Seeds of the Kingdom Daily Devotional 16 May 2022
TOPIC: Do Not Be Anxious
SCRIPTURE: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
In today’s world there are a lot of things that can cause anxiety. It could be finances, relationships, illness, medical appointments, sudden changes, feeling out of one’s depth, heights, or spiders. These are just some examples.
I had a conversation with a friend, and we talked about some of the ways people try to cope with anxiety. Some can turn for comfort to alcohol, eating, or drugs. Some react by having outbursts of emotions such as anger, causing them to snap at others. But others bottle up their anxiety, which in time can cause an explosion. Stuffing things down is not a healthy way to deal with our emotions.
I would like to share three scriptures with God’s promises that we can hold on to and declare over our lives when we feel anxious.
‘Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you’ (1 Peter 5:7).
‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:6-7).
’Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need’ (Matthew 6:33).
Jesus spoke these words about seeking God’s kingdom so that we can take our focus off our anxieties and put our trust in Him who loves us.
There are many scriptures that talk about giving our anxiety to the Lord, and I encourage you to search them out. As we draw near to our heavenly Father and let Him into those areas that cause us anxiety, we will see a change in how we respond to life situations. We will discover a new calmness and peace, and we will know without a doubt that we are not alone. Jesus is right there with us.
If we are struggling with anxiety, we can go to God with it, pray about the situation that is causing us the anxiety, and ask Him to give us peace. I know it’s not always easy. But, as I’ve grown in the Lord, and got to know Him more, I am a lot quicker in going to Him and I am able to trust Him to help me in all situations. So, I know at times it can be hard, but let me encourage you to go to your loving Father. Let Him help you. You might like to pray this prayer if it is relevant to you.
PRAYER: Father God, I know at times, when I have been anxious, that I have turned to other ways of comfort. Please forgive me for those times. Lord, I ask You to help me when I get anxious and give me the strength to face up to and deal with the things that cause me anxiety. Thank You for Your peace, and protection over my mind and heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
