Anxious Planning
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
(Phil 4:6-7 NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God. {7} And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Psa 37:1-8 NIV) Of David. Do not fret because of evil men or be
envious of those who do wrong; {2} for like the grass they will soon
wither, like green plants they will soon die away. ..... {7} Be
still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when
men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
{8} Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads
only to evil.
(Mat 6:31-34 NIV) So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or
'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' {32} For the pagans
run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you
need them. {33} But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and
all these things will be given to you as well. {34} Therefore do not
worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day
has enough trouble of its own.
Fretting and worrying has three effects on my life : Firstly it fills
my prayer life with "rubbish" and clutter. Instead of praying about
things that really NEED prayer I get preoccupied over my little
anxieties. Secondly it sets my personal agenda - I "react" to life
from anxiety rather than out of faith. For instance say the money is
short, I worry, I figure out some crazy plan for making a "little
extra" and if I implement it it then takes up time I should be
spending in ministry. Thus my days agenda has been set by my reacting
to my worries instead of by listening to and depending upon God.
Jesus did what He saw the Father doing - not what He felt was needed
because of some worry or concern. Worry can thus lead us into as many
directions as we have worries! It can fragment our lives and burn us
out. Thirdly anxiety alienates me from God because He just cannot
get through the static and it can even lead me to sin. As David says
"do not fret--it leads only to evil.".
Anxiety must not be allowed to take over our lives and dictate our
plans and responses. Even our good responses. Are you worried about
pornography? Then pause - yes its right to be concerned but are you
acting out of faith and God's calling or out of fear and anxiety.
God may have another task for you - much better than combating
pornography and His call may not be getting through because you are
worried about so many "good things". Be anxious for NOTHING. That
means to do not be anxious about politics or finance or the
Anti-Christ or the New World Order or crime or money or finding a
partner or the promotion at work. It also means that we are not to
be anxious about our Christian growth. Anxiety is a response that
the Christian is simply not allowed to have.
How then should we respond to trials, difficulties and struggles? How
should we respond to pornography, the Anti-Christ and finding a
partner? The verses above give us many good tips. Firstly take it to
prayer - with thanksgiving (Phil 4:6,7). Secondly be still before God
and wait patiently before Him. As Oswald Chambers says "stop
thrashing around" (Ps 37:7,8). Thirdly seek first God's Kingdom and
His righteousness - get a life focus that is outside of yourself and
which is grounded in eternity (Matt 6:33). Fourthly know that God
sees and knows your needs and will provide (Matt 6:19-34, Ps 37:1-8).
Fifthly live in "day-tight compartments" for each day has enough
trouble of its own. Leave tomorrow until when you get up. I am not
saying don't plan but don't import tomorrow's worries into today.
Most won't happen and all you end up doing is overloading the present
day and paralysing your effectiveness each day. (Matt 6:34)
These tips may sound a bit hyper-spiritual but I can assure you that
they do work! People who take their worries to God in earnest
believing thankful prayer soon find a deep peace from Him. I can
attest to the usefulness of "being still" as I am a great one for
thrashing about anxiously in prayer. I just have to determine to "cut
it out" and just wait for God. I feel a lot better when I do that!
And so on for the others. So..give no ground to anxiety - do all
from faith and let the peace of God take over your heart and live in
abundant joy!
Prayer:
Lord lead me out of the anxiety filled life. Lead me out of living
each day in fear of tomorrow. Teach me Your faithfulness, love and
provision. Fill my heart with faith and enable me to put these
biblical coping skills into practice so that I may know Your joy
each day. Amen.
---------------------------------------------------------------
John Edmiston ([email protected])
Editor - Eternity Online Magazine http://www.eternity-magazine.org/
Cults, exegesis, bible teaching, Christian life and leadership.
For the thinking Christian!