"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