Got Anxiousness? Here's A Plan For Dealing With It

     If you are like a lot of us, it's very easy to be anxious.  With everything that goes along with jobs, school, family, friends, health, and finances (to name a few), it's very easy to find ourselves being anxious.

     One of my favorite passages to read when I'm anxious, is Philippians 4:6-8.  Here we see what God says about being anxious:

       "6 rdo not be anxious about anything, sbut in everything by prayer and supplication twith thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And uthe peace of God, vwhich surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 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."

While working through my own anxiousness and trying to help others with theirs, I realized that there is an almost automatic plan for dealing with anxiousness found in this passage:

1.  Recognize that anxiousness is sin: "do not be anxious about anything" (v.6).

2.  Remember to pray: "but in everything by prayer and supplication" (v.6).

3.  Be thankful: "with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God"(v.6).

4.  Know the result of trusting in god: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (v.7).

5.  Think biblically:  "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" (v.8).

Lord willing, I may write a part 2 (and maybe a part 3) to this topic for the purpose of talking about issues like putting off and putting on, the need for repentance of our anxiousness, and so forth;  however, I hope that this basic plan may encourage us in how to begin dealing with our anxiousness.

Thanks for reading, 

Jeremy

To know God's word and to live it

Lonely?

Do you ever feel like your friends don't call you or talk to you enough?  Let me ask you, have you called a friend lately?  Have you told a friend how thankful you are for them?  It's easy to focus on how we don't hear from certain friends anymore; however, those very people may be feeling the same way about you!

There's lots of reasons we don't talk or see certain friends as much anymore.  Maybe it's because they've moved or because you guys just don't see one another at work or school anymore.

Pick up the phone and call them.  They may be feeling lonely like you!

Philippians 2:4 says:

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."  

Sometimes we focus so much on ourselves that we forget about what others are feeling.  Put others above yourself.  In other words, instead of focusing on how you feel lonely, focus on their feelings and how you can help them in their loneliness.

The Gospel. To share or not to share?

So, have you ever known that you had the opportunity to share the gospel but you didn't for some selfish reason?  Maybe you did not want to take the time.  Maybe you were in a hurry.  Maybe you assumed that the person did not want to hear it.

I was recently reading "To the Glory of God" by James Montgomery Boice.  Read the following excerpt with me:

"Let me tell you one story of such a blessing.  In the year 1816 a Scotsman by the name of Robert Haldane went to Switzerland.  Haldane was was a godly layman who, with his brother James Alexander, had been much used of the Lord in Scotland.  In Geneva, on the particular occasion he was sitting on a park bench in a garden in the open air and heard a group of young men talking.  As he listened he realized two things.  First, these were theological students.  Second, they were ignorant of true Christianity.  As a result of this encounter and after a few encouraging conversations, Haldane invited the students to his room and began to teach them the book of Romans.  God honored this work, and the Holy Spirit blessed it by the conversions of these young men.  They were converted one by one, and in turn they were instrumental in a religious revival that not only affected Switzerland but also spread to France and the Netherlands" (Boice.  The Glory of God. p.28).

Think of how God could use your own conversations that you have with those around you!  Take time to share God's word with others.  Share the Gospel of the Bible.  Every person who is breathing needs it!

It has been a long time...

It has been a long time since i've blogged.  I think we can make it work though.  Perhaps this will be a great way to continue to share what is going on in my day to day life, but most importantly, I'd like to use this blog as a way to share with others about God's word.  So, join me won't you?

Jeremy
to know God's word and to live it