“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 The Amplified Bible
Wildfires
Hurricanes
Flooding
International Unrest
Riots
Protests
Businesses being forced to shut down
Covid-19 second wave
Election
Financial Instability
Humanly speaking, there are so many of us that are battling anxiety right now. As write this Freedom Fighter blog, we see signs of a second wave of the virus. There is talk about full or partial shutdowns. There is angst about whether many restaurants in New Jersy can survive if we can only do 25% indoor dining. Major movie theaters are closing.
Quite frankly, I only listened to the first ten minutes of the first Presidential debate. It all made me very anxious. I haven’t met anyone who watched more than ten minutes of the debate.
The day I was writing this week’s blog, I came upon this verse several times.
Obviously, God wanted to get my attention. The Bible doesn’t give us much wiggle room, does it? Paul tells us what we can be anxious about. NOTHING!
NADA!
I read this today in Streams in the Desert:
Quite a few Christians live in a terrible state of anxiety, constantly fretting over the concerns of life. The secret of living in perfect peace amid the hectic pace of daily life is one well worth knowing. What good has worrying ever accomplished? It has never made anyone stronger, helped anyone do God’s will, or provided for anyone a way of escape out of their anxiety or confusion. Worry only destroys the effectiveness of lives that would otherwise be useful and beautiful. Being restless and having worries and cares are absolutely forbidden by our Lord, who said, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ” (Matt. 6:31). He does not mean that we are not to think ahead or that our life should never have a plan or pattern to it. He simply means that we are not to worry about these things.
People will know that you live in a constant state of anxiety by the lines on your face, the tone of your voice, your negative attitude, and the lack of joy in your spirit. So scale the heights of a life abandoned to God, and your perspective will change to the point that you will look down on the clouds beneath your feet. It is a sign of weakness to always worry and fret, question everything, and mistrust everyone. Can anything be gained by it? Don’t we only make ourselves unfit for action, and separate our minds from the ability to make wise decisions? We simply sink in our struggles when we could float by faith.
Reimann, Jim; Cowman, L. B. E.. Streams in the Desert: 366 Daily Devotional Readings (p. 380). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
I would be lying to you if I said I wasn’t anxious. With God’s help, I want to move from fear to faith. I want to get to the place where I allow God’s peace to rule and reign in my heart always. Thanks, Lord, for these two verses packed with truth on how to deal with anxiety.
In His grip,
Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick (bwelte@americaskeswick.org)
When FEAR knocks on your door, send FAITH to answer.
Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 12 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.
