Bujo April set up

"Dealing with Anxiety: Helping Others"

1. Listen
• God heard Israel's cry-Deuteronomy 26:7
• God heard David in his destress-Psalms 18:6
• Proverbs 21:13 "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."
• Psalms 34:4, 40:1, 66:19, 106:44
2. Bring them to Jesus
• A palsied man has borne of four-Mark 2:3-5
• Centurion on servant's behalf-Matthew 8:5-13
• Lunatic son brought by father-Matthew 17:14-18
• Palsied: disabled; suffering from weak limbs
• James 5:13, 16
3. Rejoice with them . . .
• because this is temporal-Philippians 2:13-17
• because God is honored and glorified-1 Peter 1:6-8
• because they get to rejoice-Romans 12:15
4. When you meet someone dealing with anxiety (or another kind of affliction):
• Take time to listen without figuring out a way to fix them. Let the Holy Spirit give you whatever it may be that He wants them to hear from you. Remember: what may have worked for you may not be what they need. You can suggest it if they are open to it, but sometimes, they just need someone to listen to them.
• Lovingly point them to Jesus. Pray for them, pray with them. Pray is the best support anyone can receive from you.
• Rejoice with them when God gives them to victory in their anxiety. 

Conclusion: I do not need to have all the answers because they may not be asking that set of questions. I need to let my answers come from God. Those may be the only answers they recognize. The very best thing I can do is listen, pray with them, pray for them, and rejoice when they see victories in their afflictions.

GB Essie

Camera Note Page-Bullet Journal

"Dealing with Anxiety: Counsel of God"

TEXT: PSALMS 13

1. When I seek my counsel first from God, I find encouragement
• 1 Samuel 30:6 "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, . . . but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."
2. When I seek my counsel first from God, I am persuaded
• Romans 14:5c "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."
• 2 Timothy 1:12b ". . . for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
3. When I seek my counsel first from God, I am confident in Him.
• Job 31:24b ". . .Thou art my confidence."
• Prov 3:24b "For the Lord shall be thy confidence. . ."
• 1 John 5:13 "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us;"
4. When your affliction rears its ugly head
• Ask God for someone who can be your "affliction buddy", someone who will be empathetic, who will pray for and with you when you need it, who will converse with you about it (whatever you need), who will ask how you have been doing.
• These times are when we need to protect our spirit. Avoid things that can pull you down (ie, news, facebook, etc). Use things that can help your spirit (ie, particular music, a walk, reading etc).
• "See" the Lord beside you, holding your hand, holding you in His arms (because He will when you call on Him). Do beware of New Age techniques-yoga, meditation, etc.
• In Some cases, medication is necessary. Ask God to help you decide, to make it evident that you need it. Seek counsel, use wisdom. Dont be afraid to go without if you are able.

Next week: Part 3 of Dealing with Anxiety

Conclusion: Psalms 71:1-9, 12, 14-24

     Resort: to have recourse for use, help, or accomplishing something; to go, esp. frequesntly or customarily; habitual or general going; use of appeal to some person or thing for aid, satisfaction, or service, etc.

GB Essie

"Dealing with Anxiety, whether you have it or not"

TEXT: 1 Samuel 1:6-22

1. Three in One
• Body, Soul, and Spirit on a good day
• Body, Soul, and Spirit on a bad day
• Tell yourself, "Stop!"
• "Be still, and know that I am God. . ." Psalm 46:10
• Walking with God means walking with God, especially when the tough times come.
2. Anxiety (or whatever your affliction may be)
• We are instructed to take heed to ourselves. Deut 4:9, 23, 11:16, 12:30, Psalms 39:1, Malachi 2:15, 16, Luke 21:34, 1 Tim 4:16.
• Heed means to hedge about (as with thorns), to guard, generally, to protect; to hold upon, to retain; to look at, behold, beware, perceive, regard.
• If we do not take heed to ourselves, we will fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12
• In this imperfect, fallen world, we all will have some kind of affliction in our lives, whether it be from the outside, from within, whether physical, mental or spiritual. 2 Cor 4:8-9, 17a.
• Don't let your affliction define you and who you are. Let Jesus define you and help you be His "little Christ." 2 Cor 4:16, 17b.
3. When your affliction rears its ugly head. . .
• There is no magical solution to make it disappear.
• We are going to go through it, so don't go through it alone.
• Seek God's presence!
• Seek God's comfort, strength, peace of mind, and guidance, especially in your thoughts.
• Let God give you a right spirit (not one of complaining, being a victim, etc), but rather a calm and peaceful spirit, a praising spirit.
• Be where you need to be to get through it (ie, walking away, outside, home alone. . .)
• Watch for circumstances that can exacerbate your affliction.
• Don't run under these circumstances. Sometimes they can wait, so walk away. Rather seek God for more wisdom in dealing with them.
• Settle in your mind and heart that you will go through some affliction. Then determine not to go it alone.

GB Essie

For we walk by faith, not by sight - 2 Cor 5:7

". . . we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

1. Scripture to Memorize:
• Hebrews 13:5 "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
• Psalms 145:9 "The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works."
2. 2 Corinthians 4:18 ". . .we look not at the things which are seen: but at the things which are not seen: "For the things which are seen are temporal; (having to do with life on earth) but the things which are not seen are eternal." (lasting forever; without end)
3. 2 Corinthians 4:17 "For our light affliction, (pain, trouble, suffering) which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;"

GB Essie

The Christian's Journey #17

In Comparison to Israel's Journey from Abraham to the Promised Land)

Gilgal

Text: "That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God forever." Joshua 4:24

Introduction: After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, Israel finally entered the Promised Land. Their first encampment was Gilgal, and here Israel took time to remember with some distinct actions.

1. The Account: Joshua 4 & 5
2. The Details: Gilgal means "wheel; rolling; heap"
• Here is where the children of Israel entered into the Promised Land.
• Three events took place: heaping of stones from Jordan River, circumcision of those born in the wilderness, and first Passover Feast in the Promised Land.
3. The Application: Israel's actions had a particular purpose to help them remember particular things.
• heap of stones: Joshua 4-built so they could remember and testify of how God divided the waters of the Red Sea and the Jordan River; for future generations to see what God had done so they could believe what God can still do.
• circumcision: Joshua 5:1-9 to remember how God had rolled away the reproach of Egypt.
• Passover Feast: Joshua 5:10-12 to remember God's deliverance form Egypt.
4. The Recommendations:
• We as Christians must remember how the Lord has fitted us together as the Church for His purpose and His glory. Eph 2:20-22.
• We must remember God's grace. This will help us to consecrate ourselves to purifying by His Spirit. Col 2:11, Rom 2:28-29.
• We must remember that at salvation, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, purged the old lump to make all things new. With His blood, we are remitted of our sins, old things pass away, all things become new. 1 Cor 5:6-8, Jn 1:29, 1 Pet 1:19, Heb 9:22

Remember. . . 

1. What the Lord has done with you in His church?
2. What God's grace has helped you "circumcise" from your heart to be closer to Him?
3. What He has made new in your life because of Salvation?

Conclusion:

When you reach any kind of "Promised Land" in your life, take action?

To remember Who God is and what He has done, to remember forsaking the world for His sake, and to remember His provision of grace and mercy available each and every day.

GB Essie