In Touch Ministries
http://www.intouch.org/resources/sermon-outlines/content/topic/anger_and_forgiveness
Victory Over Anxiety
SUMMARY:
Emotions greatly influence how we live
our lives.
They are a gift from God, provided so we can
enjoy life and relate to others. How we express
them determines whether they are beneficial
or detrimental. Either we control them, or they
control us. Our emotions are good if they are
kept in proportion, but when we allow them to
control us, we are more likely to harm others
and ourselves.
Anxiety is the most prominent emotion that
people are experiencing today. It’s important
to realize that feeling anxious is not a sin, but
the Lord doesn’t want us to live in a continual
state of dread because of life’s uncertainties. All
people encounter situations that cause them
to be nervous; sometimes it’s unavoidable. For
example, if you heard that your child had been
in a car accident, your heart would immediately
be filled with worry. That’s a completely natural
feeling. However, it’s important to understand
what we should do with anxiety and how long
we let it control us.
Scriptural Principles:
What is anxiety?
In the New Testament, the word anxiety means
“to be distracted or pulled apart.” This is the
opposite of peace, which means, “to be bound
together.” It can also be defined as “dread,
apprehension, and uncertainty” and can be
caused by past events, present situations, or
future possibilities. Sometimes, anxiety is a fear
of not being in control. Situations over which
we have no control make us feel vulnerable
and cause us to worry.
What are the sources of anxiety?
First of all, we must understand that God is not
the creator of anxiety and that worry doesn’t fit
our identity as followers of Christ. Instead,
He commands us to trust the heavenly Father
(Matt. 6:25-26). However, when we worry,
it’s important to know there are:
n Legitimate causes. Some things are just
naturally going to create anxiety. For example,
if you didn’t study for an exam, you have good
reason to feel nervous.
n Inappropriate reasons. At other times, our
worries are caused when we feel we might not
get what we want. It could be some possession
we’ve dreamed of having or a relationship we
want to keep, even if we know it’s not right.
n Unacknowledged issues. When we don’t
deal with the cause of our anxiety, it takes up
long-term residence within us, causing all sorts
of emotional and physical problems. Some
people actually give up and live in misery. Once
an issue is settled, they’ll find something else
to fear and dread, but this is not the way God
wants His children to live.
Why should we avoid anxiety?
n It isn’t scriptural. In a single passage of
Scripture, Jesus said, “Do not be anxious” three
times (Matt. 6:25-34). He explained that it is
unnecessary because the Father will provide
what we need. As His children, we can trust that
He will do what He’s promised. We simply can’t
accept a lifestyle of anxiety when Jesus is our
Prince of Peace.
n Anxiety has a negative effect on every
area of our lives because it:
–Divides our minds. Apprehension pulls us in
two different directions, making it hard to focus
on important matters.
– Decreases our productivity. Because we are
distracted with worry, we can’t give anything
else our best efforts.
–Affects our personal relationships with others.
It’s hard to keep anxieties to ourselves. When
we’re fi lled with fear, we burden people who
are around us.
– Leads to unwise decisions. Those who are
overly concerned about the future are prone to
make hasty decisions to stop feeling uncertain.
– Steals our joy and peace. It’s impossible for
us to be fretful and peaceful at the same time.
– Proves to be a terrible waste of time and
energy. Uncertainty, frustration, and worry are
exhausting and achieve nothing. Also, they
hinder us from accomplishing God’s goals for
our lives.
What is the correct way to deal with
anxiety?
With so much at stake, it’s foolish to give in to
anxiety or seek quick, temporary relief. If you
never get to the root of the problem, worries
will soon move beyond negative emotions and
cause many physical problems. The solution can
be found in Philippians 4:4-7. Instead of being
anxious, you should:
n Bring your worries to God. Whatever
is troubling you is a matter for prayer. The
fi rst step to freedom from anxiety is openly
acknowledging your fears and concerns to
the Lord.
n come to the Lord with an attitude of
thanksgiving. When you’re apprehensive,
you may not feel grateful, but when you think
about God’s loving involvement in every aspect
of your life, the reasons why you should always
praise Him become clear.
n come with a threefold conviction.
Remember three important things: First, the
Lord loves you unconditionally and wants the
best for you. Second, He has the desire and
power to help you. Third, He has promised to
relieve you of your worries, so you can expect
Him to do just that.
n Recognize that anxiety is a faith battle.
You must believe that God will replace your
anxieties with His unfathomable peace when
you bring them to Him. If you surrender your
concerns into His hands and trust Him to walk
with you through the fears and uncertainties,
you can have His amazing peace—even if all
hell breaks loose around you.
concLUSion:
As great as all these promises are, they will not
be yours if you give Christ your worries with
one hand and take them back with the other.
True freedom is only possible when we fi nally
admit that a burden is too heavy to carry. We
must completely surrender our apprehensive
thoughts to Him because we’ll never be free as
long as we hold onto them and focus on what
could happen.
Many times, I’ve seen people who have been
freed from anxiety. It was like a light had been
turned on—their smiles came back, and their
attitudes completely changed. The bondage that
darkened their lives for so long was broken,
and they were free to live in the joy and peace
of Christ. Remember, no one has to live in
anxiety; it’s a choice. Freedom and peace await
those who are willing to give their worries to
God and leave them in His hands.
---------------------------------------------------------------I have hope that this passage will be of help and good usefullness to at least one person visiting.....syd.
InTouch grants permission to print for personal use only. intouch.org
all rights reserved.
Sydnee
21st June 2012
My brother: BJ would alway's let a customer come back with a payment for the items they chose when they found that they were "running short" after they selected items and were out the checkout counter......I followed his lead.....no one ever shorted us by not returning to the store and paying what was owed..
Sydnee
21st June 2012
SUICIDAL? KNOW SOMEONE WHO MAY BE?
Samaritans (08457 90 90 90) operates a 24-hour service that is available every day of the year.
If you prefer to write down how you are feeling, or if you are worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.
Childline
Childline (0800 1111) runs a free helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number will not show up on your phone bill.
Other support groups
Other support groups
Other support groups for people who are feeling suicidal include:
•PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) - a voluntary organisation that supports teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal
•Depression Alliance - this charity for people with depression does not have a helpline, but offers a wide range of useful resources and links to other relevant information
•Students Against Depression - a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or suicidal thoughts
•Bullying UK - a website for both children and adults who have been affected by bullying
HELP PAGE UK
17th June 2012