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Prescriptions for Stress, Anxiety and Fear
by stephanie reck Are there things in your life that seem to constantly cause you stress, anxiety or fear? Are you overwhelmed at times and find it difficult to sleep at night? 90% of what we worry about never really happens, so then why do we worry, stress and plagued by daunting fears? The enemy magnifies those difficult or trying circumstances in our lives, and when we take our eyes off of Jesus and onto these nagging problems we lose perspective. When our eyes are off the Helper, we can easily slip into stress, anxiety and fear. The enemy shows us worst-case scenarios and we begin speaking out what those scenarios look like, but watch out when you begin agreeing with what the enemy says about your circumstances. A lot of the times, the enemy throws one circumstance after another at us, hoping we will take the bait of at least one of them. There is a "wearing-out" the enemy deploys upon us. You may have felt super strong with the first second, and maybe even the third difficult circumstance, but when they keep coming you better run to the throne of God quickly. When you feel yourself weakening and getting spiritually fatigued, it's time to run quickly (even and especially if you don't feel like it) to the feet of Jesus. These schemes diverted at you are not to be taken lightly or not taken seriously. We are never to fear our enemy, but we must know when we are beginning to get attacked. Another way to know the enemy is trying to get you stirred-up is that you lose your peace and joy and you become restless, even stressed, anxious and fearful. Random thoughts pop into your mind. You try and take every thought captive but there are so many thoughts coming you find it more and more difficult to gain a hold on the thoughts. When this happens recognize this is a scheme and a plan from the enemy and you must begin to cry out to God for His help. There are some prescriptions I use when I feel attacked, stressed, anxious and fearful. The prescription does not come in a bottle or pill but through the following: ____________________________________________________________________________ Prescription for Stress Stop what you're doing and go to the throne of God; don't wait! Trust God even if it looks big and out of control and your feelings say something else. Rest in God alone and His help; don't try and figure out the outcomes! Evaluate if you are tired, hungry, or sick? If you are, you need to take care of those needs. Sing, worship the Lord. You will feel a lift and the enemy will have to flee! Surrender all fear, worries, anxieties, and concerns to God; do not hold on to them! ____________________________________________________________________________ Prescription for Anxiety Admit and confess you have been worrying and you don't have all the answers. Never give the enemy a foothold by speaking out what he shows you. X-amine the reasons you are anxious and speak the truth over every anxious thought. Identify the lies of the enemy concerning every anxious thought and replace immediately with the truth of God's word. Evaluate if all your anxiety and worrying is helping and changing things or making you sick, tired, and weak? Turn your anxieties to God and give them to Him. Do not hold on to them! Yearn to have a different life! You do not have to live with anxiety! Prescription for Fear Filter out all fears immediately. When fears come, pull them down, stop them, and replace with faith-filled statements, such as, "I will not live in fear." Entertain thoughts are lovely, of a good report, and praiseworthy. Accept that you have a real enemy and you will have to be aggressive in your thought life. Run to Jesus! Do not let the enemy terrorize you and cause you to have what-if fears. To have peace and the joy of the Lord sometimes you have to fight, other times you have to be still until the attack has passed. Ask Jesus to show you what to do, but ask! If you are feeling those nagging thoughts of stress, anxiety or fear, take these prescriptions and begin to apply them. ____________________________________________________________________________ If you need additional prayer, Biblical counseling, or just some encouragement, you can go to my website @ www.christianhopecounseling.com or to Gospel Guidance @ www.gospelguidance.com/5311-sreck Stephanie R. Reck, LMSW, LBT, BCCC Stephanie Reck, Coaching & Consultation Services www.stephaniereck.com [email protected] Stephanie Reck Coaching & Consultation Services, @2024 Author of, "Disciplining Your Mind 30 Days to a Better You!" Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |