Daily Archives: January 20, 2013

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Anxiety: How to Respond – By Dr. Charles Stanley

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Do you sometimes lie awake at night, fretting about a situation? Have you ever felt paralyzed by worry? Although everyone experiences moments of anxiety, we don’t have to let fear control our lives. The Bible teaches us how to acquire peace in the midst of stressful circumstances.

A. Closely guard your thought life.

Anxiety is an emotion caused by fearful thoughts. Changing one’s pattern of thinking generally causes apprehension to dissipate. When your thought life becomes negative or counterproductive, deliberately choose to set your mind on something else.

According to Philippians 4:8, what should our focus be?

What percentage of the time does your thinking measure up to this standard?

In what areas does it fall short?

There are a number of ways you can stop an unhealthy train of thought. For instance, you can praise the Lord and thank Him, turn to solving a different challenge, or find wholesome entertainment. But perhaps the best way is to meet God in prayer and focus on biblical truths.

B. Renew your mind with Scripture.

Many anxieties are rooted in worldly concerns. Refreshing your mind with biblical truth can help put such worries in perspective.

Two scriptural principles in particular can bring us great peace:

 

Our heavenly Father is sovereign and in control over all situations (Ps. 91).

He lovingly provides for the needs of His children (Matt. 6:25-34).

You can also look for verses regarding the specific anxieties that bother you the most. For instance, to counter an unhealthy fear of dying, remind yourself: “God will redeem my life from the grave; He will surely take me to Himself” (Ps. 49:15 NIV).

In what area of your life do you feel most anxious?

What specific scripture(s) could remind you of God’s perspective on those worries?

If no verses come to mind, simply ask the Lord to reveal appropriate ones during the next few weeks.

C. Turn anxieties into prayers.

A constructive way to redirect nervous energy is to turn our concerns over to the heavenly Father. You may want to get on your knees and talk out loud to God in the privacy of your home. Or you may find it productive to write your prayers in the form of letters to the Father.

Anxieties may return at some point. If that happens, simply say, “Lord, I’m giving this worry back to You.” Then deliberately refocus your thoughts.

Prayer should be accompanied by thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6). What are some reasons for believers to be grateful?

How can an attitude of thankfulness lower a person’s anxiety level?

If we make known our requests to God, what does Paul promise will happen (Phil. 4:7)? What do you think this would look like in your life?

Sometime today, present your requests to the Lord according to Paul’s instructions in Philippians 4:6. Even if your situation does not change, God will give you His supernatural peace.

D. Diligently fulfill your responsibilities.

When we fail to perform our duties, we sometimes end up with anxiety-causing situations. For example, a person who fails to maintain his car will typically end up with a malfunctioning vehicle.

Those who neglect their responsibilities will face many unnecessary hardships in life. Let’s look at this biblical principle as it relates to money. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus promises that the Father will provide for our basic needs. But Scripture also teaches that in most cases, believers have a role to play in meeting financial commitments (2 Thess. 3:10).

According to the wisdom of Proverbs, what are a couple of reasons why some people become poor (Prov. 10:4; 28:19)?

What are two reasons why the apostle Paul worked to earn a living (2 Thess. 3:7-9)?

 

Now, let’s apply the general principle that each believer must do his or her part to respond to problems.

Is God prompting you to be a part of the solution regarding one of your concerns? If so, in what way?

What do you think has prevented you from doing your part?

Of course, taking responsibility doesn’t guarantee a resolution to the problem. If the situation doesn’t resolve, you can still find supernatural peace by applying the concepts in the rest of this study. Continue to be sensitive to the Lord’s guidance regarding your role in finding a solution. If necessary, seek outside help from your pastor, a professional counselor, or a ministry designed to help people struggling with a similar difficulty.

Conclusion: Anxiety can cripple us emotionally and hinder our productivity. Or it can drive us to prayer and prompt spiritual growth. Choose to respond to worry in a godly manner. Not only will the Lord be glorified, but you will be set free from anxiety’s paralyzing grip.

Prayer: Father, thank You for revealing how to live worry-free. As your children, we are grateful for the responsibilities You’ve entrusted to us. But we need Your help in carrying them out. Teach us to give our anxieties to You in prayer, trusting Your provision for all we need. Amen.

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Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

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Morning “Abel was a keeper of sheep.” / Genesis 4:2

As a shepherd Abel sanctified his work to the glory of God, and offered a

sacrifice of blood upon his altar, and the Lord had respect unto Abel and his

offering. This early type of our Lord is exceedingly clear and distinct. Like

the first streak of light which tinges the east at sunrise, it does not reveal

everything, but it clearly manifests the great fact that the sun is coming. As

we see Abel, a shepherd and yet a priest, offering a sacrifice of sweet smell

unto God, we discern our Lord, who brings before his Father a sacrifice to

which Jehovah ever hath respect. Abel was hated by his brother–hated without

a cause; and even so was the Saviour: the natural and carnal man hated the

accepted man in whom the Spirit of grace was found, and rested not until his

blood had been shed. Abel fell, and sprinkled his altar and sacrifice with his

own blood, and therein sets forth the Lord Jesus slain by the enmity of man

while serving as a priest before the Lord. “The good Shepherd layeth down his

life for the sheep.” Let us weep over him as we view him slain by the hatred

of mankind, staining the horns of his altar with his own blood. Abel’s blood

speaketh. “The Lord said unto Cain, The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth

unto me from the ground.'” The blood of Jesus hath a mighty tongue, and the

import of its prevailing cry is not vengeance but mercy. It is precious beyond

all preciousness to stand at the altar of our good Shepherd! to see him

bleeding there as the slaughtered priest, and then to hear his blood speaking

peace to all his flock, peace in our conscience, peace between Jew and

Gentile, peace between man and his offended Maker, peace all down the ages of

eternity for blood-washed men. Abel is the first shepherd in order of time,

but our hearts shall ever place Jesus first in order of excellence. Thou great

Keeper of the sheep, we the people of thy pasture bless thee with our whole

hearts when we see thee slain for us.

 

Evening “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.” /

Psalm 119:37

There are divers kinds of vanity. The cap and bells of the fool, the mirth of

the world, the dance, the lyre, and the cup of the dissolute, all these men

know to be vanities; they wear upon their forefront their proper name and

title. Far more treacherous are those equally vain things, the cares of this

world and the deceitfulness of riches. A man may follow vanity as truly in the

counting-house as in the theatre. If he be spending his life in amassing

wealth, he passes his days in a vain show. Unless we follow Christ, and make

our God the great object of life, we only differ in appearance from the most

frivolous. It is clear that there is much need of the first prayer of our

text. “Quicken thou me in thy way.” The Psalmist confesses that he is dull,

heavy, lumpy, all but dead. Perhaps, dear reader, you feel the same. We are so

sluggish that the best motives cannot quicken us, apart from the Lord himself.

What! will not hell quicken me? Shall I think of sinners perishing, and yet

not be awakened? Will not heaven quicken me? Can I think of the reward that

awaiteth the righteous, and yet be cold? Will not death quicken me? Can I

think of dying, and standing before my God, and yet be slothful in my Master’s

service? Will not Christ’s love constrain me? Can I think of his dear wounds,

can I sit at the foot of his cross, and not be stirred with fervency and zeal?

It seems so! No mere consideration can quicken us to zeal, but God himself

must do it, hence the cry, “Quicken thou me.” The Psalmist breathes out his

whole soul in vehement pleadings: his body and his soul unite in prayer. “Turn

away mine eyes,” says the body: “Quicken thou me,” cries the soul. This is a

fit prayer for every day. O Lord, hear it in my case this night.

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Rejoicing in Assurance – John MacArthur

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“You were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:13-14).

The Holy Spirit’s ministry in your life is multifaceted and profound. Among other things He brings salvation, conviction, guidance, and strength. He indwells and equips you for spiritual service and gives assurance of your salvation. He is your Helper and Advocate. He is the Spirit of promise, who seals you until the day when your redemption is fully realized (Eph. 4:30).

Sealing speaks of security, authenticity, ownership, and authority. Ancient kings, princes, and nobles placed their official seal on documents or other items to guarantee their inviolability. To break the seal was to incur the wrath of the sovereign whom it represented (cf. Dan. 6:17; Matt. 27:62-66).

A seal on a letter authenticated it as from the hand of the one whose seal it bore. Legal documents such as property deeds and wills were often finalized with an official seal. Those who possessed the sealed decree of a king had the king’s delegated authority to act on that decree.

Each of those aspects of sealing is a picture of the Spirit’s ministry. He is God’s guarantee that your salvation is inviolable and that you are an authentic member of His kingdom and family. You are His possession–having been purchased with His Son’s precious blood (1 Cor. 6:20). You are His ambassador with delegated authority to proclaim His message to a lost world (2 Cor. 5:20).

The Spirit is the pledge of your eternal inheritance (Eph. 1:14). The Greek word translated “pledge” in that verse (arrab[ma]on) was used of down payment or earnest money given to secure a purchase. Rejoice in the assurance that God, who cannot lie (Titus 1:2), has given you His Spirit as a guarantee that He will keep His promises.

Suggestions for Prayer: Praise God for the security of your eternal inheritance.

Praise the Spirit for His many ministries in your life. Be sensitive to His leading today so that your ministry to others will be powerful and consistent with His will.

 

For Further Study:  Read Esther chapters 3, 8. What role did the king’s signet ring play in the decree of Haman (chapter 3)? The decree of Ahasuerus and Mordecai (chapter 8)?