Tools to Deal With Anxiety

Reading:  Matthew 6
My Verse:  "Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow,
                         for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
                         Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34).

Anxiety:  distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear
                of danger or misfortune  -online dictionary

Anxiety is a given.  We all suffer from it at some point in our lives, in varying degrees - for some it is a constant nag, for others it is debilitating and yet others seem to struggle through it somehow.  You, Jesus explain to  us how to manage/respond to anxiety.  You give us the tools we need here to not only live with anxiety, but manage it.

#1:  "Giving to the Needy" (verses 1-4)  You tell us we are to give of ourselves
                                                                 to others secretly.  I like this!  It is like
                                                                 we are to be little elves, secretly
                                                                 helping others whenever we can!

#2:  "The Lord's Prayer" (verses5-15)   You tell us we are to pray.  You even
                                                                teach us how we are to pray.  Basically,
                                                                this tells me that I am unable
                                                                to navigate this life on my own.
                                                                I need You to help me.

#3.  "Fasting"  (vers 16-18)   You tell us here we  are to either completely stop
                                                eating or eat very little for a period of time.
                                                John Piper teaches that fasting is a way of
                                                increasing our longing for You, Jesus.  He
                                                teaches that it also is a way of forcing us to
                                                expose the defects in our lives that may
                                                be hampering us.

#4:  "Lay up treasures in heaven"  You tell us not to seek after personal gain.
                                                        That should should not be our life focus.
                                                        You tell us we cannot
                                                        "serve God and money."

#5:  "Do not be anxious" (verses 25-34)  You tell us we are to "seek first the 
                                                                  kingdom of God and his 
                                                                  righteousness, 
                                                                  and all these things will be
                                                                  added to you".  "All these things"
                                                                 being everything we need to live
                                                                 rich and full lives.

You love us more than we know and You know all that we need as you do
 "the birds of the air" and "the flowers of the field."

Thank you for this, LORD God.  Help me today to keep my focus on You for only You
can set my mind at ease and right what is wrong in it.

Only You can help me to manage my anxiety.

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Ditat Deus - God Enriches!