Care can be exercised on legitimate objects, but if it is carried to excess, it becomes sin. The command to avoid anxious care is earnestly and repeatedly taught by our Savior; it is reiterated by the apostles. And it is a command that cannot be ignored without committing sin—the very essence of anxious care is our imagining that we are wiser than God, putting ourselves into His place, to do for Him what He has promised to do for us. We worry about things that we fancy God will forget. We labor to take our weary burden on ourselves, as if He were unable or unwilling to take it for us. Now this disobedience to His plain command, this unbelief in His Word, this presumption of intruding onto His province is a sinful way of thinking. But more than that, our anxious care often leads to acts of sin. People who cannot calmly leave their affairs in God’s hand, but try to carry their own burdens, are likely to be tempted to use wrong means to help themselves. This sin leads us to forsake God as our counselor and resort instead to human wisdom. This is going to the “broken cistern” instead of to the “fountain” (Jeremiah 2:13), a sin which was charged against ancient Israel. Anxiety makes us doubt God’s lovingkindness, which makes our love to Him grow cold. We feel mistrust, and we grieve God’s Spirit, so that our prayers are hindered, our consistent example is marred, and our life becomes self-seeking. A lack of confidence in God leads us to wander far from Him—but if through simple faith in His promise we cast each new burden on Him, and if we “don’t worry about anything” (Philippians 4:6 NLT) because He promises to care for us, we will keep close to Him, and be strengthened against great temptation. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3 ESV). - C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening
Perhaps adding this: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6
We think it natural that there is just so much to do and so little time. That's just the way it is. It's our 'lot' in life.
Reread what Spurgeon says today my friend. You REALLY think it's a coincidence your reasoning matches what he wrote? Do you really think it's any coincidence that the same applies to you now that was written by him so long ago?
When God starts saying something that is a reflection of what you are thinking, it's time to dig deeper in prayer for understanding.
His thoughts are not our thoughts nor His ways our ways. Scripture tells us that plainly.
So where do your thoughts go? Ever consider that one? Are they just loose and undisciplined thoughts, without any attempt to control them? We are told to take every thought captive. Where? 2 Corinthians 10:5 "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,"
Sort of goes against what the world (aka Satan) says doesn't it?
A Disciple chooses to submit to the things and thinking of a Master. Realistically you are either following Christ as your Master or the world as your Master. Jesus said you cannot serve two. It wasn't just about serving money.
It's a personal Discipleship. Jesus got away with each Disciple, at times in groups, but also individually. The result is what we read of them confessing that only Jesus had the words of life.
Our anxiety is easy for us because the enemy of God is relentless in his kind of attack on us. Very relentless. He knows not to shout out what he is doing, people would figure it out and ignore even him.
You want to understand anxiety? Read up on the basics of psychology. That stuff is mainly his battle plan. Psychological warfare is of Satan. Psychotherapy certainly is of him.
Did any Disciple need therapy? No. They needed Jesus. Did any need to have lessons repeated? Sure. That's part of learning and living.
Where you go and what you do as a Christian or even a nonbeliever is only partly your choice to make. You choose who you are following and that's where your motivation begins.
Today is indeed a new day, if you are still breathing in this life. Fears are being played upon and countless billions of people are being manipulated in the grandest of chess games. There's one direction for this world. The fulfillment of Scripture. The Plan of God. Satan wants to win and will indeed sacrifice billions if it takes that in order to gain the worship of mankind. He doesn't care about who dies. It matters not if it's millions of babies per day or if it's all the aged and infirmed.
Realize the truth about manipulation of people. Only those old enough to know right from wrong and those young enough to be manipulated are the ones Satan is trying to sway away from God. Older people are mostly set in their ways and aren't very useful to him to manipulate the younger minds.
As Scripture tells us plainly we war not against flesh and blood. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12
Those in the battle are everything from weary to seasoned, energetic to anxious.
To battle anxiety is hard, not impossible but hard. I know for some this is preaching to the choir, but this is for me as well as those who don't know.
Prayer is our tool for anxiety. Consistent, constant prayer.
Our lives are always going to have ups and downs. We are always going to have things happening that are unexpected. Look at the life of Christ. Find one instance of Him worrying about anything.
Note what it does say, He often got away to pray and be with His Father.
If praying is difficult for you there is a reason why. Either you indeed are not saved or if you are you have gotten used to being lead to believe that it does not work. Why try. One is certainly cured by prayer to be saved the other is an outright lie that you need to overcome.
Prayer for Jesus was the same as breathing. There's our example on how to treat anxiety. Not psychology. No need for drugs or counseling. No need for special plans or programs. Prayer.
Prayer blows past ever single, get this, really get this, EVERY SINGLE defense of Satan.
There's absolutely nothing he can do about it because Jesus said that our intercessor is Him. Our prayers go straight to God. Not through anyone on earth. Scripture says there is but one mediator between us and God and it's Christ.
Battle your anxiety with prayer. But not just words, back it up with belief. Believe that you have been heard. Know that you have been heard.
Start your day with Jesus and your anxiety will begin to disappear. The world has no defense against it. Which is why psychology exists. Which is why drug therapy exists. Which is why the world is in the shape it is.
Begin your day with Jesus. Start small if you have to. There's no formula. When you begin a relationship in this world with someone it isn't jumping right to marriage or the cream of the crop in being best friends. It takes time, patience and honesty.
Begin your day with Jesus and anxiety will begin to leave your life. There's a reason why a person's love would grow cold for Jesus. It's a lack of a solid prayer life and and at least a point of their life where they allowed the worries of this life to overwhelm them.
Pray today. Pray now. Pray often. Jesus never made the Christian life complicated.
We did because of listening to Satan and not God.
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