Forty Days Without FearSample

GOD’S ANSWER TO ANXIETY 

anx•i•e•ty [æŋˈzaɪ ɪ ti]: 

1. distress or uneasiness caused by fear of danger or misfortune

2. a state of apprehension and tension affecting mental wellbeing 

Anxiety is a very big problem in our culture. Unchecked, it can cause sleeplessness, restlessness, weakness, dizziness and difficulties in concentration. As anxiety grows into fear, or terror, it can lead to panic attacks or heart palpitations. This in turn can affect our freedom to go places and be in certain situations. It is important for us to know that God cares about us, and our anxieties, big or small, matter to Him. He’s ready to provide for our needs and to comfort us. 

 One of the worst consequences of fear is that when it strikes, it causes our minds to run wild and to assume the worst. We fail the exam and we think we will never get a good job. We get dumped, or go through a divorce, and assume we will always be on our own. Fear causes us to have vision without optimism, to see a future without hope.
 

However, what we give attention to, we also give authority to, so the key is to shift our focus, and this will allow us to shift our fear.  Fear may well be present, but we don’t need to allow it to be president! Let’s say we go to the famous Kings Cross train station in London.
 

We can get on one train to the North of England or we can get on another train to Paris. One station, two trains, with two entirely different destinations. It is exactly the same with our mind.
 

We can get on one ‘train of thought’ that focuses on the situation and gives way to fear - that is the train of doubt and negativity, and the destination is defeat. Or we can shift our focus and fix our minds on the Word of Jesus - that is the train of faith and hope, and the destination is victory.
 

Action: Let’s take a moment to give our anxieties to God – write down what He wants us to know about them!