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Worry and Anxiety
Andrea Lende • July 13, 2020
Matthew 6:6: 25, 31, 33
Anxiety and Worry
You may also listen to this meditation and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Worry-And-Anxiety-egmju7
Daily Word:
Matthew 6: 25, 31, 33
“Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life,…”
“Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying What are we going to have to eat? Or, What are we going to have to drink? Or, What are we going to have to wear?”
“But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.”
Jesus talks a lot about worry and anxiety in the sixth chapter of Matthew.
Even back two thousand years ago people suffered with worry and anxiety.
That has not seemed to change over the years.
No matter how many advances have been made in so many areas since Jesus walked this earth, there is still worry and anxiety.
These current days bring with them new worries and anxieties.
Not just worries and anxiety but controversy and disagreement as well.
How do we deal with all that is happening around us that we seemingly have no control over?
Many have lost family members due to the new illness that is threatening our world.
This loss has been monumental.
Many are without employment who, just four months ago, had no idea their employment was insecure.
Schools and our children’s learning have been interrupted.
Normal every day operations are no longer normal.
We are having to define a new normal every day.
As I was looking for answers in the Bible about worry and anxiety, I found two verses in Philippians.
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite request), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.”
“And God’s peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
The Lord can grant us peace.
Peace can lead us.
When we find ourselves outside of peace, we need only to search for it and it will show us the way back.
Jesus granted peace to all those around Him.
He was always speaking peace over the people including His disciples.
He is the keeper of peace.
As I seek Him, I find peace.
Peace can lead and guide us instead of worry and anxiety.
Today I choose to seek peace over worry and anxiety and trust that the Lord will grant my request.
May you find that peace with lead and guide you and will rest upon you as you seek it.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for leading me back to peace. Thank You for assuring me that You will take care of me in all situations and circumstances as I seek You. Thank You for Your perfect peace. Thank You for sending Your Son to give His life so that I can sit in Your presence and be filled with Your Holy Spirit. Help me to seek You over the world. Increase my faith as these uncertain times continue. Strengthen my spirit as the uncertainty becomes more real every day. Keep my eyes on You and help me to bend my will to Yours. Help me to be obedient to Your whispers and hold fast to Your Word. Lead and guide me this day, Father. May Your peace wrap around me like a blanket as I know You are caring for me in every way. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM watching over you, My child, and My peace is upon you.
Response: Thank You, most gracious and merciful Lord.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.