Anxiety?

[Jake Arsenal]

James 1
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.


It doesn't matter whether thoughts be our own or introduced by evil spirits; what matters is our response.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

 

[SANTOSO]

James 1
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.


It doesn't matter whether thoughts be our own or introduced by evil spirits; what matters is our response.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

True our response matter but we can’t rely on our strength. We need to seek the Lord’s strength to crucify our old nature and to resist the power of the enemies.

 

[SANTOSO]

The demonic is to be renounced 2Co4:2 it is not of us, it is an illegal intrusion.

Repentance deals with the flesh nature, renunciation deals with the demonic intrusions. Both responses are needed, otherwise one can blame the demonic for the sins of the flesh.

Yes, I agree brother with you.
I am concerned that many haven’t known the need of deliverance in their lives.

Don’t we love to see our brothers and sisters set free from the bondage of the enemies?

 

[SANTOSO]

Don’t we long to be free from anxiety?
This is what we have heard:

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. -Galatians 5:13

We are even called to freedom ! That is good news, for those who are in captivity.

Don’t even those who tasted freedom called to serve one another through love of Christ?

How I serve one another through love of Christ!

This is what we have heard:
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: -1 Peter 4:10
whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies'in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. -1 Peter 4:11

So let us use our gifts that the Lord have given us to serve one another through the love of Christ.

Since we are given God’s gifts to serve one another, therefore we should not boast. But let us be overflow with thanksgiving that the Lord has set us free and that we rejoice with the Lord whom He has set free. Thus we bring glory purely to God.

Let us long with love of Christ to see our brothers and sisters set free from the power of the enemies.

 

[Taodeching]

I don’t know where or when I have heard before that say : it is human to be anxious?

If I may. Yes it is, there are good anxieties and bad anxieties. Some good anxiety is when your to close to the edge and might fall off, there is the good anxiety when you do something bad and you know you shouldn't and it gnaws at you. Then there is bad anxiety which modern man suffers from a lot like worrying you didn't pay enough (even though you did), maybe didn't work hard enough at a job (even though you did).

It is very human to be anxious. Sometimes it is bad and sometimes good

 

[SANTOSO]

If I may. Yes it is, there are good anxieties and bad anxieties. Some good anxiety is when your to close to the edge and might fall off, there is the good anxiety when you do something bad and you know you shouldn't and it gnaws at you. Then there is bad anxiety which modern man suffers from a lot like worrying you didn't pay enough (even though you did), maybe didn't work hard enough at a job (even though you did).

It is very human to be anxious. Sometimes it is bad and sometimes good

Dear one,
Are you close to the edge ? Are you falling off now ? Are you anxious now ?
Isn’t it that you are disheartened to go close to the edge ? Why you consider that as anxious? Why not consider that as disheartening?

Why consider it to be anxious? Do you like it to be a part of you ? If that is part of you ! Don’t you find it disconcerting?

Dear one,
Modern may find stressful circumstances, that are disheartening. That may make you discouraged as examples you have said.

Consider what the Lord have said:

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, ...-Matthew 6:25

I didn’t say that you are burdened by what you are going through.
This is also what we have heard :
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah -Psalms 68:19

What do the Lord daily bear us up ? Isn’t it not our burdens ? Yes, it is.

How good is our Lord that He is willing to bear us up daily !

If you know the Lord bear you up daily! Can you not to trust His words not to be anxious?
Doesn’t the Lord speak for our own good ?

 

[Taodeching]

Are you close to the edge ? Are you falling off now ? Are you anxious now ?
Isn’t it that you are disheartened to go close to the edge ? Why you consider that as anxious? Why not consider that as disheartening?

Because if you go to the edge of a real cliff you could fall off. I am talking physical here. I will leave I do believe your giving bad advice when saying we don't have to have any anxiety. Also please stop patronizing me I am not "dear one". Sorry I responded

 

[Bobber]

Dear brother,
I like to be honest to you. I partially agreed with you what you have said and partially not agreeable with you in some; that doesn’t mean I want to offend you. But I just want to give some light about the subject that we are talking about.

Hahaha....I think maybe some need to cast the care of anxiety over on the Lord that maybe they're offending someone. Just joking....always good not to want to offend.

I'd like to comment on just how to do it that is cast our worries on the Lord. At times a fear or worry tries to bring me down I quote to the Lord that scripture and I envision him in my room and he picks up a garbage bag with my problem. I envision him picking it up and carrying it and I no longer am. When the problem tries to work it's way into my mind later I say nope and envision the Lord carrying it. The stress just leaves my spirit and mind whenever I do this. Granted there may be things we've got to do in the natural about a problem but I keep imagining him carrying the upsetting aspect about it. Others might have other tips as well.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Hahaha....I think maybe some need to cast the care of anxiety over on the Lord that maybe they're offending someone. Just joking....always good not to want to offend.

I'd like to comment on just how to do it that is cast our worries on the Lord. At times a fear or worry tries to bring me down I quote to the Lord that scripture and I envision him in my room and he picks up a garbage bag with my problem. I envision him picking it up and carrying it and I no longer am. When the problem tries to work it's way into my mind later I say nope and envision the Lord carrying it. The stress just leaves my spirit and mind whenever I do this. Granted there may be things we've got to do in the natural about a problem but I keep imagining him carrying the upsetting aspect about it. Others might have other tips as well.

Looking at Is 53 we get a glimpse of what Jesus personally carried for us on the Cross.

3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. 4Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted. 5But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.…

So from time to time I kneel before the Cross (which is happening now in real time because it is a timeless event) and I release to Him what He has already taken - stress, anxiety, sorrow, you name it...

Sure saves on medications...

 

[SANTOSO]

Because if you go to the edge of a real cliff you could fall off. I am talking physical here. I will leave I do believe your giving bad advice when saying we don't have to have any anxiety. Also please stop patronizing me I am not "dear one". Sorry I responded

I don’t mean to offend you at all but if I do, forgive me.

I am just trying to say that when stressful circumstances and negative thoughts come, one can be disheartened or discouraged but not anxious.

 

[Taodeching]

I don’t mean to offend you at all but if I do, forgive me.

I am just trying to say that when stressful circumstances and negative thoughts come, one can be disheartened or discouraged but not anxious.

I was saying anxiety is not a bad or good thing it depends on the circumstances. I was relaying how it was a good thing if your walking and walk way to close to an edge of a cliff or a busy highway. If we are talking spiritual if one sins and they know it they darn well should be anxious, not to a ridiculous extreme of obsession but enough to repent right then and there. I lied before, got instant anxiety apologized to the person and to God and the anxiety was gone. In modern times we let things get out of control or let things go to far and hence we have many problems one of them being over anxious.

Anyway hopefully I explained myself better and be blessed!

 

[SANTOSO]

I was saying anxiety is not a bad or good thing it depends on the circumstances. I was relaying how it was a good thing if your walking and walk way to close to an edge of a cliff or a busy highway. If we are talking spiritual if one sins and they know it they darn well should be anxious, not to a ridiculous extreme of obsession but enough to repent right then and there. I lied before, got instant anxiety apologized to the person and to God and the anxiety was gone. In modern times we let things get out of control or let things go to far and hence we have many problems one of them being over anxious.

Anyway hopefully I explained myself better and be blessed!

Yes, I get your point. Just that I may have a different view. I don’t try to force you to accept my view but I mean well in what I have said.

 

[SANTOSO]

The Lord have said :
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? -Matthew 6:27

Doesn’t the Lord consider being anxious futile ? Why many find hard to accept that anxious is futile ? Why the Lord said what He has said — what He is trying to say to us !
Have we missed what the Lord have said to us ?

Anybody have thoughts on this ?

 

[SANTOSO]

Let discuss what we have heard in Matthew 6:25-34 :

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? -Matthew 6:25

About life
Indeed, the Lord have told us not to be anxious about our life.

Likewise, we also have heard the Heavenly Father has spoken:
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. -Proverbs 4:23

So we are not not told — not to be anxious with our life — so as to be careless.

but we are told — not to let anxiety affects our life !

For we need to keep the words of our Heavenly Father — the words that Christ have spoken with all vigilance.

Eat or drink or Body
Yes, the Lord have told us not to be anxious about what we eat or what we will drink or about our body

But that does not mean that we eat or drink — that we eat or drink carelessly— things that are not healthy.

And that doesn’t mean that we should careless about our body.

As we have heard: For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, -Ephesians 5:29

For the Lord is telling us not to let our hearts not to be anxious about what we eat or drink or about our body.

Yes, we should nourish our body with what we eat or drink and cherish the body as Christ does the church.

Clothing
It is obvious by now what I am trying to say that the Lord is asking us not to be anxious about what we will put on.

This is what we have heard: Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. -Matthew 3:4

What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. -Matthew 11:8
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. -Matthew 11:9

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. -Matthew 11:11

So what the Lord is trying to tell us is that He perceives not the outer garment but the spiritual garment when He told us about John the Baptist.

That is why apostle Peter have said :
Do not let your adorning be external'the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear' -1 Peter 3:3
but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. -1 Peter 3:4

Does what apostle Peter apply only to the female ? No. Both male and female.

 

[SANTOSO]

Now let us continue to discuss what we have heard in Matthew 6:25-34 :

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? -Matthew 6:26

Have we not heard what the Lord have said in the parable of the sower about the birds of the air :

"A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. -Luke 8:5

And the Lord explained :

The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. -Luke 8:12

So we can consider that the birds of the air are the devil with its cohorts.

The Lord may speak the birds of the air as physical birds that are flying in the air.

Likewise, we may perceive the birds of the air as the devil as the Lord explained, for many times the Lord have spoken in parables.

If we consider again what the Lord have spoken:
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? -Matthew 6:26

The Lord just told us to look at !
When the Lord spoke of Heavenly Father ! The Lord considers Heavenly Father is OUR Heavenly Father not the birds of the air !
And the Lord considered that we are of more VALUE than the birds of the air !!

Why the Lord considers us more VALUE ?
Since we have Heavenly Father, it is obvious that we are more value because we are His children, the children of God.

But why the Lord choose us to look at the birds of the air in this parable “NOT TO BE ANXIOUS” ?

Could it be the birds of the air who makes many ANXIOUS ? May be that is why we need to look at so that we can be watchful of the devices of the enemies.

 

[SANTOSO]

Let us continue to discuss what is written in Matthew 6:25-34

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? -Matthew 6:27

It is obvious that we have no power to add a single hour to our span of life but only the Lord can.

 

[SANTOSO]

Let us discuss again what is written in Matthew 6:25-34

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, -Matthew 6:28

yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. -Matthew 6:29

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? -Matthew 6:30

Haven’t we heard when the Lord explained the parables of the weeds :
The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, -Matthew 13:38

Both the lilies of the field and the grass of the field are of the world.

Likewise, we heard :
"I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. -John 17:6

So why the Lord told us to consider the lilies of the world and how they grow ? Isn’t that God clothes the lilies of the world and that they will be arrayed in glory better than Solomon ? Yes.

Didn’t the Lord tell us to consider the lilies of the field and how they grow ? The lilies of the field grow in The Valley, among thorns, close to desert area. Yet they grow !

So if God considers those who are like grass of the field to have little faith, then those who are considered lilies of the field to have big faith ?

We have heard the Lord have said : why are you anxious about clothing?

So we can ascertain that those who are like grass of the field are the one who are anxious.

On the other hand, those who consider and grow like the lilies of the field are whom the Lord consider to have heeded what He has said not to be anxious.

 

[SANTOSO]

Let us consider again what is written in Matthew 6:25-34

For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. -Matthew 6:32

Why the Lord considers talking about Gentiles now? Aren’t the Gentiles considered not to have a circumcised heart ? Aren’t the Gentiles considered not to know the commonwealth of Israel ? Aren’t Gentiles considered not to know the covenants embodying the promises of God ? Aren’t Gentiles considered to have no hope and no God ?

So the Lord considers us to have a circumcised heart, understand the common wealth of being together with His people, the Jews and to have the covenant embodying the promises of God. Yes, with having hope and God, we need not be anxious.

Why the Lord told us about our Heavenly Father who knows that we need them all.

Isn’t the Lord trying to tell us the grace of our Heavenly Father ? Yes

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. -Matthew 6:33

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. -Matthew 6:34

Why the Lord consider us to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness ?

This is what we have heard:
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. -Romans 14:17

Though sufficient the day is its own trouble; when we have found what the Lord called us to seek : peace and joy in the Holy Spirit !
When we are in peace ! Will we still be anxious? No, we won’t.

When we are joyful in the Holy Spirit! Will we still be anxious? no, we won’t.

So Isn’t the Lord right about what He has said ? Yes, He is, that is, His righteousness, the righteousness that come from God; for the Lord speak what our Heavenly Father have told Him.

Since the Lord Himself have said :
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. -John 6:63

Likewise, we have heard:
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, -Acts 1:1
until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. -Acts 1:2

So dear one,
let us abide in His words, and His truth will set us free.

 

[SANTOSO]

Do you find interesting that what the Lord have said :

Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! -Luke 12:24

is this different from what we have heard:

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? -Matthew 6:26

Do our Lord want to convey different meaning for us to understand and perceive in Luke 12:24 about the birds — the ravens ?

This is what we have heard about ravens:
He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry. -Psalms 147:9

Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food? -Job 38:41

Considering the young ravens that cry - we perceive that the parents of the ravens didn’t provide its young ones with food.

It is interesting what has said about these young ravens that they cry to God for help !!!

These young ravens was said to wander for lack of food — we can consider these young ones wander from the nest — they wander because they lack of food!

If God gives the beasts their food, as written in Psalm 147: 9, surely what God gives these young ravens their food.

What is interesting is that the Lord told us about these young ravens that they have the abilities neither sow nor reap !
Likewise, these young ravens don’t have
neither storehouse nor barn !

Despite these ravens are young ! they don’t have abilities! What they don’t have ! Yet, God feeds them ! This shows tremendous grace on God’s part ; Grace to provide !

And God place us more value than the birds or these young ravens !
If God places more value on us ! Doesn’t that means that He gives more grace or that He provides more for us than the young ravens ?

Yet the Lord told us not to be anxious !
But have we cried to God for help ? For our lack of food or anything that is important !

Yes, these young ravens may be young and don’t know how to survive without parental support/ governmental support/ others support !
Yes, these young ravens maybe ; don’t have abilities that those other privileged birds or other creatures may have !
Yes, these young ravens may not have what other birds or creatures may have !
Yet God feeds them !

Considering the value that God place on us ! And that the Lord told us not to be anxious!

The Lord have told us to discern God’s loving kindness that provide these young ravens despite their odds.

I consider what the Lord told us to consider these young ravens that we should cry to God for help ! For our lack of food or anything that is important! And believe in God’s grace, as He has shown to these young ravens.

So let us consider these young ravens and how God places value on us — and love His goodness !

For when we are young ! He provides !
For when we lack of abilities ! He provides !
For when we don’t have ! He provides !

Let us thank God that He places more value on us than the birds.
Let us thank God that His grace provides !

 

[SANTOSO]

Seek the kingdom of God ?! This has bewildered me for many years. So I seek and believe that I will find ; that I may understand, perceive, turn and the Lord heals.

The Lord have spoken:
For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. -Luke 12:30

Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. -Luke 12:31

"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. -Luke 12:32

Why the Lord calls His little flocks ? Doesn’t that mean that the Lord will shepherd us ? Yes, He will.

Don’t we as sheep of the Lord hear His voice ? Don’t be anxious. Fear not ! Since we heard His voice ! We as His sheep believe that He will shepherd us not to be anxious and not to fear !

Won’t we wonder how the Lord will shepherd us ?
If we are not to be anxious ! Doesn’t the Lord shepherd by assuring us with His words?
If we are not to fear ! Doesn’t the Lord shepherd us with His love?

Yes, the Lord will shepherd us with His words of love.

Where will the Lord shepherd us to ? Isn’t He shepherding us to the kingdom of His Father ? Yes, for it is our Heavenly Father's good pleasure to give us, His children the kingdom.

Since it is our Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom; it can be said that our Heavenly Father will cause us to inherit.

And this is what we have heard:
Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, INHERIT the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. -Matthew 25:34

Can we said that those who inherit the kingdom to have seek and found the kingdom ?

So can we say that those seek the kingdom to have done this :

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, -Matthew 25:35
I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' -Matthew 25:36
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? -Matthew 25:37
And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? -Matthew 25:38
And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' -Matthew 25:39
And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' -Matthew 25:40

Doesn’t that mean when we did to one of the least of these whom the Lord calls brothers, that we have seek the kingdom ?

Doesn’t that mean when we did what the Lord have said, that we have seek the kingdom ?

when we saw the hungry, thirsty, stranger, the naked, the sick or those in prison ? Don’t we show love and compassion to another ? Doesn’t the Lord shepherd us with love, that we may show love and compassion to others ?

So can we say those seek the kingdom are those who love one of the least of these whom the Lord calls brothers, as they have loved the Lord ?

I believe so.

Please share what you understand and perceive how you have seek the kingdom that the Lord told us to. May the Lord enlighten us so that we may understand and do the things that He has told us to do.