Dealing with Anxiety Biblically

by with No Comment BibleCultureGodLife styleMental HealthSelf CareTherapy

Dealing with Anxiety Biblically

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

The idea that “Christians have it all together” is not accurate. Many people in the church are struggling with anxiety and depression. We have seen preachers and ministers of the gospel committing suicide because of depression in recent times. Anxiety should not be taken lightly.

The truth is:

However spiritual you are, there are things you are going to face that will weigh you down.  Loved ones will disappoint you, people in the church may hurt you. You may lose your job or business, and your loved one may pass away. None of us can run away from difficult times.

Pretending that you are okay so that you can save face will not make everything okay.  Admitting that you are anxious and finding ways of dealing with anxiety will help you avoid depression and its effects.

But how should Christians deal with anxiety?

By Praying

The first and best way to deal with your anxious thoughts is to pray.  See,  only God can give you rest.  He is the only one who knows what you need and how you can get it.  Go to him in prayer and pour out your heart to him. (1Peter 5:7)

Some people believe that we should not tell God how we feel. But when you look at some of the prayers in Psalms, you see the Psalmist pouring his heart out to God when he was depressed. Don’t act fine or hold back,  tell God exactly how you feel.  He can handle all the troubles of your heart. (Psalm 42:4)

Read the Word

It is hard to read the word when you are depressed, but it is the best thing to do because it is only in knowing what God says about your situation that you are able to become strong in faith. If you do not stand firm in the word of God, you will become a victim of Satan’s lies.  Study the Word,  meditate on it and use it to fight against the lies of the enemy. (Proverbs 12:25)

Talk to someone

At times we are too anxious that we fail to listen to the voice of God.  A spiritual friend or leader will help you deal with anxiety.  They may be the channel through which God will use to reach you and heal your soul.

Praise God

Yes,  you may look at praise as part of prayer, but most of us only tell God our problems when we pray.  Praise means focusing on God irrespective of what is happening to you. David encouraged himself in the Lord through prayer. So stop looking at your situation. Do not allow thoughts of anxiety to flood your mind.  Take them captive and choose to praise God.  Focus on how big God is and not how big the problem is. (Psalm 118: 1-18)

Though we are believers, we struggle with wrong thoughts from time to time.  Anxiety is not something that should be taken lightly. Turn to God,  praise him,  talk to a friend, and encourage yourself in the Lord through scriptures and songs. God loves you even when you are anxious, turn your cares to him, and he will help you.

How to Get Out of Spiritual Funk

by with No Comment BibleGodLife styleMental HealthSelf Care

How to Get Out of Spiritual Funk

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 43:5 (NIV)

Ever find yourself struggling to believe the word of God, discouraged or not wanting to do anything with the things of God?

 

Well, you are not alone.

 

Every child of God goes through seasons in life where they want nothing to do with their walk with the Lord.

 

But here is the thing we cannot allow this spiritual funk to continue in our lives for long because if we do so, then we will end up opening up doors for the enemy in our lives. Like David, we need to bless the Lord and worship him even when we do not feel like it.

 

Spiritual funk is an inroad for the enemy to kill our faith and steal our blessings. We need to be on the lookout so that we do not stray from the things of God.

 

But how does one get out of Spiritual funk?

 

Find out the Root Cause

Most of us struggle with spiritual funk because our focus is on the wrong things. When all you do is focus on the challenges you are facing, then you will start to experience spiritual funk.

 

Our focus should always be on Jesus.

 

Today,  choose to find out what is causing you to be in this state so that you can stop focusing on it and start focusing on God. (Colossians 3:1)

 

Admit How you feel to God

God knows you inside out, and he wants you to be completely honest with him. He loves you so much, he can handle your feelings and emotions. Instead of saying perfect prayers, surrender yourself to him by pouring out your heart to him.

 

Tell him what you are going through and how you feel about it.  If you find it hard to admit straight up how you are feeling then buy a journal and write how you feel down. God will speak to your heart as you do this and help you to get out of the funk.

 

Fast

Maybe you do not want to hear this, but fasting will help you to get out of spiritual funk. Since your focus is on every other thing but God, fasting will help you to align your mind and will with God, and this will help you to put God above everything that is happening around you.

 

There are so many different kinds of fasts, so find out what works for you and spend time doing that.

 

Focus on the Future

The truth is, even though the thing that is making you experience spiritual funk seems big right now, it is only temporary. All the things of this world will pass away, but God will always remain to be God. (Matthew 6:16-18)

 

Shift your focus from what is going on around you to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith. Great things await the children of God, so focus on eternity instead of what is happening all around you.

 

All in all:

 

We all experience spiritual funk at some point, so don’t beat yourself up because you are experiencing it right now. Finding the root cause,  admitting how you feel to God,  fasting and focusing on the future are great ways for you to get out of the funk.

How to Choose the Right Church

by with No Comment BibleCultureGodPeople

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

With a lot of scandals happening in churches all over the world, it is becoming hard to find the right church.

Be very careful when looking for a local church because the kind of place you go to worship God will have a significant impact on your spiritual life.

Now some people think going to church is optional but that is not true. The church was purchased with the blood at the cross because God wants us to fellowship with other believers. So belonging to a local church is very important.

But how does one choose the right church?

Ask God for Guidance

Before going out to look for a church, ask God to order your steps. He knows the best churches around your area that can help you grow spiritually.

Praying seems to be an obvious step, but it is the most critical step because God knows what goes on in every church. You may get fooled easily by the excellent treatment you get when you visit particular churches, but God knows what goes on in the hearts of people who fellowship in that church.

A Word Based Church

Look for a church that is word-based that is one that does not stray from the word of God.

Today many people are flocking to churches with preachers who preach messages that make the congregants feel good. But the word of God is not meant to make us feel good about ourselves. It is supposed to correct, rebuke, and encourage people. (2 Timothy 4:2)

The preachers in the church you go to should preach about salvation, grace, holiness, and the coming judgment.

Some preachers only preach messages that bring fear in people’s heart so that they can instill fear and control the congregation. You need to be wary of that. The word of God is not meant to bring demonic fear in our hearts for God does not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and sound mind. 

Leadership

We are living in dangerous times where false preachers have crept into the church. They want to confuse innocent people by teaching them wrong doctrines so that Christians can fall away from the true gospel of Jesus Christ. The good thing is we judge true believers by the fruits they bear.

Ask your heavenly Father to give you the gift of discernment so that you can be able to differentiate true church leaders from false ones.

Ministry

We do not just go to church to be ministered to and then leave.

The church you go to should be a place that helps you to develop your calling.  God has given us different gifts. A good church will encourage you to build and grow your gifts by creating opportunities where you can serve. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

The truth is there is no perfect church out there, but with God’s help, you will be able to find a place where you will learn more about God and grow spiritually. Go to a church where people worship God in spirit and truth.

How to Serve Others like Jesus

by with No Comment BibleCultureGodLife styleSelf Care

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV)

Every Christian is called to serve others.

But let’s be honest, it takes grace and a lot of patience for us to serve other people diligently.

In a world where people want others to help them get to the top, it is hard to commit yourself to help others without expecting anything in return. But biblically, we are supposed to do everything as unto the Lord, and that includes serving others. (Colossians 3:23)

The Bible does not ask us to help others when we feel like; it tells us to do it the way Jesus served us. Serve other people in your household, church, community, nation, and the world at large.

Here is how you can serve others like Jesus:

Add Value in other People’s Lives

Instead of serving others for personal gains, focus on adding value in their lives. Find out their needs and then help them out.

Jesus came on earth to serve us not to be served. Though he was fully God, he left heaven and came on earth to save humanity because he cared and loved us the same way his father did.

God has given you gifts so that you can use them to serve people that genuinely need your help.

Be Caring Towards Others

Jesus genuinely cared about people. While Christ had a lot on his plate, he did not focus on checking tasks off his to-do list. Jesus cared so much that he stopped and attended to the woman with the issue of blood even though he was headed to Jairus’ house. (Luke 8:40-48)

Have a genuine interest in people around you.

Listen to them when they talk and make inquiries about how they are faring on from time to time. Instead of putting other people down build their confidence with the word of God. Let care be part of your everyday life.

Follow God’s Leading

Ever wondered why Jesus was able to do so much in a short period?

Jesus did only what his father told him to do. (John 12:49)

But how did he know what his father wanted? He used to pray. Our Lord used to rise early or separate himself from people so that he could spend time with his father.

During prayer time, listen to your heavenly father so that he can lead you in the way you should go. He will show you who to help and how to help them best. As you carry out your tasks in the day, don’t let your busy schedule to overshadow your relationship with God. That way, you will be able to hear him when he prompts you to help.

We need to be imitators of Jesus Christ, and one of the ways that we can imitate him is by serving others. But let us always serve others to glorify God, not man. We will not do it correctly, but by God’s grace, we will be able to make a difference in the world.

Honor God by Living a Healthy, Christian Lifestyle

by with No Comment BibleCultureGodLife styleSelf Care

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31(NIV)

When people look at us, they should see Christ living in us.

Yes, we will fall many times, but that should not stop us from honoring God with our lives.

Our major goal as Christians should be to lead lifestyles that honor our heavenly Father. The way we live should match our faith.  Why? It makes other people who are not Christians to want to be like us, to be Christ-like.

Most of us like to quote scripture and speak about Jesus. It is not bad; it is the right thing to do. But the truth is people, especially worldly people judge us based on our lifestyle. When our lives don’t match our faith, they end up thinking that Christianity is for people who don’t practice what they preach.

So, how do we honor God through our lifestyles?

Take Good Care of yourself

Your body is a temple of God; you need to take good care of it.

Eat healthy food, drink enough water, and exercise so that you can be fit enough to carry out the assignments God has for you.

We see people changing their bad eating habits because of their loved ones. That’s great, but what if we went a step further and took care of our bodies as a way of honoring God?

Sounds great right?

We should not stop at eating right and exercising regularly. We need to also protect our minds by filtering what we watch and read. We should fill our minds with the word of God.  Some things may not see harmful now but will harm you later. Remember, the eyes are the lamp of the body.

Surround yourself with the right people

Are your close friends’ followers of Jesus Christ? What do they love doing in their free time?

The people you hang out with will influence you positively or negatively, so you have to be careful about your circle of friends (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Walking out of some relationships may be hard, but it is better to drop some friends than to allow them to lead us stray and cause us to stumble in our spiritual walk. Glorify God by being around people who love and worship him.

It is easy to get caught up with so many things that we may forget to honor God with our lifestyle. But there is more to Christianity than just reading the bible, praying and going to church. Our lifestyles need to be a reflection of our faith in the Lord.

Ask God to help you live a life that honors him. When you fall, don’t remain down, get up, and keep the good fight of faith. You’re not the only one that is going through challenges; every Christian is struggling with something. But remember, at the end of it all, we shall receive the crown of life.

It is not easy, but God is on our side; we shall make it.

Treat yourself and others right. Rest, eat right, read, and watch things that build you up spiritually, and surround yourself with the right people. Lay your life down for Christ, and God will lift you up.

Why You Should Let the Peace of God Reign in Your Heart

by with No Comment BibleCultureGodLife styleSelf Care

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.

John 14:27 (NIV)

A lot is going on all around us today. Unfortunately, most of it is very disturbing. Switch on TV or sign in to your social media accounts and you will see or hear sad and scary real-life stories happening every single day.

Not just that our own lives are full of trials and temptations.

Jobs on the line, family disputes, health problems, business failure, are some of the things we go through.

So, what do we do?

As Christians, we need to live the way Jesus lived on earth. He said we would have trials and tribulations. So that means all the things that steal peace from our hearts will always be there one way or another, but we have to know how to handle them.

Despite the challenges, Jesus faced, one of the things that made Him standout was the peace he had. For example, He was peaceful when people insulted Him, when they wanted to push him off a cliff he slipped away peacefully, Jesus slept in the middle of a storm, and when they tried to stone him, he peaceful walked away in their midst.

Jesus had the peace that surpasses all understanding.

The good thing is you can choose to have that same peace of Jesus in your heart.

Worrying never takes your problems away. It only steals your joy and peace. Life has its ups and downs. You can never wait until everything gets better to live peacefully.

The world has come up with different systems and ways in which people can find peace. But most of the methods are temporary solutions. You need something substantial, and that is the peace of Jesus.

What are you going through right now? Are you letting the peace of God reign in your heart or are you busy looking for temporary solutions?

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)

Here are things you should do to have the Peace of God.

  • Study scripture and Pray

Recognize that God is the true source of peace. Get verses about peace and study them. Meditate on these scriptures until they become alive in your heart. Then ask God to help you in whatever season you are in.

  • Stand firm

Stand firm in the word of God and believe that he has heard you and has filled your heart with peace. God will never fail you. You have to believe that everything will work out for your good in the end.

Defend your peace because the devil will try his best to steal it from you.

  • Focus

There more you focus on what is happening the more distracted you become and it leads to anxiety and depression. Shift your focus from the things that are happening in the world and fix your eyes on Jesus.

You have to let the peace of God to reign in your heart. God will not force it on you. When things seem to be working against you, choose to rest in the finished work of Jesus and let God’s peace rule your heart, let God make everything beautiful at the right time.

You’re Not Enough

by with No Comment GodMental HealthSelf CareUncategorized

A big struggle many of us face when it comes to our mental health and self-esteem is self worth. Our minds tell us that we’re not smart enough or not pretty enough, and that overall, we don’t fill the glass all the way. The truth about this is… we’re not. We’re not smart enough, which is why we ask God to give us wisdom. And though we may not be the World’s standard of pretty, God thinks we’re all beautiful. Genesis 1:26 tells us that God made us in his image, and Psalm 139:14 says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

This crazy idea that there is anything we can so, do, or think to reconcile our souls is a fallacy. God atones for our sins. He wipes away our blemishes. He says we’re beautiful and loved. Romans 3:23 says that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. You’re not enough. You’re not perfect, and God knows that. When Jesus Christ came to die on the cross for our sins, he fixed everything. He fixed the perfect mess that we all are.

So, the next time you’re thinking that you’re not enough, remember that you’re not, but that’s why you’re under Jesus Christ’s love and grace. 

Links to all the verses in their entirety