“Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.”
As I was in prayer about this month’s devotional, I felt the Lord directing me to share about anxiety. I didn’t know where to start. As I prayed, He led me to these verses, Psalms 32:8 and Deuteronomy 31:6. Afterwards I heard, “Trust me, I will lead you. Be anxious for nothing.”
Based on what version of the Bible you read; you may not find the word “anxiety” listed anywhere. You will probably find related words such as trouble, heaviness, distress, and cares used in its place.
The specific causes of anxiety are probably more than can be mentioned in this short devotional, but here is one from the Bible which points to a general cause. In Esther 4, the Jewish people are anxious because of a royal decree against them, stating that they are to be killed. Queen Esther is anxious because she was planning to risk her life on behalf of her people. Fear of death and the unknown is a key element of anxiety.
One of the best-known accounts on anxiety comes from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6. God warns us against being anxious. Jesus taught that our Heavenly Father knows our needs and cares about them. If God takes care of simple things like grass, flowers, and birds, won’t He also care for us who were created in His image? Rather than us worrying over things we cannot control, we should “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things [the necessities of life] will be added to you” (verse 33). Putting God first is a cure for anxiety.
Anxiety Distracts Us
Anxiety distracts us from our relationship with God and the truth that He is “Lord of heaven and earth” (Matthew 11:25). Anxiety is crippling, and it leads to doubt. The word anxious means “uneasy and apprehensive about an uncertain event or matter; worried” (American Heritage Dictionary). God wants so much more for us than to walk through life full of fear, worry and anxiety.
The Spirit of God has many functions and one of His roles is Guide and Counselor. Leading us in the way we should go and revealing God’s truth. How do we recognize the Spirit’s guidance? One of the most important ways is to be familiar with God’s Word. The Bible is the ultimate source of wisdom about how we should live. Believers are to search the Scriptures, meditate on them, and keep them in their heart.
Be Anxious for Nothing: An Example From My Life
The other day anxious thoughts tried to enter my mind about a matter. I immediately prayed in the spirit, (speaking in an unknown tongue as the spirit gave me utterance, 1 Corinthians 14:14). As I prayed God led me to read Philippians 4:19 (God’s Word Translation) – “My God will richly fill your every need in a glorious way through Christ Jesus.”
As I meditated on that scripture, I began to worship and Thank God for all His provisions for me and my family. I cast my care on the Lord and rested. To rest in the Lord refers to a spiritual rest from confusion, worry, stress, and useless human effort. You do not have to deal with anxiety, you can rest. I became still and quiet. Dwelling in the presence of the Lord, totally surrendered to Him. The absence of worry is the evidence of true peace. Try it, I guarantee you’ll like it!
