How to deal with Anxiety, Worry, and Fear

How to deal with Anxiety, Worry, and Fear

Philippians 4: 6

Have you ever been in a situation you felt you had a legitimate reason to be worried, anxious, or afraid? Sometimes, it feels like it’s just the right thing to do. But see Jesus’ challenge in Luke 12:25-26 “And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?”

Jesus emphasizes in verse 30b that “…the father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Jesus is saying that the most important thing that man needs is the kingdom of God. Luke 12:29-31.

The Kingdom of God is a spiritual realm. It is the fulfillment of God’s will on earth. God’s will on earth has been fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus. God now lives in the new creature. As a new creature, you are now a child of God. John 1:12; Galatians 3:26; 4:7; Romans 8:14.

The purpose of the epistles is to strengthen the believer. They were written to you, they are instructions to guide and tell you who you are in Christ Jesus, and the lifestyle to imbibe as a child of God. Therefore, Philippians 4:6 is an instruction. It is not a piece of motivational advice. As a child of God, you will never be in a situation you have a good reason to fear or worry.

God wants his children to act as though they are without worries. We are to remain a posture refusing to worry or fret. Worrying is a sin to the believer. It is the absence of faith. It indicates a lack of trust in God to come through for you in the situation. Worrying about a problem adds to the problem. Worrying frustrates the power of God from working in your situation.

To do away with anxiety, fear, and worry is to put your entire trust in God. This is obeying God’s word and is how you see God’s ability at work. God’s power doesn’t work where worry is enthroned. There will never be a condition where it is okay to worry. God is in you, with you, and for you. Always. Psalm 46:5; 100:3; 118:6; Deuteronomy 31:8; Romans 8:31; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 John 4:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:16.

The devil is always looking for an entry point into your soul, to attack your mind with fear and terror. He will send signals through your thoughts, to get you to fear and worry. However, the epistles instruct you to be sober. 1 Peter 1:13; 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:8.

To be sober means to think straight, it means to think right. To keep a constant mindset of the victory you have received in Christ Jesus. Let this be a constant practice. You should never lose sight of the victory you already have in Christ. You remain in the stance of sobriety by rejoicing. Philippians 3:1a; 4:4; Romans 5:2; Luke 6;23.

To rejoice in the Lord is an active phrase. It is the lifestyle of the believer. It is keeping your focus on the resurrection of Jesus and the eternal victory that you now have because of this.

As a believer, your joy isn’t circumstantial or situational. It is an activity that proceeds from the authority of God’s word – the epistles. Your joy proceeds from the finished work of Christ. Your victory is something you have to rehearse and bring to your attention daily. The only way to express your victory is to verbalize it. “Rejoice in the Lord” is an instruction and an expression of the Father’s ability to put over, no matter the situation you are in.

Ephesians 6 further instructs the believer to “be strong in the Lord” and to “stand” (verses 10,11,13,14). “The wiles of the devil” and “the fiery darts of the wicked (verses 11&16) are the thoughts the devil places in your mind as the attack on your mind daily. You stand against this by standing on the authority of God’s word. There is no option other than to stand.

The “armour of God” (verse 11&13) is in your mind. You must consciously and constantly put God’s word in your mind, to counter the negative thoughts yhe devil will throw your way daily. The “shield of righteousness” (verse16) is the truth of God’s word concerning your righteousness, which is by faith, and not of works. Ephesians 2:4-10.

The devil will always try to shift your attention from all God has done in the past and is still doing in present situations, but you are to pass up all opportunities to be anxious.

Cast all your cares on God (1 Peter 5:7) and keep standing on the authority of God’s word.

CONFESSIONS
I do away with anxiety
I do away with worry
I do away with fear
I put my entire trust in the word of God
I trust in the Father’s love for me
I will not be moved
There will never be a situation where I am without help
The Lord is my helper
I can never be stranded.
I choose to rejoice always – in every situation.
I rejoice in the Father’s ability to put me over, no matter the situation I am in.
This is my season
I am in the year of God’s omnipotence
I experience God’s omnipotence is at work in my life from now and every day, every week, and every month in the year 2022 in Jesus’ name