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
