Attacking Anxiety Part 2

Attacking Anxiety-Part 2 (Philippians 4:8-9)

We thought about anxiety yesterday. We considered how we attack it to keep it from doing damage to our lives. The attack is a simple one: we take everything to God. Anything that might cause anxiety goes directly to God. He promises us His very own peace that will stand sentinel over our hearts and minds. God gives us the information we need to proactively attack and defeat anxiety.

The Apostle Paul doesn't stop with vs. seven, however. He gives us another weapon in our arsenal against anxiety. Weapon number one is prayer. Weapon number two is our mind. The Apostle says this: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praise worthy-meditate on these things. The things which you have learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."

When anxiety shows up, we pray! We tell God what we are feeling and (if we know) why we're feeling the way we do. We give the issue to God with the assurance that His very own peace will guard our hearts and minds. Then, while God's peace stands sentinel, we choose to think in new ways.

Our enemy, the devil, wants us anxious. He wants us to focus on the problem that produces the anxiety. He wants problems to dominate our thinking. As long as we think only of the problem and the anxiety, we can't see God at work in our lives. We will forget that His peace is guarding us. The Apostle gives us instruction and responsibility.

We're to think on those things that are true, virtuous and worthy of praise. We choose to think in ways that are consistent with God's work in our lives. We choose NOT to think about those things that have no value, no virtue, and no truth to them. The Scriptures do not tell us to think like that if we feel good and everything is going well. He tells us to think that way when anxiety is lurking at our door.

The Apostle Paul also tells us to hear all that he has taught by word and example and do the same things. In another of his writings, he says it like this. "Follow me as I follow Christ." Notice what happens when we pay attention and do what he teaches. "And the God of peace will be with you."

How can anxiety have its way in our lives when we have the PEACE OF GOD standing guard over our hearts and minds and the GOD OF PEACE present with us as we obey His word? It can't! In just a few short verses, God gives us the arsenal we need to attack anxiety when it lurks around our hearts and minds. Take the offensive. Learn these verses and learn them well. The next time anxiety shows up, attack with the Word of God in the power of God! -- John Strain is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist of Toms River

God's WORD for YOU: Psalm 97-99; Proverbs 17; Romans 16

Great Quote: Deny your weakness, and you will never realize God's strength in you. -- Joni Eareckson Tada

Be sure and watch tonight's service at America's KESWICK via the web. Pastor Robert Alderman will be sharing God's Word. There will be five graduations from the Colony of Mercy! To watch, go to: www.americaskeswick.org.