March 13, 2019

Inviting Jesus Into Our Anxieties

22 minutes

Episode 11 is all about a deeper understanding of inviting Jesus into our anxiety. God showed me I need ask Him to join me in my situation instead of demanding He change it. He took me to 3 parts of the Bible that I believe give so much power and freedom for what He wants for us in this hard place of anxiety. Mark 4:37-40, Philippians 4:6-7, and 1 Samuel 17:20.

Mark 4:37-40 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

We've all been in the midst of a raging storm in our life, and we've all probably felt like God wasn't seeing us. (BUT HE WAS!)

I love that the disciples in this verse didn't ask God to stop the storm, they woke Him to invite Him into their panic.

I also LOVE that Jesus was sleeping until they called up Him. This is what He wants from us, He wants to ask Him to come into the anxiety with us.

Instead of thinking Jesus is choosing to ignore us, we must call on Him to get in the boat with us!

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

This verse gives us the permission to go to God about anything.

I love that this verse in the ESV says "requests" - request doesn't always mean things will workout the way we want.

Then it follows with - the peace of God will (which is a promise word) guard your heart and mind. God gives us the promise that even if our request doesn't come to pass the way we ask, He is still giving us His peace.

-God's peace changes us. It changes our reactions, it changes our feelings, it changes everything.

1 Samuel 17:20 And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry.

STORY OF DAVID AND GOLIATH - ANXIETY = GOLIATH. He's BIG, LOUD, & INTIMIDATING.

"David rose early in the morning." This is a crucial part of the scripture - David was EAGER to obey God.

Note in my bible : Eager to obey = Opportunity to conquer

When we submit to God and invite Him into the anxiety in our life we are setting ourselves us to conquer anxiety with Christ!

When we are eager to pursue God, big things change. Chains are broken. With Christ at the center we can defeat the Goliaths in our lives.

Living With Less Giveaway-

I'm giving away one copy of a life changing book, donated by Angela Brittain this book walked me through a very hard season and got me into really pursuing my issues with anxiety and panic attacks from a Christian perspective. In "Don't Forget To Look Up", Angela gives real ways to pursue freedom with Christ at the center. She knows it because she walked it out, and from my experience it's sometimes hard to take advice from someone who doesn't get it, but she does! To enter into this giveaway you need to be sure you're following the @livingwithlesspodcast on Instagram, like the photo, and comment your favorite part of todays episode. Please enter in if this is something you are struggling with or are giving to a loved one, as this is to be a tool and resource for you/someone to overcome this issue!

Resources:

Book: Don't Forget To Look Up, A Christians Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Panic Attacks.

Author: Angela Brittain

Website: www.overcomepanic.com

Twitter: @BrittainAK

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By Chelsey DeMatteis

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