goes on to tell believers exactly what we should focus on: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” [ Philippians 4:8-9 ].
So, the first step to an anxiety-free mind is to ’give your life’ to Jesus (Acts 4:11-12). Once you’ve taken that step, it’s important to ‘fix your thoughts’ on Him (Hebrews 3:1), and know that this life is but a ‘wisp’ of time compared to eternity (“Yet you do not know about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are but a wisp of vapor that is visible for a little while and then disappears.” – James 4:14).
Worry ultimately comes from trying to wrestle something from God that doesn’t ‘belong’ to us. Most of the problems we have—spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically—result from us seeking to have control of something we have no power to control. Anxiety is care and concern ‘gone haywire’.
The Apostle Paul’s instruction about prayer, petition, and thanksgiving is clear guidance for us to look and lean confidently on Jesus. When we pray we are trusting that He not only is able to hear us, but He is also able to act for us. Jesus is not ignorant of your family issues, financial, mental, physical, or spiritual pressures.
In fact, the Bible tells us very clearly what our days would be like today: “Man born of woman is short of days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). Jesus affirmed this by saying: “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world” (John 16:33). Then after Jesus had gone to Heaven, the Holy Spirit ‘inspired’ Luke the Evangelist to say: “It is necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
Believers are not only instructed to have confidence in God’s person, character, promises, and His Word (the Bible), we are commanded to actively ‘lean’ on Jesus—’giving over’ ALL our cares to Him. (“Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you” – 1 Peter 5:7). We are to surrender the good, bad, and the ugly into the capable ‘hands’ of Jesus. Foundationally, this is a ONCE-FOR-ALL surrender of our ‘self’ to Him, but then it is a DAILY surrender of all our worries and anxieties that seek to strangle the life and joy out of our lives. (“Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken” – Psalm 55:22).
But, you might say “we live in a dog-eat-dog world” and might ask “Who’s going to take care of me if I don’t do it myself?” You may also continue by saying, “I don’t want to depend on somebody else for my needs because they might stop providing it.”
Well, the bottom line is that you are anxious because you simply DON’T TRUST GOD will provide for you! The thing is, He PROMISES to provide for all your needs IF you continue to ‘honor’ Him. (“Consider the ravens for they neither sow nor reap, and they have no storeroom nor barn and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds?” – Luke 12:24 // “Even strong young lions go without and get hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing” – Psalm 34:10).
You exist for a higher reason. You’re not the final ‘product’ of evolution. It’s in God that the believer lives and moves and has their being (Acts 17:28). God has a purpose for your life, so He will sustain you until that fulfillment.
King David, a man God used unprecedentedly (‘a man after God’s own heart’) wrote: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” [ Psalm 23:1-4 ].
Similarly, the prophet Isaiah said: “He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, He who rejects unjust gain And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil; He will dwell on the heights, His refuge will be the impregnable rock; His bread will be given him, His water will be sure” [ Isaiah 33:15 ]. God will take care of His own “children”!
In the beginning of this post, I talked about Jesus telling His ‘DISCIPLES’ about not being anxious about anything. Well, you might have ‘glossed over’ one REAL IMPORTANT point about that. The ‘disciples’ were “believers,” and one must be God’s “child” for Him to guarantee to provide for their needs. He will not do that for an “unbeliever.”
The thing is, no unbelieving person can make any ‘claim’ on God. The unbeliever has no promises from God, no commitments from God, no pledges from God, and no guarantees from God for anything.
Since the unbeliever is spiritually ‘dead’, they are left to themselves only to reap what little they can from the “common grace” available to all from God. Being ignorant of God’s provision and being unable to lay any claim on God’s promises or God’s power, they live only to ‘survive’. Unbelievers feel the full ‘weight’ of survival in a ‘broken’ world (Romans 8:22).
[ If you would like to know more about becoming a “child of God,” read these previous “Life Deep Thoughts” posts:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/saved-from-death-v219/
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/new-identity-v220/ ].
When one becomes one of God’s ‘children’, they are accepted into His ‘Kingdom’. He then promises to take care of their physical needs (food, clothing, and shelter), so most of the worries that previously defined their life are totally eliminated!
So, once again, teaching His disciples—to emphasize how God provides for us—Jesus ‘points’ to the lilies in the field: “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are” [ Luke 12:27 ].
Just think about this. Flowers have such a short life, but God ‘clothes’ them royally! (Take a petal off of a flower, even a wild flower, and look under a microscope. It is amazingly intricate in its texture, color, design, and form—it’s staggering!).
So, do you really think God’s going to put that kind of a ‘garment’ on a flower and not ‘cover’ you—especially when He wants you to accomplish His purpose for you, and you’re one of His own beloved children! If He made such lavish beauty to clothe plants that die in days and have no spiritual value, how much more will He take care to clothe the ‘crown’ of His creation, the ‘bride’ of His beloved Son, whom He has elected and redeemed?
So, if you still live in fear, doubt, worry, and anxiety, then you fall into the category of “men of little faith” (Matthew 6:30).
This is the issue. Fear, worry, and anxiety are about a LACK OF FAITH (trust)—something even the disciples had a problem with. When they were in a tremendous storm on the lake of Galilee, and were worrying about drowning, Jesus said, “Where’s your faith?” (Matthew 8:26). Jesus might have also said something like the following: Do you think the God of the universe, who is calling you to be His apostles and preachers, is just going to let you drown? What are you being anxious about? What are you fearing? What are you worrying? Why the panic? If you know My promise and you know My power, then it’s a question of trust. If you don’t trust Me, then now you’ve got more than just anxiety, you’ve got a SIN PROBLEM. Do you not trust my knowledge? Do you not trust My wisdom? Do you not trust my compassion? What is it about Me you don’t trust? My power? My care? Or maybe do you think the devil is stronger than Me? (Now, there’s a blasphemous thought!).
Well, the faithfulness of God is undeniable, and has been PROVEN many times over! In the Bible, it says that God cannot lie, nor can He break an unconditional promise that He says He will fulfill (Hebrews 6:18). Every ‘covenant’ He has made has been kept. Every promise and prophecy (up to now) has come true. Testimony after testimony of God’s faithfulness is certainly found throughout the Bible, and is still given in testimonies by people today.
In fact, accounts of covenants between God and His people can be found over 270 times in the Bible. “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” [ Deuteronomy 7:9 ].
Among God’s fulfilled promises was that the people of Israel would again become a nation in the land He says is theirs. This prophecy, made in the Old Testament, was fulfilled in May of 1948. Since then, the Jewish people have been returning home in ‘droves’!
More examples of God’s faithfulness to keep His covenants with others are found in the following verses:
– To Noah (God will save Noah and his family) – Genesis 6:17-18; 9:9-17
– To Ishmael (God will bless Ishmael and his descendants) – Genesis 17:18-20
– To Moses (God will spare the Israelites if they obey) – Exodus 19:5
– To Jacob (God reaffirms everlasting covenant to Israel) – Psalm 105:10
There are literally dozens more scriptures about God’s faithfulness. None, however, are the most life-changing as those that proclaim His forgiveness of our sins.
There are many Old Testament prophecies promising a coming Messiah or Savior. God’s faithful promise was fulfilled in the New Testament when He sent Jesus to atone for our sins. No matter what sins we have committed, no matter how “bad” we are, God is faithful to forgive us if we accept Jesus and repent of our sins.
– God sent His Son, (Matthew 1:21-22) through Him we have everlasting life – John 3:16
– Christ died for the atonement of our sins – 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
– God’s promise to remove sins – Romans 11:25-27
– God ordained Jesus, author of eternal salvation – Hebrews 5:5-10
– God will toss our sin into the depths of the sea (never to be remembered again) – Micah 7:18-19
So, do you think God is worthy of your trust now?
If you keep worrying, you don’t understand God’s priority—His ‘personal’ preference FOR YOU over anything else He has ever created! He knows what you need. All that you need is available to you from Him. What are you worried about? What are you afraid of? What are you anxious about?
Again, you may ask, “How can I be assured that I’m going to get all that God has for me?” Well, here’s THE KEY: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need” [ Matthew 6:33 ].
Do you want to live a full life, free from anxiety? Then focus on the Kingdom of God, and make it your utmost desire (“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” – Luke 12:34).
Even the Old Testament talked about all of this: “Evildoers…will wither quickly like grass, and fade like the green herb” (Psalm 37:1-2). But on the other hand, what about God’s children? “Trust in the Lord, do good, dwell in the land, cultivate faithfulness, delight yourself in the Lord, and He’ll give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:3-4) If you delight in Him, He’ll take care of all the rest. Then, if you trust Him, He will ‘deliver’: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act…Rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him, and He will provide” (Psalm 37:5,7).
God takes care of those who ‘belong’ to Him and are faithful to Him. As long as we passionately pursue the Kingdom, He promises that He will sustain us to the very end of His plan for us.
So, what does God delight in doing? Well, the same thing that delights a human father—to provide for the children He loves. However, the difference is that God has ALL THE ‘RESOURCES’ to unequivocally supply ALL THE NEEDS for ALL OF HIS ‘CHILDREN’ (“For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills” – Psalm 50:10 // “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” – Philippians 4:19).
If your hope is only in the resources in this world and in this life, if you have to rely on your own resources to take care of yourself (because, in you eyes, nobody else will), then it’s reasonable for you to be anxious, worried, and afraid, because circumstances in this life are just not that secure. It’s a very troubled world that we live in and things change rather rapidly—and we’re certainly not in control of everything. So, this idea of anxiety-free living that Jesus is talking about, this ‘command’ to stop worrying, to stop being anxious, and to stop being afraid, wouldn’t really make any sense if your ‘heart’ was focused on the ‘THINGS’ of this life.
How then is it possible to have anxiety-free living? It’s a matter of where your ‘HEART’ is.
At the end of Jesus’ discourse to the disciples about not being anxious for anything, He says:
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the Heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” [ Luke 12:32-34 ].
Previously in His discourse, Jesus said, “Do not be anxious.” Then He said, “Do not keep worrying.” Now He says, “Do not be afraid.” The ability to respond to these is a matter of where your heart is. If your heart is fixed on earthly matters, it’s very hard to fulfill these commands—it’s virtually impossible.
If all your investment is here, if your concerns and your preoccupations are here, you will always be anxious, because everything changes here. But if your ‘heart’ is focused on Heaven, you will have peace because nothing changes there—and the promises of God are all fixed, unchangeable, guaranteed, and secure.
So, Heaven is where you want to ‘lay up’ you treasure—and it starts with focusing your ‘heart’ on eternal things, and abandon all your holds on things that are temporal.
So, essentially Jesus is saying, “I’m not going to teach you how to ‘MANAGE’ your anxiety, I’m going to ELIMINATE it!” It all has to do with the focus of your ‘HEART’ (Heaven), your ‘TRUST’ in God that He can and will provide for your needs, and your ‘FAITH’ that God is capable of providing for you (His sovereign love; His sovereign care; and His sovereign resources). The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
So, if we get our heart ‘right’, are there some ‘practical’ things you can do as you seek freedom from your fears? Well, in the book “Happiness Is a Choice”—by Frank Minirth, M.D. and Paul D. Meier, M.D.—they present a number of suggestions to help decrease anxiety:
– Determine to obey God. God commands us not to be anxious (Philippians 4:5).
– Pray. God promised Daniel He would answer and Daniel was not to fear (Philippians 4:6, Daniel 10:12).
– Meditate on positive thoughts: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). See also Psalm 34:4, 86:15; Isaiah 40:28-31; Proverbs 1:33; John 14:27.
– Divert attention from self to others (Philippians 4:10, 2:3-4). As an individual gets his mind off his own problems by helping others, his anxiety also decreases.
– Set a time limit on your worries. About 95 percent of the things we are anxious about or worry about never happen. Learning to live one day at a time is an art that can be cultivated.
Again, know that, if you are a Christian, you’re not ‘obligated’ for your care—God is. So, there’s no need to ‘horde’ anything so you can survive in the future. You will be sustained by the Creator until His purpose for your life is fulfilled, and HE ends your life! As believers, we are not supposed to ‘fight’ anxiety, we are to ‘abandon’ it. Worry isn’t going to lengthen your life because the One who has the privilege to determine when you are born and when you die is the sovereign God of the Bible.
In addition to not being able to do anything to add to your life (Matthew 6:27), in fact if you worry about it, you’re contributing to your possible sickness. You know, doctors tell us that worry, fear, and anxiety profoundly affects the heart, the circulation system, the nervous system, the glands, and everything else.
ANXIETY-FREE LIVING, worry-free living, fear-free living is part of what GOD HAS OFFERED those who put their ‘trust’ in Him. It is not just the bliss, peace, and joy we will experience when we get to Heaven, but a peace and joy to be found in the here and now! (Luke 2:14).
So, for those who might be interested in my comment about my brother, early this month I traveled from my home in Detroit to his place in Houston to support him and be his ‘advocate’ while he was in the hospital. He was discharged a few weeks later, but the doctors still don’t know exactly what is wrong yet. A bit ‘SCARY’.
Being sick and not knowing what’s wrong is definitely ‘SCARY’, and as the Top Ten Fears list indicates, the prospect of ones own death is even ‘SCARIER’. But, as the Bible says, THE ‘SCARIEST’ is not knowing if you are GOING TO HEAVEN and going to HAVE ETERNAL LIFE!
So, I guess THE “UNBELIEVER” SHOULD BE VERY ANXIOUS—about ‘where’ they will spend their eternity!
[ Note: If you would like to know more about how to get to Heaven, read this previous “Life Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/a-place-to-retire-v221/ ].
[ Excerpts from: National Center for Biotechnology Information; National Alliance on Mental Illness; Science Made Simple; John MacArthur; Lisa Shin; Israel Libezon; Elizabeth R. Duval; Arash Javanbakht ]
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FYI: Other Related “Life’s Deep Thoughts” Posts:
“The Greatest Worry”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/the-greatest-worry-v195/
“End Of Your Rope?”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/end-of-your-rope-v212/
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‘PRAYER’ OF REPENTANCE
In the Bible, there is a parable that Jesus told about a Pharisee and a tax collector praying the the Temple. He notes that the tax collector didn’t even dare to lift his eyes toward Heaven as he prayed. Instead he “beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner’”—and Jesus said that the tax collector “went home justified,” he had been “born again” and ‘reconciled’ by God. (Luke 18:9-14).
If you are ‘sensing’ something like that right now, let me strongly encourage you to HUMBLE YOURSELF, CRY OUT to God, and PLEAD for Him to mercifully ‘SAVE’ YOU! None of us have a ‘claim’ on our salvation, nor do we have any ‘works’ that would cause us to deserve it or earn it—it is purely a gift of Divine grace—and all any of us can do is ask. So, CONFESS YOUR SINS and acknowledge to God that you have no hope for Heaven apart from what He provides through Jesus.
There is no ‘formula’ or certain words for this. So just talk to God, in your own words—He knows your ‘heart’. If you are genuinely sincere, and God does respond to your plea, one will usually have a sense of joy and peace.
Jesus said, “He that comes to Me, I will not cast out” [ John 6:37 ].
[ NOTE: If you have ‘tasted the kindness of the Lord’, please e-mail me—I would love to CELEBRATE with you, and help you get started on your ‘journey’ with Jesus! ].
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RESOURCES:
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Anxiety and Depression Association of America
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) is an international nonprofit membership organization and a leader in education, training, and research for anxiety, depression and related disorders. More than 25 million people from around the world visit the ADAA website annually to find current treatment and research information and to access free resources and support. Together we are changing lives.
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“Anxiety Disorders”
National Institute of Mental Health
Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. You might feel anxious when faced with a problem at work, before taking a test, or making an important decision. But anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The feelings can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships. There are several different types of anxiety disorders. Examples include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml
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“Anxiety Disorders”
National Alliance on Mental Illness
We all experience anxiety. For example, speaking in front of a group can make us anxious, but that anxiety also motivates us to prepare and practice. Driving in heavy traffic is another common source of anxiety, but it helps keep us alert and cautious to avoid accidents. However, when feelings of intense fear and distress become overwhelming and prevent us from doing everyday activities, an anxiety disorder may be the cause.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the United States. An estimated 40 million adults in the U.S. (18%) have an anxiety disorder. Meanwhile, approximately 8% of children and teenagers experience an anxiety disorder. Most people develop symptoms before age 21.
https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Anxiety-Disorders
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“List of Phobias by Name”
Phobias are listed on this page alphabetically by their medical or scientific label. If you are looking for a specific fear (fear of spiders, fear of animals, etc), go to the list of phobias by category
Listings underlined may indicate other more serious anxiety disorders such as OCD. Some phobias may also indicate self esteem issues, PTSD or forms of abuse. Please see “About Phobias” for more information
http://designedthinking.com/fears/phobia-release/list-of-phobias-by-name/
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“Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: 7 Ways to Freedom from Anxiety, Depression, and Intrusive Thoughts”
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Build a Better Relationship with Yourself
Break Bad Habits and Enjoy Life!
Optimal Life Management + BONUS Workbook!
https://www.amazon.com/Cognitive-Behavioural-Therapy-Depression-attainable/dp/1520163045/
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“The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook”
By: Edmund Bourne, PhD
Now in its sixth edition and recommended by therapists worldwide, The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook has been the unparalleled, essential resource for people struggling with anxiety and phobias for almost thirty years.
Living with anxiety, panic disorders, or phobias can make you feel like you aren’t in control of your life. If you’re ready to tackle the fears that hold you back, this book is your go-to guide. Packed with the most effective skills for assessing and treating anxiety, this evidence-based workbook contains the latest clinical research. You’ll develop a full arsenal of skills for quieting fears and taking charge of your anxious thoughts, including:
Relaxation and breathing techniques
Ending negative self-talk and mistaken beliefs
Imagery and real-life desensitization
Lifestyle, nutrition, and exercise changes
Written by a leading expert in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and a classic in its field, this fully revised edition offers powerful, step-by-step treatment strategies for panic disorders, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), worry, and fear. You will also find updated information compatible with the DSM-V, as well as current information on medications and treatment, nutrition, mindfulness training, exposure therapy, and the latest research in neurobiology.
Whether you suffer from anxiety and phobias yourself, or are a professional working with this population, this book will provide the latest treatment solutions for overcoming the fears that stand in the way of living a full, happy life. This workbook can be used on its own or as a supplement to therapy.
https://www.amazon.com/Anxiety-Phobia-Workbook-Edmund-Bourne/dp/1626252157/
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“The Anxiety and Worry Workbook: The Cognitive Behavioral Solution”
By: David A. Clark and Aaron T. Beck
f you’re seeking lasting relief from out-of-control anxiety, this is the book for you. It is grounded in cognitive behavior therapy, the proven treatment approach developed and tested over more than 25 years by pioneering clinician-researcher Aaron T. Beck. Now Dr. Beck and fellow cognitive therapy expert David A. Clark put the tools and techniques of cognitive behavior therapy at your fingertips in this compassionate guide. Carefully crafted worksheets (you can download and print additional copies as needed), exercises, and examples reflect the authors’ decades of experience helping people just like you. Learn practical strategies for identifying your anxiety triggers, challenging the thoughts and beliefs that lead to distress, safely facing the situations you fear, and truly loosening anxiety’s grip–one manageable step at a time.
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Self-Help Book of Merit
https://www.amazon.com/Anxiety-Worry-Workbook-Cognitive-Behavioral/dp/160623918X/
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“My Anxieties Have Anxieties”
By: Charles M. Schulz
A look at the joys and anxieties in the lives of Charlie Brown and his friends.
https://www.amazon.com/My-Anxieties-Have-Peanuts-Classics/dp/0805016910
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“Overcoming Anxiety, Worry, and Fear”
By: Gregory L. Ph.D. Jantz and Ann McMurray
Compassionate, Practical Approach to Coping with and Eliminating Anxiety
Fretting over seemingly inconsequential daily headaches? Constantly worrying about family members’ health or safety? Weighed down by negativity from the 24-hour news cycle? It’s a wonder anyone can escape anxiety. Unchecked, anxiety can swiftly rob us of our sense of safety, well-being, and peace.
Overcoming Anxiety, Worry, and Fear offers a whole-person approach to coping with and eliminating anxiety. This compassionate combination of common sense, biblical wisdom, and therapeutic advice will help readers unchain themselves from constant worry so that they can “be anxious about nothing” (Phil. 4:6). Trusted author Dr. Gregory L. Jantz helps readers identify the causes for their anxiety, assess the severity of their symptoms, and start down avenues for positive change.
https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Anxiety-Worry-Gregory-Ph-D/dp/0800727231/
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“Anxiety Attacked”
By: John MacArthur
SAY NO TO FEAR AND ANXIETY
So many things to worry about and so little time to worry! Christians obviously are not immune to the troubles of life, and when troubles do come we’re urged to rise above them and experience “peace that passes understanding.” But how, in day-to-day life, does that really happen? While numerous books have been written on overcoming anxiety, Anxiety Attacked goes beyond pop psychology’s temporary cures by returning us to our only true source of comfort and victory—Scripture. John MacArthur compassionately demonstrates from such passages as Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:6-9, and 1 Peter 5:5-7 God’s concern about our anxious situations, and helps us appropriate His resources for dealing with them calmly, yet effectively.
So when anxiety attacks, attack anxiety!
https://www.amazon.com/Anxiety-Attacked-John-Macarthur-Study/dp/1564761282
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“Anxious for Nothing: God’s Cure for the Cares of Your Soul”
By: John MacArthur
Stress has become part of our daily lives. We worry about our jobs, our relationships, and our families. And while there’s no lack of remedies for anxiety, no solution seems to offer true peace of mind.
John MacArthur, Jr. believes that peace is not only possible, it’s a divine mandate. Drawing from a rich legacy of teaching and ministry, MacArthur puts aside cultural cures to uncover the source of our anxiety and stress. Based on solid Biblical insights, Anxious for Nothing shares how we can overcome uncertainty, defeat doubt, and be truly worry-free.
This revised and updated edition includes a guide for both personal and group study and features discovery questions, suggestions for prayer, and activities, all designed to connect life-changing truths with everyday living.
https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Nothing-Cares-Macarthur-Study/dp/1434702979
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“Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World”
By: Max Lucado
When it comes to anxiety, depression, and stress-related illnesses, America is the frontrunner. Thankfully, there’s a practical prescription for dealing with these issues. Anxious for Nothing, the most recent book from New York Times bestselling author, Max Lucado, provides a roadmap for battling with and healing from anxiety.
Does the uncertainty and chaos of life keep you up at night?
Is irrational worry your constant companion?
Could you use some calm?
If the answer is yes, you are not alone. According to one research program, anxiety-related issues are the number one mental health problem among women and are second only to alcohol and drug abuse among men. Stress-related ailments cost the nation $300 billion every year in medical bills and lost productivity. And use of sedative drugs like Xanax and Valium have skyrocketed in the last 15 years. Even students are feeling it. One psychologist reports that the average high school kid today has the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the early 1950s. Chances are, you or someone you know seriously struggles with anxiety.
Max writes, “The news about our anxiety is enough to make us anxious.” He knows what it feels like to be overcome by the worries and fear of life, which is why he is dedicated to helping millions of readers take back control of their minds and, as a result, their lives.
Anxious for Nothing invites readers to delve into Philippians 4:6-7. After all, it is the most highlighted passage of any book on the planet, according to Amazon:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
In the characteristic tone of his previous books like You’ll Get Through This and Fearless, Max guides readers through this Scripture passage and explains the key concepts of celebration, asking for help, leaving our concerns, and meditating. He has also written a companion children’s book I’m Not A Scaredy Cat showing kids, in a fun way, that godly bravery can get them through any fears or worries.
Stop letting anxiety rule the day. Join Max on the journey to true freedom and experience more joy, clarity, physical renewal, and contentment by the power of the Holy Spirit. Anxiety comes with life. But it doesn’t have to dominate your life.
https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Nothing-Finding-Chaotic-World/dp/0718096126/
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“Anxiety: The Biblical Cure”
By: Todd Friel; Wretched
ANXIETY IS NOTHING NEW; THIS NAGGING LITTLE SIN HAS BEEN WITH US SINCE THE FALL. BUT IT SEEMS THAT 21ST CENTURY LIVING HAS BROUGHT ON ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES THAT COULD STRESS OUT EVEN THE MELLOWEST OF PEOPLE.
THE GOOD NEWS: Christians throughout the ages have struggled with stress, from Psalmists to Jeremiah to John Bunyan to Charles Spurgeon. You are not alone.
THE BETTER NEWS: There is a Biblical cure. Jesus is fully aware that we struggle with anxiety and He graciously preached a sermon just for the anxious Christian.
THE BEST NEWS: God will give you the power to overcome your anxiety. God has given us His Holy Spirit precisely for this struggle.
The Biblical cure for anxiety is not a ten-step, self-improvement, mind-over-matter program.
Furthermore, the Biblical cure for anxiety will change you in more ways than you can even imagine.
You will NOT:
– Be lectured.
– Be belittled.
– Be scorned.
You will:
– Learn the cause of your anxiety.
– Learn the Biblical cure for your anxiety.
– Learn how to apply the cure.
God does not want you to be anxious. God wants you to live a joy-filled, God-glorifying, peaceful life. Wretched Worldview: Anxiety will show you how.
INCLUDES COMPREHENSIVE PDF CURRICULUM: STUDY GUIDE, TEST AND TEACHER’S GUIDE!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkug7zc7_k8
https://www.wretched.org/product/wretched-worldview-anxiety-the-biblical-cure/
https://www.amazon.com/Wretched-Worldview-Anxiety-Biblical-Cure/dp/0991505077/
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“A Life Less Anxious: Freedom from Panic Attacks and Social Anxiety Without Drugs or Therapy”
By: Steve Pavilanis
Do you have a tremendous fear of public speaking, flying, or other social situations? Do you live in fear of having another panic attack? Do you depend on antidepressants, alcohol, or other medications to calm you down or help you sleep? If so, you’re not alone. Tens of millions of Americans are affected by anxiety disorders and many more worldwide. I personally struggled for five years with extreme social anxiety and panic attacks, constantly battling my own scary and seemingly uncontrollable thoughts. I finally found the path to freedom from excessive worry, medication, and fear. I have overcome these problems and now live my life with a greater sense of inner peace and calmness. I’m not a medical doctor, psychiatrist, or therapist of any sort. I am simply a normal guy whose life was once overrun with constant worry, fear, and depression. With great determination, research, and trial and error, I have returned to a healthy state of wholeness and optimism. My book details many of the problems I encountered daily, struggles that anyone suffering from anxiety can certainly relate to. I expand in detail upon my journey towards personal freedom, the valuable lessons I learned along the way, and how to apply them to your own life. I discuss why I had several severe relapses with my progress, and how you can avoid the same pitfalls. Some of the highlights of the book include: Education – Explanations of what anxiety is, and how it affects your body and mind. Strategy – How to formulate a plan to overcome your own fears and self-created limitations. Techniques – Discussions of the various physical and mental techniques I found most helpful in my recovery and still practice today, including meditation. Inspiration – I show you how to gain a sense of urgency and inspiration to change your life. Life Changes – Adjustments to your lifestyle to help encourage a peaceful mind and body. Are you ready to get your life back?
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Less-Anxious-Freedom-attacks/dp/0982140126/
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“Finding Peace: God’s Promise of a Life Free from Regret, Anxiety, and Fear”
By: Charles Stanley
In times of crisis and confusion, Dr. Charles Stanley has learned the one phrase that can carry him through: “God, You are in control.” The peace he has experienced in life stems from that foundational belief. In Finding Peace, Dr. Stanley shares with readers how they, too, can experience an unshakeable peace which “passes all understanding.”
Filled with encouragement to lift the soul, Finding Peace offers insight on what causes us to live without God’s peace in our lives, and how we can reverse course and open our hearts to receive it. Also, Stanley gives his perspective on the things that hinder peace-including the “Four Great Hallmarks of God’s Peace” and “Five Essential Beliefs for a Peaceful Heart”-to put the important message of this book into concrete terms. Addressing regret, anxiety, and fear, Dr. Stanley extends hope for overcoming the obstacles that block peace with the Lord. Finally, he gives direction on learning to live a life of contentment.
https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Peace-Promise-Regret-Anxiety/dp/0785288600/
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“The Antidote For Anxiety”
“Believe in God, believe in Me” [ John 14:1 ]
[ Todd Friel – Wretched ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7RSzWqJsno
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“FRUITS OF THE BEATITUDES” WEB SITE
(The ATTITUDES of Jesus that produce the CHARACTER of Jesus)
CLICK ON THE LINK to view:
http://fruitsofthebeatitudes.org/
FACEBOOK PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/FruitsOfTheBeatitudes/
[ Mark Besh ]
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[ P.S.: If you would like to investigate further about what it really means to “believe,” visit the following link:
http://4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q10_d1_1of10.html ].
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ARTICLES:
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“Top 10 Heart Stopping Movie Moments”
We’ll be counting down the top ten tense movie moments. Just to be clear by tense we mean scenes that are underscored with a feeling of nervousness that leave the viewer unable to relax.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGCnrJ45GRY
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“20 Most Tense Movie Scenes”
https://www.gamesradar.com/20-most-tense-movie-scenes/
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“Scare Games” – Monsters University
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1jM_GLZRoM
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“How can I deal with the fear and anxiety that makes me want to stay home all the time?”
A:
Let us impress upon you the fact that God cares about you and about what you are going through. He says, “You are precious to me . . . and I love you” (Isaiah 43:4). The very reason Jesus Christ came to earth was to offer Himself in sacrifice for our sin so that we might be reconciled to God and experience His kindness and mercy as His dearly loved children. It is His desire that you be completely set free from fears, torment, and oppression so that you might experience His abundant life (John 10:10). The Lord considers you to be very special, as it states in Zechariah 2:8: “Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye.” Therefore, you can be assured of His desire to bring comfort to your troubled heart. See also 2 Corinthians 1:4, 7:6.
There are practical steps you can take as you seek freedom from your fears. In the book “Happiness Is a Choice” by Frank Minirth, M.D. and Paul D. Meier, M.D., a number of suggestions are listed as helps to decrease anxiety:
– Determine to obey God. God commands us not to be anxious (Philippians 4:5).
– Pray. God promised Daniel He would answer and Daniel was not to fear (Philippians 4:6, Daniel 10:12).
– Meditate on positive thoughts: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). See also Psalm 34:4, 86:15; Isaiah 40:28-31; Proverbs 1:33; John 14:27.
– Divert attention from self to others (Philippians 4:10, 2:3-4). As an individual gets his mind off his own problems by helping others, his anxiety also decreases.
– Set a time limit on your worries. Probably 98 percent of the things we are anxious about or worry about never happen. Learning to live one day at a time is an art that can be cultivated.
In his book, “Walking Through the Darkness,” Neil Anderson suggests the following prayer for those troubled by fear:
“Dear Heavenly Father, You are the fortress, shield and strength of my life. I refuse to be intimidated by any fear object. I choose to sanctify Christ as the Lord of my life. You are the only omnipotent, omnipresent God. You have not given me a spirit of fear. By Your presence in my life I have power, love and a sound mind. Your power enables me to live a responsible life. Your presence in my life has made me a partaker of Your divine nature so I can love others as You love them. You are my sanctuary, and I ask You to protect my family … Amen.”
If your anxieties continue or increase, we suggest that you see a competent Christian counselor for additional help.
[ Billy Graham Evangelistic Association ]
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“Anxiety-Free Living”
Anxiety free living worry-free living fear-free living is part of what the Lord offers. It’s part of the Gospel message. It is what we have who are in the Kingdom
Maybe you’re struggling with sickness, about to lose your job, or you’re watching a loved one battle cancer. In circumstances like those worried can move in the danger is where he can quickly control you if left unchecked. So how do you keep that from happening. To see how you can put away fear for good. Stay tuned for today’s grace to you is John MacArthur begins a study from Luke chapter 12 helping you experience anxiety free living.
[ John MacArthur ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GqDSRIIN6Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjhI-MQN7pQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzFrn6IE5ew
“Anxiety-Free Living” Topical Series:
https://www.gty.org/library/topical-series-library/278/anxietyfree-living
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“Anxieties: To Be Cast Not Carried”
The opposite of boldness is fear or anxiety. It’s not surprising then that God not only calls us to be bold for Christ and his kingdom, but he also makes a provision for us to get rid of our fear and anxiety. Giving us courage and taking our fear are two ways of doing the same thing.
Today’s text is not a direct call to boldness. It’s a call not to be anxious. And so it’s an indirect call to boldness and courage.
The Threat of Humility?
But there is something very unusual about this text. The threat in this text that tempts us to be anxious is not explicitly prison or injury or slander or plundering of property or loss of money. The threat is humility. Or to put it another way, the reason Peter deals with the problem of anxiety is because he is dealing with the problem of humility. Somehow the command for humility makes the command to cast our anxiety on God more urgent, more needed.
The Flow of Thought from Verses 5–7
Notice this in the flow of thought from verses 5–7. The chapter starts with a word to the elders of the church to shepherd the flock willingly and eagerly and without being motivated by money. Then the focus turns to the others in the church.
You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; [then to all the church] and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time . . .
Now right here comes the connection between this call for humility and the command to cast all your anxiety on God. The command for humility seems to cause anxiety to rise and so Peter deals with it.
The Punctuation of the Sentence
The NIV and RSV put a period at the end of verse 6 and make verse 7 into a new sentence. “Humble yourselves . . . Cast all your anxiety on him.” But that break obscures the connection. The NASB and the KJV don’t have a period because verse 7 does not start a new sentence in the original Greek. It is part of the sentence in verse 6 and continues with a participle: not, “Cast all your anxiety on him . . . ,” but, “ . . . casting all your anxiety on him.”
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Not: “Humble yourselves. And cast your anxiety.” But: “Humble yourselves . . . casting your anxiety.”
Casting Your Anxiety on God Is Part of Humbling Yourself
The point is that casting your anxiety on God is somehow part humbling yourself. Casting your anxiety on God is crucial if you are going to humble yourself under God’s hand and clothe yourself with humility toward each other. Casting your anxiety on God is not simply a separate thing that you do after you humble yourself. It’s something you do in order to humble yourself, or in the process of humbling yourself.
There is something about humbling yourself under God’s hand and humbling yourself before other people that makes casting all your anxiety on God necessary. Or to say it another way, there is something about casting your anxiety on God that makes humbling yourself under God and before others possible.
It looks like humility is a threat that causes anxiety. And if we are going to be humble with God and with each other, we are going to have to cast our anxiety on God. That’s the connection between verse 7 and what goes before. “Clothe yourselves with humility toward each other and humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God by casting your anxiety on God.”
Why Does Humility Create Anxiety?
But why does humility create anxiety? Why does humility take courage? Why do we need someone to take our anxiety away in order for us to be humble?
You can see the answer easily if you just start thinking of some examples of humility. What does it mean to be humble? It means, when you’ve made a mistake, admitting it and saying you’re sorry. It means, when you are weak or sick or inadequate for a task, not being too proud to ask for help. It means doing some ordinary jobs and spending time with ordinary people and being indifferent to accolades.
In other words, in all its forms humility is the risk of losing face. Humility is the risk of not being noticed, not being appreciated, not being praised, and not being rewarded. Lowliness runs the obvious risk of being looked down on.
And being looked down on is painful. Being unnoticed and unappreciated is painful. Losing face is painful. Being made little of is painful. And therefore humility causes anxiety. And the command to be humble under God and to be clothed with humility toward each other makes us anxious.
We Have to Solve This Anxiety Problem
So if we are really going to be humble, we have to solve this anxiety problem. If we are going to have the courage of humility and the boldness of lowliness, someone is going to have to take our anxiety away.
That’s the point of verse 7: “Be humble by casting all your anxiety on God.” The secret of humility is being able to cast your anxiety on God. Note the connection between humbling yourself under God’s mighty hand in verse 6 and casting your anxiety on God in verse 7. God is the focus in both verses, and the connection is this: before you can put yourself humbly under God’s mighty hand, you have to put your anxiety confidently in God’s mighty hand.
There is a fearful cowering under the mighty hand of God for the rebellious and the proud. But that is not what Peter is calling for in verse 6. The humility Peter commands under God’s hand is the peaceful, confident humility that comes because we have cast our anxiety on God with the confidence that he cares for us.
I love these two images side by side: humbled and lowly under the mighty hand of an infinitely holy and powerful God, and confident and peaceful because that very God cares for us and carries our anxiety. Before you bow down and step under him, cast the burden of your anxiety on him!
How Do You Cast Your Anxiety on God?
Now what does it mean to cast your anxiety on God? How do you do that?
Getting Help from the Same Word in Luke 19:35
This word “casting” in verse 7 occurs one other time in the New Testament—in Luke 19:35, in exactly the same form. It’s Palm Sunday and the disciples have been sent to get the donkey for Jesus to ride on. Then verse 35 says, “They brought it to Jesus, and casting their garments on the colt, they set Jesus on it.”
So the meaning is simple and straightforward: if you have a garment on and you want an animal to carry it for you, you “cast” the garment on the animal. In this way you don’t carry it anymore. It’s on the animal not on you. The donkey works for you and lifts your load.
Well, God is willing to carry your anxieties the same way a donkey carries your baggage. One of the greatest things about the God of the Bible is that he commands us to let him work for us before commanding us to work for him. “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22). “Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save” (Isaiah 46:4). “From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides thee, who works for those who wait for him (Isaiah 64:4).
God wants to be a burden bearer because it demonstrates his power and puts him in a class by himself among the so-called gods of the universe. “No one has seen a God besides thee, who works for those who wait for him.” So throw the garments of your anxiety onto him. He wants to carry it.
Practically How Do You Do That?
You do it by trusting the second half of verse 7 very specifically in relation to your specific anxiety. The first half of verse 7 says, “ . . . casting all your anxiety on him . . . ” and the second half of the verse says, “ . . . because he cares for you.”
Here is where the rubber meets the road. How do you practically make the anxiety transfer from your back to God’s back? The answer is: trust that he cares for you. Believe this promise. Trust him. It’s a matter of practical trust.
That promise does not hang in the air. It is connected to a command and the promise is meant to show you how to obey the command. The command is, Cast your anxiety on God. The promise is, God cares for you. That means, he cares about the thing that has you worrying. He wants to be trusted for that.
Lay a Specific Anxiety on God
So often we trust God in the abstract. Yes, he is a trustworthy God. Yes, he can save sinners in general. Yes, he will work it all out, generally speaking, for my good.
But a text like this means, Lay a specific anxiety on God. Trust him specifically that he cares about that. Believe that he is God. His purposes cannot be thwarted. “I know that you can do all things, says Job, and no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).
When it says that he cares, it means he will not stand by and let things develop without his influence. It means he will act. He will work. Not always the way we would. He’s God. He sees a thousand connections we don’t see. The lost credit card might result in an evening of searching and take you away from a TV program that unbeknownst to you would have put a lustful desire in your mind and made prayer unappealing so that you failed to seek God’s power and missed a golden opportunity to speak of Christ to a ready colleague the next day, which because of that lost credit card you did not miss. God sees a thousand connections we do not see.
Casting your anxiety on God means trusting him for handling this specific situation. If you believe that he cares (which is what the promise says), and believe that he is God, then your fears will be lifted.
The Connection with Prayer
There is one other thing to say about this act of casting anxiety on God, namely, the connection with prayer. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
So 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast your anxiety on God by trusting that he cares for you.” And Philippians 4:6 says, “Cast your anxiety on the Lord by praying and letting your requests be made known to him.” The connection is simple. Trusting that God cares about your anxiety is expressed in prayer. Prayer is the trust turned toward God and spoken.
[ John Piper ]
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“Fight Circumstantial Anxiety”
A teaching on: Psalm 34:19; Romans 5:3-5;
[ John Piper ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2llNXxnJqY
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“Nine Arguments Against Anxiety”
(Matthew 6:24–34)
This three-part series of labs takes on anxiety by studying Matthew 6:24–27. If the Bible is going to effectively speak to our anxious hearts, we need to learn how to read it well. In this lab, John Piper lays out the arguments and gives three short lessons for our daily Bible reading.
For the study guide, visit:
https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/nine-arguments-against-anxiety
[ John Piper ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHA0kOtWtWY
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“The End Of Anxiety”
What keeps you up at night? What makes you worry? This weekend on Renewing Your Mind, Dr. R.C. Sproul highlights a passage from Scripture that holds the antidote for anxiety.
Sunday Service – Luke
[ R.C. Sproul ]
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=7251612305110
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“The Ultimate Anxiety Cure”
This is wonderful sermon. The recording is slightly defective…. You’ll need to skip through to the center of the recording to find it….well worth the trouble though!
[ Sinclair B. Ferguson ]
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=810121214369
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“Overcoming Anxiety”
The Apostle Paul tells us what to do about anxiety, and gives us three ways to accomplish it. Hear Pastor Mike Karns explain Paul’s four imperatives about anxiety.
[ Michael R. Karns ]
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=6250293916
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“Cure For Anxiety”
Billy Graham’s Hour of Decision radio message, recorded in 1961, opens with a list of problems the world was facing at that time in history. While some of those issues have since gone away, others are still as prominent as ever—such as anxiety and depression among the wealthiest, most powerful celebrities, and fear in the hearts of ordinary people. Billy Graham addresses the underlying causes of anxiety and the ultimate solution.
[ Billy Graham ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgdU1dyNNkE
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“Understanding Anxiety”
Sermon on Luke 21:34
Notes for this series come from the Billy Graham Training Center Bible’s Topic Study on Anxiety.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJMi7y58-Uc
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“Dealing With Anxiety”
Everywhere we turn, people are worried about something. But anxiety and frustration are not part of God’s plan for our lives. In this sermon, Dr. Stanley uses Scripture to explain how anxiety may be natural but, left in our hands, can grow into a much bigger problem. Anxiety should be a passing thing—placed in the hands of the Father who knows all things.
[ Charles Stanley ]
https://www.intouch.org/watch/dealing-with-anxiety
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“The End Of Anxiety”
(Philippians 3:17-4:7)
To candid, reasonable men, I am not afraid to lay open what have been the inmost thoughts of my heart. I have thought, I am a creature of a day, passing through life
as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God, and returning to God: just hovering over the great gulf; till, a few moments hence, I am no more seen; I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know one thing the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be “homo unius libri.” – John Wesley
I. Belief in the Sovereignty of God
God is free. I am free. God is more free than I am. If my freedom runs up against God’s freedom, I lose. His freedom restricts mine; my freedom does not restrict his. – RC Sproul
“I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize that He is able to carry out His will for me. It does not matter where He places me, or how.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlyOhHLZb_k
*****************************
“Examining Fear And Anxiety”
In our fear and anxiety, the call is to cry out to him, to trust him and run to promise of redemption found in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
[ Matt Chandler ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CGex2YgCrU
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“God Doesn’t Want You to Worry”
Explanation of Philippians 4:6-7.
[ John Piper ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN-J3xrrWHg
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“Overcoming an Anxious Mind”
One author noted that we could write on countless American gravestones this epitaph: Hurried, Worried, Buried. Fear, stress, worry, and anxiety ravage modern culture. These two verses of Philippians 4 are among the most treasured by Christians worldwide because of their power to overcome this tendency to be overwhelmed by anxiety. Let’s give our souls a rest by learning and practicing the truths presented here.
[ Skip Heitzig ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je_Zdf86OCI
*****************************
“Hurried, Worried, Buried”
(How to Overcome Fear, Worry, and Anxiety)
Pastor Greg Laurie shares the secret to overcoming worry and anxiety, even while living in a fast-paced society.
[ Greg Laurie ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtQ-bp_eaYE
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“Mortifying Ungodly Emotions: Fear, Anxiety & Worry”
Matthew 6:25-27 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more 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 than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”
[ Brian Borgman ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ3ub2YRb90
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“The Biblical Cure for Anxiety”
Sermon at Grace Community Church, Dawsonville, GA
[ Todd Friel ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kos6WGBPh5U
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“Anxiety”
Alistair Begg, Senior Pastor of Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls, OH, continues the week with the theme of anxiety in 1 Peter 5.
[ Alistair Begg ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efkVtXWI_LU
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“Worry and Anxiety”
The cares of this world; the example of Martha; the need for the Christian to reprimand himself; and to exercise self-discipline; ’take no thought for the morrow’; the command of the Lord; lack of faith is unbelief; the problem of guidance; faith and healing; what is the prayer of faith? sensitive to the Spirit.
[ Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKBpGrfL_wA
*****************************
“Don’t Be Anxious”
A teaching on: Matthew 6:31-34; Lamentations 3:22-23;
[ John Piper ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2BjqdUdg-M
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“Peace: Overcoming Anxiety”
A lot of us are cast down because we don’t expect the attacks on our peace and joy that are inevitable. Much of the depression we experience is depression over our depression. We’re sad that we’re sad. We’re surprised that we’re surprised. We’re upset that we’re upset. Part of being upset is the anger, the guilt, and the frustration we experience as we say, “It’s not supposed to be like this!” The Bible takes a positive but realistic view toward facing and overcoming the very real adversaries to inner peace. Philippians 4:4-9.
[ Tim Keller ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vduGmIISacQ
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“Praying Our Fears”
Anxiety is a deep fear that threatens your sense of self. But we must obey Christ in times of hardship, and place our hope in Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. Psalm 3:1-8.
[ Tim Keller ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8tdA8YMOYM
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“Anxiety, Ambition, Indecision, Children of God, Be Not Anxious or Ambitious”
Luke 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Psalm 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
[ Charles H. Spurgeon ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSmx_VbUsIc
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“Be Anxious for Nothing”
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Hebrews 12:4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
[ A.W. Pink ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeD8qXZLGHg
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“Do Not Be Anxious”
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” [ Philippians 4:6-7 ]
[ Seeds Family Worship ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd35-M-xLX4
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“God Will Supply All Your Needs”
My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
In Philippians 4:6, Paul says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” And then in Philippians 4:19 (just 13 verses later), he gives the liberating promise of future grace: “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
If we live by faith in this promise of future grace, it will be very hard for anxiety to survive. God’s “riches in glory” are inexhaustible. He really means for us not to worry about our future.
We should follow this pattern that Paul lays out for us. We should battle the unbelief of anxiety with the promises of future grace.
When I am anxious about some risky new venture or meeting, I regularly battle unbelief with one of my most often-used promises, Isaiah 41:10.
The day I left America for three years in Germany my father called me long distance and gave me this promise on the telephone. For three years I must have quoted it to myself five hundred times to get me through periods of tremendous stress. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
I have fought anxiety with this promise so many times that when the motor of my mind is in neutral, the hum of the gears is the sound of Isaiah 41:10.
[ John Piper ]
*****************************
“All Your Anxiety”
Is there a heart o’er bound by sorrow?
Is there a life weighed down with care?
Come to the cross each burden bearing
All your anxiety, leave it there.
All your anxiety, all your care,
Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there.
Never a burden He cannot bear
Never a friend like Jesus.
No other friend so keen to help you
No other friend so quick to hear.
And no there place to lay your burden
No other one to hear your prayer.
All your anxiety, all your care,
Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there.
Never a burden He cannot bear
Never a friend like Jesus.
Come then, at once, delay no longer
Heed His entreaty, kind and sweet.
You need not fear a disappointment
You shall find rest at the mercy seat.
All your anxiety, all your care,
Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there.
Never a burden He cannot bear
Never a friend like Jesus.
Never a burden He cannot bear
Never a friend like Jesus.
[ Anne MacCallum – “Shine” album ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIdtTQMVqEw
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“Trust In You”
Letting go of every single dream
I lay each one down at Your feet
Every moment of my wandering
Never changes what You see
I’ve tried to win this war I confess
My hands are weary I need Your rest
Mighty Warrior, King of the fight
No matter what I face, You’re by my side
When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!
Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings
There’s not a day ahead You have not seen
So, in all things be my life and breath
I want what You want Lord and nothing less
When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!
You are my strength and comfort
You are my steady hand
You are my firm foundation; the rock on which I stand
Your ways are always higher
Your plans are always good
There’s not a place where I’ll go, You’ve not already stood
When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!
I will trust in You!
I will trust in You!
I will trust in You!
[ Lauren Daigle – “How Can It Be” album ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_aVFVveJNs
*****************************
“In God We Trust”
Overwhelmed but I won’t break
Through the battle I will say
Your grace will be enough
Your grace will be enough
Under fire but we won’t fall
We will never be alone
You’ll always be enough
You’ll always be enough
Now in God we trust
In His Name we hope
I know God will not be shaken
God is here with us
He’s already won
I know God will not be shaken
We will follow where You go
We will trust through the unknown
I know You go before
I know You go before
Lead my heart now in Your ways
For we’re carrying Your Name
Your promise never fails
Your promise never fails
You finish what You begun
Forever strong in Your love
Your Name is sure
And You will fight for us
Our hope forever secure
In You alone
[ Hillsong Worship – “Open Heaven” album ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY9Tylmulrc
*****************************
“Sparrows”
You can’t add a single day by worrying
You’ll worry your life away
Oh don’t worry your life away
You can’t change a single thing by freaking out
It’s just gonna close you in
Oh don’t let the trouble win
You may feel alone
But you’re not on your own
If He can hold the world He can hold this moment
Not a field or flower escapes His notice
Oh even the sparrow
Knows He holds tomorrow
Lean in and it’s hard to miss
Everything can change
When you make it His
Oh He wants to carry it
Carefree in the care of God
When you let it go
You’ll find that He’s enough
Oh you never leave His love
You don’t walk alone
If He can hold the world He can hold this moment
Not a field or flower escapes His notice
Oh even the sparrow
Knows He holds tomorrow
There’s not a single star that’s out of place
There’s nothing broken He can’t remake
If you long for hope when you’re afraid
Oh look at the sparrow
Look at the sparrow
If He can hold the world He can hold this moment
Not a field or flower escapes His notice
Oh even the sparrow
Knows He holds tomorrow
Even the sparrow knows
He holds tomorrow
[ Jason Gray – “Where The Light Gets In” album ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRJZQFRyZ6s
*****************************
“Cast My Cares”
When fear feels bigger than my faith
And struggles steal my breath away
When my back’s pressed up against the wall
With the weight of my worries stacked up tall
You’re strong enough to hold it all
I will cast my cares on You
You’re the anchor of my hope
The only one who’s in control
I will cast my cares on You
I’ll trade the troubles of this world
For Your peace inside my soul
This war’s not what I would’ve chosen
But You see the future no one knows yet
And there’s still good when I can’t
See the working of Your hands
You’re holding it all
I will cast my cares on You
You’re the anchor of my hope
The only one who’s in control
I will cast my cares on You
I’ll trade the troubles of this world
For Your peace inside my soul
Im finding there’s freedom
When I lay it all on Your shoulders
Cast my cares
I will
Cast my cares
I will
Cast my cares on You
[ Finding Favour – “Reborn” album ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKuAMmTqUbs
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“Trust Him”
(Parody of “Truckin’” by the Grateful Dead)
Trust Him – got to keep from sin
Keep trustin’ – baby, do not fret
To get a – really bles-sed life – just keep trustin’ God
Heroes of Hebrews 11 those people became great
They followed the Lord and His voice and they all had the same faith
Your typical people involved in the Biblical mandate
Hangin’ tough to see what the Lord would bring
Doubters – got a selfish streak
Useless – because they do their own thing
You know – you got to wait and see – the best is yet to be
Moses was back with the sheep when he’d meet with the true God
Noah he might have been thinkin’ of buyin’ a home
One of these days you know that God could just show up
Out of the blue with something to do all your own
Trust Him – like the true God says
Trust in Me and I will make you blest
You’ll find your life ain’t worth a dime – if you don’t lay it down
Sometimes I might lose sight of one thing
All those guys were as scared as me
They made it and so can we – with a strong faith just in Him
What in the world ever became of “Sheep Dave”?
He lost his flock – but you know he isn’t ashamed
Little ol’ kid, fightin’ and bein’ so brave
All the men could see that David would reign
Trust Him – up above you’ll go
In Heaven – and not to Hell below
It takes time – you need faith to go – just keep trustin’ God
Gideon was scared and now he’s a local hero
God had said, You’re gonna win the war, Gideon
He tried some tests with fleece before the battle
But he still went to war and – I guess you knew that he’d win
Trust Him – now with fervency
Get up – time to go with Him
Start now – and get to where it is – the Lord wants you to be
If you’re sick of foolin’ around and liv’n’ like the devil
You’re tired of the devil and you wanna turn around
Confess, repent, devote your soul to Christ
Get out of the drawer and find what that Book’s all about
Sometimes when life gets kind of lonely
Other eyes might be starin’ at me
Waiting in eternity – what a lot of great witnesses
Trust Him – I’m a goin’ home
Whoa whoa baby, up where I belong
Back home – sit by my master’s throne
You get there trustin’ God.
[ ApologetiX – “Soundproof” album ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAKffWwNw9Q
*****************************
“Cheap Birds”
(Parody of “Free Bird’” by the Lynyrd Skynyrd)
You do not need to fear tomorrow
Would you still remember please
That God must keep track of sparrows
And there’s so many ravens God’s got to feed
But if God takes care of bluebirds
He’ll bless you and me the same
Cause I’m not cheap like a bird now
And I’m born for better things
And I’m worth more than odd change
And I’m worth more than I think
The Lord knows everything
I find faith from listenin’ to Jesus — yeah, yeah
When nervous feelings I can’t shake
So please don’t take this for granted
Cause the Lord knows all your needs
But this Bible states here in Luke 12
He’ll get food for me today
Cause I’m not cheap like a bird now
And I’m born for better things
And I’m worth more than odd change
And I’m worth more than I think
The Lord knows everything
The Lord helps me — find the way
Oh, night and day
The Lord provides — for cheap birds, yeah
[ ApologetiX – “Keep The Change” album ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4foGkhL2Bmk
*****************************
“Talking Inner Peace”
(Parody of “Talking in Your Sleep” by The Romantics)
When you close your eyes can you go to sleep?
Can you drown out the sounds of a hard week?
Are there fears and things that you’re seething about?
Are you hopin’ that your heart makes it through somehow?
You tell me that you want peace
You tell me that you need peace
You tell me that you’d love peace
And I know where to find
All the peace you’ve been denied
Find here the secrets that you seek
When you talk of inner peace
Find here the secrets that you seek
When you talk of inner peace
When you hold it in, your heart has strife
Don’t you know to keep it in is not right
Give all your cares back to Jesus Christ
5:7 in First Peter gives the best advice
You tell me that you want peace
You tell me that you need peace
You tell me that you’d love peace
And I know where to find
’Cause it’s here in Jesus Christ
Find here the secrets that you seek
When you talk of inner peace
Find here the secrets that you seek
When you talk of inner peace
Find here the secrets that you seek
When you talk of inner peace
Find here the secrets that you seek
When you talk of inner peace
When you to Christ things’ll fall in place
Check Philippians chapter 4, verse 6-8
You tell me that you want peace
You tell me that you need peace
Isaiah 26:3
Now you know where to find
’Cause it’s here it’s in the Bible
Find here the secrets that you seek
When you talk of inner peace
Find here the secrets that you seek
When you talk of inner peace
Find here the secrets that you seek
In the Gospel John 14
Right here is the verse that you need
27 take a peak
Find here the secrets that you seek
When you talk of inner peace
Find here the secrets that you seek
[ ApologetiX – “Play Nice” album ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLOs6XdDHts
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“Tufftumbling”
(Parody of “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba)
Truth is my thoughts were shattered
My heart was bruised and … battered
Because I’d fallen
But God was there when all the people scattered
We’ll be strengthened
When we’re weakened
If we seek Him
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
Though seven times he hits the ground
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
The devil can’t keep him down
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
In Proverbs it’s easily found
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
Verse 24:16 now
Facing a tidal wave
Pacing and wide awake
You think some risky things
Have put you on the brink
It makes you start to think
You’re gonna slide or sink
I think that God’s right behind you through the good times
He sees you fall and He guides you to the better times
Don’t panic boy, panic boy, panic boy
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
Though seven times he hits the ground
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
The devil can’t keep him down
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
37th Psalm will teach you how
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
Verse 24 seek it out
This ain’t your final day
This is the time to pray
You think some risky things
Have put you on the brink
It makes you start to think
You’re gonna slide or sink
I think that God’s right behind you through the good times
He sees you fall and He guides you to the better times
So — try to be — extra patient
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
Though seven times he hits the ground
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
The devil can’t keep him down
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
In Proverbs it’s easily found
(The) righteous falls down – but rises up again
Verse 24:16 now
INSTRUMENTAL
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again
Though seven times he hits the ground (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again
The devil can’t keep him down (Woo ooh ooh)
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again
In Proverbs it’s easily found (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again
Verse 24:16 now (Woo ooh ooh)
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again (This ain’t your final day)
Though seven times he hits the ground (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again (This is the time to pray)
The devil can’t keep him down (Woo ooh ooh)
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again (This ain’t your final day)
37th Psalm will teach you how (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again (This is the time to pray)
Verse 24 seek it out (Woo ooh ooh)
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again (This ain’t your final day)
Though seven times he hits the ground (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again (This is the time to pray)
The devil can’t keep him down (Woo ooh ooh)
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again (This ain’t your final day)
In Proverbs it’s easily found (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again (This is the time to pray)
Verse 24:16 now (Woo ooh ooh)
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again (This ain’t your final day)
Though seven times he hits the ground (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again (This is the time to pray)
The devil can’t keep him down (Woo ooh ooh)
(The) righteous falls down (We’ll be strengthened)
But rises up again (This ain’t your final day)
37th Psalm will teach you how (When we’re weakened)
(The) righteous falls down (If we seek Him)
But rises up again (This is the time to pray)
Verse 24 seek it out (Woo ooh ooh)
[ ApologetiX – “Play Nice” album ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9vORQeSI24
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“Hold On, Christ’s Coming”
(Parody of “Hold on, I’m Comin’” by Sam & Dave)
Don’t you fret and be sad
Please don’t weep when times are bad
If you stay calm and you don’t doubt
In the midst of trouble
He will bail you out
Just hold on, Christ’s comin’
Hold on, Christ’s comin’
Christ’s on His way if you’re sufferin.
If you just hold fast, Christ will keep His covenant (Hallelujah) Don’t have to worry (No worries)
In blind fear (No fear)
Don’t need His number, baby (‘cause God’s in the Book)
He’s right here (Hey yeahhhhhh!)
Just hold on, Christ’s comin’
Hold on, Christ’s comin’
Hold on, Christ’s comin’
Hold on, Christ’s comin’
Lookee here!
Keep out of reach
Those bad distractions, yeah
Lookee here, baby! Here’s all you got to do
Call Christ’s name, yeah – and quit reactin’
Yeah, yeah, yeah – yeahhh!
LEAD
Now don’t you fret and be sad
People are mean, and their crimes are bad
When the day comes and He comes down, baby
He’ll deliver His loved ones
Way up off the ground
Just hold on, Christ’s comin’
Hold on, Christ’s comin’
Just hold on (Don’t you worry)
Christ’s comin’ (Here He comes)
Hold on (Wait on God to save you)
Christ’s comin’ (Yeah!)
Hold on (Don’t you worry)
Christ’s comin’ (Here Christ comes)
Hold on (Our God will save us)
[ ApologetiX – “Transformed Soul” album ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz8AH49hKVI
*****************************
“The Whole Darn Roof Leaks”
(Parody of “Hold on Loosely” by 38 Special)
You see it all around you – good comin’ from bad
He uses things that you hate to bless you – and realign somethin’ sad
And my mind goes back to a verse I read some years ago
That showed me
The whole darn roof leaks when storm winds blow
Yet when things get dicey, the Lord assumes control
You may think it’s come for no good reason, but hold onto faith in Jesus
This road ain’t easy – when you feel it’s not just So open the Scriptures – to learn how to trust
And my mind goes back to a verse I read some years ago
That showed me
The whole darn roof leaks when storm winds blow
Yet when things get dicey, the Lord assumes control
You may think it’s come for no good reason, but hold onto faith in Jesus
Don’t let a dismal day – set your mental mood Don’t let a hardship dim your faith, yeah
You see it all around you – good comin’ from bad
He uses things that you wouldn’t think to – bring about something grand
The whole darn roof leaks when storm winds blow
Yet when things get dicey, the Lord assumes control
You may think it’s come for no good reason, but hold onto faith in Jesus
The whole darn roof leaks when storm winds blow
Yet when things get dicey, you can assume that – the Lord is in control
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The whole darn roof leaks when storm winds blow Yet when things get dicey, the Lord assumes control
Whole darn roof leaks when storm winds blow
Yet when things get dicey, ooh yeah, the Lord assumes control
Yeah, yeah, ye
[ ApologetiX- “Unconditional Releases” album ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exkgpdjh07A
*****************************
“Nice Iced Pavement”
(Parody of “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice)
Yo, see my tree!
It’s Christmas!
Nice iced pavement
Nice iced pavement
All-night shopping – I had to take a list in
Ice is packed on my windshield – it glistens
Some kid said the roads will be icy
Closed up the shop when I paid and left light speed
Will this weather stop? Yo, I don’t know
Scrape off the ice – it won’t go!
Through the extremes I walk on ice ‘cause my van won’t
Start up — it seems I need a jump or I can’t go
And – I’m wearin’ sneakers not boots
They’re fillin’ with rain looks like I’m going to be slush soon
Lovely – man, my baby toe’s killin’ me
And I didn’t dress to the best of my ability
Rough or leave it – you bet I can’t stay
The weather is cold out and it’s no sleigh
Guess I’ve got a problem – no one saw it
Just have to hope for a heat wave to thaw it
Nice iced pavement
A really nice iced pavement
A really nice iced pavement
A really nice iced pavement
A really
Now, I’ll get my battery jumpin’
Triple A checks in but I think he’s not comin’
Says there’s no point in appointment makin’
“Look at them streets, guy, the plows can’t take it
Minimum of a six-hour window”
I go crazy when I hear that info
I hide that – what a screwed-up trip, though
I wanna roll – it’s time to throw snowballs
Throwin’ maybe five or so
So my rage stopped now but my hands just froze
Don’t really understand why I’m waitin’ just to pray, right?
Did you start? No, I just nosedived
Slipped on a sewer grate I stepped on
I bust my lip and now my head is oozin’ red stuff
I talked with God, yo, and I continued to
Pray and pray
Different attitude!
Nerves were shot, but I’m blessed, yes indeedy
Often troubles drive a man who’s needy
To Jesus
‘Cause about then I find
A manger display and I knew it was a sign
Ready for a jump after all
I jump like Jack-be-nimble ‘cause I’m full of faith, y’all
From God – sprang up like a well
I grab my side ‘cause I hurt myself
Falling on the concrete feels bad
But something bizarre – came out of that
Suffered some bumps there, I have a bruised back
I’m tryin’ to find my way back home but I feel jacked
But peaceful and serene – you know what I mean?
And that’s enough — I’m lovin’ all the snow scenes
If I got some problems, yo, He’ll solve ‘em
Just have to look how He keeps Earth revolvin’
Nice iced pavement
A really nice iced pavement
A really nice iced pavement
A really nice iced pavement
A really
Make heat ‘cause I’m a really cold poet
My head has lost some steam from encasing it in snow, it’s
Like mounds of mashed potatoes on my face now
I’d love to take and stick coals on the ground
If it sounds like I’m cynical still
People, my disposition is chill
But tucked in and warm with the help of a compress
Would make it nice — with a ton of gifts
Christmas displays guide my way
Lights that can singe ya
What? That’s my neighbor’s place!
So glad – on the street I just ran
You’re right; that was dumb — I fell on ice again
Remind me, won’t ya, that it’s time to get boots
But tonight’s not the night while I sip my soup
With those other problems, yo, He’ll solve ‘em
Just got me home now — He’ll be there for all of ‘em
Nice iced pavement
A really nice iced pavement
A really nice iced pavement
A really nice iced pavement
A really
Snow, man, let’s get out of here
Worst weather ever!
Nice iced payment – too cold
Nice iced payment – too cold, too cold
Nice iced payment – too cold, too cold
Nice iced payment – too cold, too cold
Under the weather
Under the weather
Weather, weather
[ ApologetiX – “Handheld Messiah” album ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZtOnmThh0M
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“You Give Up on Bad Days”
(Parody of “You Give Love a Bad Name” performed by Bon Jovi)
Shout to the Lord — but you’re too tame
Darlin’, you give up on bad days
You’re anxious now and much too frail
Your problems seem heavy — you could use some help
Today was rough — but in Romans 5:3
It says that afflictions they can’t break me
Whoa oh oh — you’re alone with God — yeah
Whoa oh oh — this whole day seems shot
Don’t want to praise Him — you’re very distraught
Shout to the Lord — but you’re too tame
You give up on bad days (bad days)
The faint of heart ought to praise His name
You give up on bad days (bad days)
Hey, don’t give up — on bad days
Woo!
He’ll change those trials on your list
God prevails over things like this
He’ll use those things — and that’s no lie
And Second Corinthians 4:17 shows why
Whoa oh oh — you’re alone with God
Whoa oh oh — there’s no place He’s not
Go on and praise Him, don’t panic, just watch
Shout to the Lord — but you’re too tame
You give up on bad days (bad days)
Your break might start when you praise His name
You give up on bad days (bad days)
Don’t give up — no
Ohhhhh
Shout to the Lord — but you’re too tame
You give up on bad days
The faint of heart ought to praise His name
You give up on bad days (bad days)
Shout to the Lord — but you’re too tame
You give up on bad days (bad days)
Your break might start when you praise His name
You give up on bad days (bad days)
You give up (Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Don’t give up (Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh) (Bad days)
You give up (Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Don’t give up (Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh) (Bad days)
You give up (Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Don’t give up (Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh) (Bad days)
You give up (Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh)
Don’t give up (Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh) (Bad days)
[ ApologetiX – “From Hair To Eternity” album ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS_HZhEjWJU
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DEEP THOUGHTS:
“Historians will probably call our era “the age of anxiety.” Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us.”
[ Billy Graham ]
“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”
[ Leo Buscaglia ]
“Your mind is your prison when you focus on your fear.”
[ Tim Fargo ]
“Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness.”
[ Richard Carlson ]
“The thing about an anxiety disorder is that you know it is stupid. You know with all your heart that it wasn’t a big deal and that it should roll off of you. But that is where the disorder kicks in. Suddenly the small things is very big and it keeps growing in your head, flooding your chest, and trying to escape from under your skin. You know with all of your heart that you’re being ridiculous and you hate every minute of it.”
[ Author unknown – From “HealthPlace.com ]
“Anxiety is having to remind myself that being afraid of things going wrong isn’t the way to make things go right.”
[ Author unknown – From “HealthPlace.com ]
“I’ve only just realized how utterly exhausted and drained I am after living in a near constant state of fight or flight for so long.”
[ Author unknown – From “HealthPlace.com ]
“I worry my depression and anxiety are always going to keep me from being the person I dreamed of becoming.”
[ Author unknown – From “HealthPlace.com ]
“My anxiety is silent. You wouldn’t even notice a change on the outside, but I’m honesty so stressed I can’t even manage simple tasks. People call me lazy when in reality I’m just overwhelmed.”
[ Author unknown – From “HealthPlace.com ]
“Today I will not stress over things I can’t control.”
[ Lori Deschene ]
“When thinking about life, remember this: No amount of guilt can solve the past, and no amount of anxiety can change the future.”
[ Author unknown – From “HealthPlace.com ]
“Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.”
[ Les Brown ]
“Worry is a down payment on a problem you may never have.”
[ Joyce Meyer]
“Worrying is like walking around with an umbrella waiting for it to rain.”
[ Author unknown – From “HealthPlace.com ]
“Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it.”
[ Kahlil Gibran ]
Don’t let your difficulties fill you with anxiety, after all it is only in the darkest nights that stars shine more brightly.”
[ Author unknown – From “HealthPlace.com ]
“Worry does nothing but steal your joy and keep you very busy doing nothing.”
[ Author unknown – From “HealthPlace.com ]
“Never fear shadows. They simply mean there’s a light shining somewhere nearby.”
[ Ruth E. Renkel ]
“There is great beauty in going through life without anxiety or fear. Half our fears are baseless, and the other half discreditable.”
[ Christian Nestell Bovee ]
“Anxiety can feel as huge as the big, blue sea, but remember that the sea is made up of smaller waves.”
[ Kellie Jo Holly ]
“Anything you’re trying to will is focused on the future; it’s always associated with some sort of anxiety that makes the present moment somewhat uncomfortable.”
[ Martha Beck ]
“Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action.”
[ Walter Anderson ]
“Becoming fearless isn’t the point. That’s impossible. It’s learning how to control your fear and how to be free from it.”
[ Veronica Roth ]
“Anxiety is one little tree in your forest. Step back and look at the whole forest.”
[ Author unknown ]
“Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.”
[ Arthur Somers Roche ]
“No amount of anxiety makes any difference to anything that is going to happen.”
[ Alan Watts ]
“Worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.”
[ Mary Schmich ]
“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”
[ Leo Buscaglia ]
“Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems”
[ Epictetus ]
“Worrying is like praying for what you don’t want.”
[ Aileen Horton Swift ]
“Anxiety’s like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you very far.”
[ Jodi Picoult ]
“Worry gives a small thing a big shadow.”
[ Swedish Proverb ]
“My anxieties have anxieties.”
[ Charlie Brown (Charles M. Schultz) ]
============
Bible Verses on Anxiety:
“We can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”
[ Hebrews 13:6 ]
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
[ Philippians 4:6-7 ]
“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
[ Psalm 34:4 ]
“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”
[ Psalm 42:5 ]
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”
[ Matthew 6:34 ]
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”
[ 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 ]
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
[ Psalm 23:1-6 ]
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
[ 1 Peter 5:5-7 ]
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
[ Revelation 21:4 ]
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Hope you enjoyed some of these insights—share them with your friends and colleagues—so we can have a larger ’pool’ to receive from, and more to share with! Also, remember to include your name as the “source,” if some of this wisdom is of your doing—I would like to give credit where credit is due!
FOCUS VERSES:
“And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
[ Luke 12:22-34 ] (Also Matthew 6:25-34).
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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
[ Philippians 4:6-7 ]
Mark
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If you have a ‘neat’ story or some thoughts about an issue or current event that you would like me to try to respond to, I would be glad to give it a try…so, send them to me at: mbesh@comcast.net
Disclaimer: All the above jokes & inspirations are obtained from various sources and copyright are used when known. Other than our name and headers, we do not own the copyright to any of the materials sent to this list. We just want to spread the ministry of God’s love and cheerfulness throughout the world.
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LIFE'S DEEP THOUGHTS 