God's Prescription to Overcome Fear, Worry and Anxiety a 3-Day Plan by Alisha WalkerНамуна

Introduction

How many times have you gone to the doctor and you were given a prescription? Then, after following the directions and taking the medication as prescribed, the ailment is relieved. What if I told you the Bible has a prescription for mental wellness?

I always say mental health is on a spectrum from mental illness to mental wellness. Mental wellness is just one aspect of overall well-being, which is having a sense of satisfaction, peace, and fulfillment in your life. One of the foundational ways to maintain good mental health is to learn to manage our thoughts and recognize how they impact how we feel and behave. Over the next three days, you’ll discover God’s prescription to overcome fear, worry, and anxiety and how to follow this prescription daily for overall mental wellness and peace.

Day 1

Have You Taken God’s Prescription for Good Mental Health?

Our overall well-being is impacted by the state of our mental health, and our mental health can be impacted by stress, worry, fear, and anxiety. The impact of these negative emotions and states of thinking can increase our blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, and pulse. It can also slow down our digestion and cause us to breathe more shallowly. We may have a hard time thinking clearly or making sound decisions. Then what can happen if nothing is done? We can ruminate or focus on this and continue a negative, worrying, stressful cycle of anxiety.

But the scripture gives a formula, a prescription that can directly counter the negative impact with prayer, petition and thanksgiving, meditation, and practice.

Philippians 4:6-7 (AMP) Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.

The reason this is a prescription is because the negative impacts of stress, worry, fear, and anxiety that were just described are mitigated with the benefits of what the Bible says for us to do in this passage - pray, petition, be grateful, meditate and practice these daily. The mental, emotional, and physical benefits of prayer, gratitude, and meditation are that they can reduce stress and reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. Additional benefits are that they can reduce pain, enhance the immune system, increase blood flow, and slow down the heart rate. They can also help control your thoughts, lower your blood pressure, and improve decision-making. Wouldn’t these be great benefits to any prescription you might take? Now, with any prescription, you are given a timeframe to continue to take it; the scripture says to practice these daily. Romans 12:2 says to renew your mind daily. Practicing or taking this prescription daily helps to renew your mind but also replaces the old negative with new life-giving patterns and habits that support good mental wellness. By doing this, you are creating a new habit of good mental wellness and, according to this scripture, giving you peace that transcends understanding.

God’s Prescription for Mental Wellness:

1. Pray.
2. Ask God to guide you in every circumstance and situation.
3. Be grateful over each prayer and petition as if it is already done.
4. Meditate and focus on what is good.
5. Practice this daily.

Application / Reflection:

1. What issues have had you fearful, worried, or anxious? Have you invited God into that situation? Why or why not?
2. In what area can you apply this prescription in your life?