In the multitude of my thoughts within me, Thy comforts delight my soul. Psalm 94:19 (KJV).

REFLECT:
Anxiety or being anxious is a common feeling or occurrence very familiar to man. Every one of us at some point or time go through the motion of experiencing anxiety. So, what is anxiety and why do we have to experience it?

If we go back to the fall of man in the garden of Eden as stated in the Bible, and reflect on the situations surrounding the fall and the consequences that followed, we would see that man did not have any chance or control over the overwhelming effects or power of anxiety over him. This event gave birth in man fear and worry that plagued our thoughts and minds with the uncertainty of the future and its relation to life and living: this is what we refer to as anxiety and the fall of man is the reason why we experience anxiety.

However, there is hope. As Bible scholars, we know that God did not leave us hopeless. In His Mercies and loving-kindness, He provided us with a solution. The solution is in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God who came into this world and paid the ultimate price for sin on the cross. This singular act is God’s consolation to us, we who have come to believe in Jesus and accepted God’s gift of salvation.

Therefore, our antidote against anxiety is believing in Jesus, we also believe in and dwell in the comfort of His word, receiving all of the promises for us in the Bible. Furthermore, following the example of the Psalmist in our Bible verse for today, we must constantly make it a point to fill our thoughts with the word of God’s truth, the goodness of God, and on the purity and holiness that comes from God’s nature. All this demonstrates God’s faithfulness and truth to all of His promises.

Also, Philippians 4:8 puts a strong emphasis on practicing meditating on the word of God as well ” Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (KJV).

Finally, when we get into the habit of putting into practice not only meditating on the word of God but also allowing the word to guide and direct our thought patterns in righteousness, doing all this helps us delete every aspect of anxiety that would try to plague our thoughts and minds.

So, today let us be encouraged to use the word of God as a weapon that will help us control our thoughts and thinking, and give us the grace to fight the good fight of faith.

Surrendering our lives to JESUS, believing in the truth of HIS word, and allowing GOD our FATHER to be in control of the future is the greatest weapon we have to delete the residues of anxiety, and when anxiety is defeated we will in its place experience open doors to a whole new world of freedom.

Ebimobo W. Obasi

PLEASE PRAY ALONG:

Prayer to Stand against Anxiety

Dear JESUS —Prince of Peace—thank You for being more powerful than all my worries, for being my shield, and the one I can trust with all my anxious thoughts. As I wake up each morning, I ask that You will fill me with Your abundant peace and give me the courage to face any obstacle. Please give me the Grace to fill my thoughts with your words of life and truth so that I may be able to stand strong against any form of anxiety. I give You control over my life. In Your Mighty Name, I pray this AMEN.