How Do I Deal with Anxiety?

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."
 
In recovery meetings, we often say the serenity prayer. By saying these words and meaning them from the bottom of our heart, we seek the peace that comes with surrender. We seek freedom from our anxieties.

For many of us, anxiety  overwhelming. We worry about finances, careers, relationships, family, social status and so much more. Sometimes it keeps us awake at night. However, the Word of the Lord offers us peace even in storms.

Jesus gave this promise to His followers in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

So how do get this peace? God has provided many ways of wellness such as medication, therapy, nutrition, and exercise. Feel free to enjoy these amazing blessings from God!

However, anxiety can also be a spiritual condition that requires spiritual solutions. The fact is that the world can't make us feel at peace because the world is not our home. Fame, power, romance, sex, even financial security can't keep us centered for long.

We were designed to be in heaven with God. Until we get there, we need to experience His presence daily in order to find peace and rest.

A lifestyle centered around Christ makes room for the Holy Spirit to grow us in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. So what does that Christ-centered lifestyle look like?

DAILY
  • Personal Worship- Spend time with God in prayer, praise, and learning His Word. Be honest about where you fall short of His Word, and ask God to forgive you and cleanse you from sin.
  • Obedience- As you pray and engage with scripture, you'll find yourself more and more convicted by the Holy Spirit to act as Jesus would act. You will have peace in your conscience when your actions align more with God's Word.

WEEKLY
  • Fellowship- Be around people who can encourage you in your walk with God. Seek mature Christians to help you through tough situations.
  • Sabbath- Take one day out of the week to enjoy the presence of God, without work, without distraction. Focus on activities that fill you and remind you of what God has for you in eternity.

AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE
  • Giving- Practicing generosity helps us to surrender finances to God, demonstrates faithfulness to the Lord, and furthers His Kingdom.
  • Service- Just like giving, service is a way to take our focus of our temporal struggles and seek God's Kingdom and righteousness.

If you don't know how to adopt this lifestyle, don't fret! You don't have to perform for God to love you! God's love is offered to all of us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Please reach out to us if you're new to any of the above spiritual disciplines or if you would like to talk someone about your anxiety. You never have to walk alone!

You're invited to join us for worship this Sunday to celebrate what our God has done and is continuing to do in His Kingdom. We meet at Artserve, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, 33304. Doors open at 10:15 a.m., and service begins at 10:30 a.m.
 
We hope to see you soon!

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