Dear Anxious One
I'm writing you today not to fuss at you. Not to berate you. Not to tell you to "just chill out" and expect it all to get better.
Because I know your anxiety is real. Your stress is real. You have real concerns and real deadlines and real fears and real life, for crying out loud. The world makes you anxious, the unknown makes you anxious, and even your friends and family make you anxious.
I'm writing to tell you there is hope for your anxiety. I'm not discounting help from a doctor or a counselor or someone who can walk beside you professionally, but I am telling you that I know where you can start:
"Do not be anxious about anything," (Philippians 4:6). Paul's words aren't condemning or bossy; they are opening the door to the solution: "but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6).
Pray in every situation.
Be thankful in every situation.
There's nothing philosophical or monumental in those two things. But what if every time you felt that anxiety rise up in your throat you stopped and prayed? Something simple: "Oh Lord, I am anxious here. I know You are mighty, holy, and powerful. You are in control." And let that silent prayer morph into a confession of thanksgiving: be thankful for whatever it is that is making you anxious, knowing that it reminds you to trust Him. Thank Him for the strength to make it through to the other side even though you haven't gotten there yet. Thank Him for the people who love you, the brain He gave you, the health you have, and the fact that He has promised He has a plan for you to prosper you (Jeremiah 29:11).
Not only should you pray and thank in your times of anxiety but how about you start your day in prayer and thanksgiving? Before you open your eyes, devote your day to Him. As the alarm is blaring , thank Him that you can get out of bed, go to work, make a living, and face the world knowing that He has already overcome it (John 16:33).
But let me back up a little. Before the instruction to not be anxious, Paul wrote these words:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). Rejoicing is different from thanksgiving; rejoicing is feeling or showing GREAT JOY or DELIGHT. And let me tell you something: you can always rejoice in the Lord. Because He is good. And for many other reasons:
Because great is your reward in heaven (Matthew 5:12).
Because Jesus is a joy and a delight (Luke 1:14).
Because your name is written in heaven (Luke 10:20).
Because we will see Jesus (John 16:22).
Because we will spend eternity alive with Jesus (Acts 2:26).
We rejoice because of who Jesus is and the joy He gives us; no one can take that joy away from us (John 16:22). Rejoicing has nothing to do with your situations or your circumstances or your mindset; it has everything to do with your Savior.
Pray.
Thank.
Rejoice.
And there is one more verse tucked in: "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near" (Philippians 4:6). Everyone should be able to see that God is near you. It should be "evident." You treat people gently, graciously, patiently, and kindly. You are walking in the rejoicing and the prayer and the thankfulness. You have Jesus all over you; you spread everywhere the aroma of the knowledge of Him (2 Corinthians 2:14).
This happens only when you want it to happen. Only when you choose for it to happen. Only when you believe that He is near.
But let me tell you the secret: when you rejoice, live your faith, pray, and thank, He is near. And when He is near, your anxiety has no power over you any more.
myleslienotebook@gmail.com
@leslienotebook
Thanks for subscribing!!! If you haven't yet, please do at the top right. You'll need to answer the email they send you to confirm.
Because I know your anxiety is real. Your stress is real. You have real concerns and real deadlines and real fears and real life, for crying out loud. The world makes you anxious, the unknown makes you anxious, and even your friends and family make you anxious.
I'm writing to tell you there is hope for your anxiety. I'm not discounting help from a doctor or a counselor or someone who can walk beside you professionally, but I am telling you that I know where you can start:
"Do not be anxious about anything," (Philippians 4:6). Paul's words aren't condemning or bossy; they are opening the door to the solution: "but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6).
Pray in every situation.
Be thankful in every situation.
There's nothing philosophical or monumental in those two things. But what if every time you felt that anxiety rise up in your throat you stopped and prayed? Something simple: "Oh Lord, I am anxious here. I know You are mighty, holy, and powerful. You are in control." And let that silent prayer morph into a confession of thanksgiving: be thankful for whatever it is that is making you anxious, knowing that it reminds you to trust Him. Thank Him for the strength to make it through to the other side even though you haven't gotten there yet. Thank Him for the people who love you, the brain He gave you, the health you have, and the fact that He has promised He has a plan for you to prosper you (Jeremiah 29:11).
Not only should you pray and thank in your times of anxiety but how about you start your day in prayer and thanksgiving? Before you open your eyes, devote your day to Him. As the alarm is blaring , thank Him that you can get out of bed, go to work, make a living, and face the world knowing that He has already overcome it (John 16:33).
But let me back up a little. Before the instruction to not be anxious, Paul wrote these words:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). Rejoicing is different from thanksgiving; rejoicing is feeling or showing GREAT JOY or DELIGHT. And let me tell you something: you can always rejoice in the Lord. Because He is good. And for many other reasons:
Because great is your reward in heaven (Matthew 5:12).
Because Jesus is a joy and a delight (Luke 1:14).
Because your name is written in heaven (Luke 10:20).
Because we will see Jesus (John 16:22).
Because we will spend eternity alive with Jesus (Acts 2:26).
We rejoice because of who Jesus is and the joy He gives us; no one can take that joy away from us (John 16:22). Rejoicing has nothing to do with your situations or your circumstances or your mindset; it has everything to do with your Savior.
Pray.
Thank.
Rejoice.
And there is one more verse tucked in: "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near" (Philippians 4:6). Everyone should be able to see that God is near you. It should be "evident." You treat people gently, graciously, patiently, and kindly. You are walking in the rejoicing and the prayer and the thankfulness. You have Jesus all over you; you spread everywhere the aroma of the knowledge of Him (2 Corinthians 2:14).
This happens only when you want it to happen. Only when you choose for it to happen. Only when you believe that He is near.
But let me tell you the secret: when you rejoice, live your faith, pray, and thank, He is near. And when He is near, your anxiety has no power over you any more.
myleslienotebook@gmail.com
@leslienotebook
Thanks for subscribing!!! If you haven't yet, please do at the top right. You'll need to answer the email they send you to confirm.
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