The Antidote For Anxiety

"The Antidote for Anxiety"

Psalms 37:1-8

Psalms 37:1 A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

Introduction: A few weeks ago I heard a message on the subject of worry and anxiety that seemed to be tailor made just for me. It got all over my "toes" so to speak. Have you ever had one like that? Unfortunately this is not the first time the Lord has spoken to my heart about this subject. He has done it through sermons (just mentioned) the counsel of friends and a variety of other ways. The fact that I have had so many reminders means either I am a slow learner or very stubborn. I'll let you be the judge of those two options! Interestingly enough the Bible has a great deal to this subject and even the Lord Jesus addressed it on several occasions in His preaching and teaching. It needs to be said that all worry and anxiety is rooted in fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of the future, fear of rejection and the list goes on. In our text this morning David is admonished three times not to "fret,"

First:

I. We Are to Refrain from Fretting

The word fret is translated "worry" and the Bible has a lot to say about this subject, especially our Lord and we find this passage in the first Gospel:

Mat 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold 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?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, 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?

31 Therefore 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.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take 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.

Let me give you three good reasons not to worry or fret:

a. Fretting corrupts your spirit

It robs us of sleep, rest, contentment, peace etc...it causes us to waste worrying when we could use that time for something constructive! God has not given us the "spirit of fear"...but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2Ti 1:7

ILL - Some people buy things on the "lay awake plan." They lay awake each evening trying to figure out how they will pay for it!

ILL - I heard about a young lawyer who was called in from the big city to represent a large railroad company that was being sued by a farmer. It seems that the farmer's prize cow was missing from a field through which the railroad passed, and the farmer was suing for the value of the cow. Before the case was to be tried, the lawyer cornered the farmer and convinced him to settle out of court for half of what he originally wanted. The farmer signed the necessary papers and then accepted the check. The young lawyer could not resist gloating a bit about his success. He said to the farmer, "You know, I couldn't have won this case if it had gone to trial. The engineer was asleep and the fireman was in the caboose when the train passed through your farm that morning. I didn't have a single witness to put on the stand!" With a wry smile, the old farmer replied, "Well, I tell you young feller, I was a little worried about winning that case myself because that cow came home this morning."

b. Fretting is contagious to the saints

Have you ever been around someone who could "rain on your parade "in just a minute? I mean that you can be perfectly fine and with just a word they can have you all upset and fretful. I have and believe me it is no fun! They walk around with a black cloud hovering over them and gloom and doom in their words!