Anxiety Free

This morning as I was getting ready for the day and I decided to listen to some preaching on the internet (the multi-tasker that I am). I went to the website I usually listen to and the first choice I saw was "Anxiety Free Living" by John McArthur.

I almost didn't listen due to the author. Every time I have tried to read anything by him I have felt out of my league. I made myself read God in a Manger. It was torture. He talks above my head but today I decided to go ahead and listen. I am glad I did.

I thought I would share some of his points. I am sure no one else deals with anxiety. haha You know the kind that wakes you up in the middle of the night and won't let you mind quiet working. This was one of the main reason that I decided not to work at the church I couldn't get my mind to stop thinking about it when I would get home in the evenings. Anyway here is three of his points.

1. Failure to understand divine priority. You live and exist for the purpose of God.
God has you here for a reason.

2. Failure to understand divine provision. If you have not served his purpose for being here yet he will provide for you until your time on earth is done. If he provides for the birds of the air are you not much more important than them.

3. Failure to understand divine privilege. We do not have the privilege to add to our life’s days. God will decide when our time on earth is done.

Here are some verses on anxiety and God's provision.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
To me this sounds like a command not a suggestion.

Psalm 94:19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
Do I allow Jesus to bring joy to my soul.

Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
I want to be considered righteous.

Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
I want to put all my trust in the Lord

Matthew 6:26-34
26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

My prayer for my own life is to realize that I am here for a purpose. God will take care of me and he loves me. I don't have to do life on my own. Worry is not only a lack of confidence in God but a waste of time and a sin. Lord please help me to leave everything in your hands consistently and not take things back up when I don't think they are being handled properly. Thanks for your unfailing provision for our lives.