THE CURE FOR ANXIETY
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Ours has been called "The Age of Anxiety"
1. People's faces: taut, constricted, intense
2. Attitudes: disquieted, apprehensive, vexed
3. Relationships: distrust, alienation
4. Physical signs: ulcers, nervous breakdowns, heart diseases
What are people worried about: daily provision - employment future - life and death – health - personal relationships - pleasing people - finances, interest rates, stock-markets
The advice of the world concerning "worry" - think positive! - don't believe the situation is real; it's an illusion - it may never happen - get control of yourself; you're in charge - be happy; laugh your troubles away - bite the bullet; you'll feel no pain
- it might get better, but it'll probably get worse - get busy doing active things; it'll take your mind off - have another drink, hit, pill - go see your therapist - it's all going to be over soon
A definition of "worry"
English word "worry" from Old English wyrgan and Old High German wurgen, both meaning "to strangle, to choke" Greek word merimnao used in most NT references derived from merizo = "to divide;" and nous = "mind." Thus means "divided mind"
Difficult to distinguish sometimes between modern usage of English words "concern, worry, anxiety" - "concern" means to "have an interest in, give attention to, be engaged by a situation, as a matter of consideration or responsibility"- "worry" is a disquieted uneasiness of mind, an anxious apprehension concerning an impending or anticipated situation; fretting about a foreboding misfortune or failure - "anxiety" has become a psychological designation of abnormal, overwhelming apprehension; anguished uncertainty and self-doubt about one's ability to cope with the situation, to the point of becoming distressed, distraught, panicky or tormented.
Faith or fear it's your decision, God did not design man to live in FEAR! We were designed to live in a state of FAITH! Faith is Knowledge, wisdom and understanding of the Word (Jesus Christ). Worry is a small trickle of fear that meanders through the mind until it cuts a channel through which all thoughts are drained. Worry is putting question marks where God has put full-stops. Worry is the interest we pay on tomorrow’s troubles.
Ulcers & Tumors and Abscesses
Stress and worry break us down. They are the unseen source of our headaches, backaches, heartaches and bellyaches. They produce everything from obesity to obscenity, from constipation to diarrhea and from impatience to impotence. They give us knotted stomachs, sleepless nights, high blood pressure, low morale. They make our tempers short and our days long. They cause indigestion, irritation, chest- pain and muscle strain.
A working definition from a Christian perspective:
"Concern" becomes "worry" when we fail to relate the situation that confronts us to the source of sufficiency in God. To worry is to assume a responsibility that is not necessarily ours to assume; failing to recognize that God is bigger than any problem we might have, and loves us enough to seek our highest good in the midst of every situation. Worry is a form of humanistic self-orientation that thinks, "It's up to me to take care of this situation," and is thus a form of practical atheism, acting as if there is no God to deal with the situation, or that God doesn't know or care about the situation.
How to overcome worry
Realize our Kingdom - PLANTED.....THAT IS TRANSPLANTED
A. We were planted wrong the first time. (in sin and in the desert of Satan)
B. God transplanted us: "translated us into the kingdom....." Col. 1:12-13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
1. By rivers of water (the word)
2. By putting a river in us (the Holy Ghost, John 4:14 and John 8:37,38)
C. Who Planted You? Matthew 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Depend on the King - PRODUCTIVE
Psalm 104:16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
a. Leaves shall not wither (Ps. 1:3) leaves shall be green (Jer. 17:8) On my worst day, there will be enough leaves to let those around me know I am a Christian
b. Leaves will always be in bloom, though the fruit may be seasonal:
A. Fruit is Certain (if you are saved you will have fruit, faith without works is dead)
B. Fruit is Seasonal (his fruit in his season)
C. Fruit has a Secret (the secret is being planted by the rivers of water… Who?, he that meditates day and night in the Law of the Lord, “he that keeps his roots in the river”)
Realize who we are - PLEASANT
Trees are a thing of beauty, stability: (contrast a barren landscape with one which has beautiful trees) The Christian who has his roots in the river, meditating on the word without, filled with the spirit within… …will be pleasant to be around (the Book will make you a beautiful, stable person spiritually)
Drink from the river - PROSPEROUS (Jer. 17:8)
A. His leaf shall ever be green
B. He will not see (notice) when the heat is on!
C. He will not be careful (anxious, worried) when drought cometh WHY?
Faith is important because it is how we receive from God. Equally fear is important because it is how we receive from the Devil.
Thinking + Believing + Confessing = Life!
