Everything flows from the heart according to Jesus (Mt 15:18). The heart is the root of all action and of life. For many, the Gospel of Jesus has touched their heart; a heart of stone has been removed and a new spirit is born (Ez 36:26).

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” -Proverbs 4:23

However, this new heart is still prone to wander after it’s own way. (Psalm 119:10)

Guard your heart!

A wandering heart takes on many forms – spiritual apathy, numbness, rebellion, discontent, ungodly thoughts, and self seeking affection and actions. I am amazed at how easily my heart chases after its own way instead of trusting and following God’s way even though I have been seriously following Jesus for decades. I’ve found that guarding my heart requires regular self-assessment. Sometimes some good questions can help.

 

HUMILITY defines the heart that trust’s God. Can I admit when I’m wrong or make mistakes? How do I respond when I’m corrected? Do I have to have my own way? Am I defensive, guarded or hypersensitive? Am I too open and/or do I wear my heart on my sleeve?

GRACE flows from a heart that loves God more than itself.How do I respond to the unexpected? Do I value and encourage other’s ideas and gifts? Do I trust God’s control over the tiniest details of my life? When my plans don’t work out, who do I hold responsible? Am I able to see the hand of God at work when life doesn’t work out the way I want it to?

Guard Your Heart: Show love.

LOVE springs from a surrendered heart.How do I respond to others when I’m under stress or being attacked? During a trial or suffering, do I show gentleness to my enemies and patience with other people? Am I able to say tough things with gentleness for the sake of love, or does my tone or choice of words come across as punitive?

 

Dear Father,

Help me do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility give me grace to count others more significant than myself.

Amen

Our hearts are active in everything we say and do, revealing who or what is the “god” or God of our heart. Proverbs 22:4 gives us a reason to guard our hearts. “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”

 

Anxiety is a universal emotion. People have studied it for centuries. Feeling anxious is at the root of some of our most basic responses like fight or flight or freeze.  National Institute for Mental Health reports that 18% of the US adult population has received treatment for anxiety in the last year. Let’s explore physical and spiritual ways to manage stress and anxiety.

 

DO NOT BE ANXIOUS

“Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing?

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith.

Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:25-34 ESV

 

WHEN YOU FEEL ANXIOUS – SEEK GOD FIRST.

This Scripture, when reading with just a little thought, puts into perspective your importance to God. It outlines His concern for your most basic needs and more. God’s love for you is not just about food or clothing. It is about realizing that God made and cared for all these beautiful things in nature both for His glory and for your pleasure. Why in the world wouldn’t He care the same and provide even more for you whom He made a little lower than the angles and thought about always?

What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. Psalms 8:4-5 NKJV.

We are told not to be anxious but to seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness. It is then that we can feel the trust that he will provide all we need in Christ. The question is, how do we do this practically, especially when we are overwhelmed with the physical and emotional feelings of anxiety?

 

WHEN YOU FEEL ANXIOUS – PRAY.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

You know when you feel anxious. You have identified the symptoms and the triggers; now you are aware of the emotions related to stress and anxiousness. The next step is simple, and it is easy. Pray.

This verse says thanksgiving coupled with prayer and supplication are the road to trusting God and releasing our anxious feelings. Prayer is simply talking to God about what is going on. Supplication is the act of asking earnestly or humbly. However, don’t forget the thanksgiving part of this earnest and humble begging.

Thanksgiving is often about remembrance. It is about reminding yourself what God has done for you. Thanksgiving not only helps you remember, but it also boosts your faith and puts you in a mode to receive. Thank God for being God. Thank God for being bigger than whatever it is that worries you. Thank God for forgiving you for thinking anything was bigger than Him. Thank God for whatever you can remember that is meaningful to you. Thanksgiving is prayer. Thanksgiving requires remembering. Thanksgiving focuses your mind on the size of your God instead of the size of your anxiety. Thanksgiving is worship!

 

WHEN YOU FEEL ANXIOUS – BREATHE.

When you feel anxious, take the time to breathe while you are praying. Anxiety and stress can lead to a change in your breathing habits. It can result in shallow breaths or even holding your breath. Deep breathing has many health benefits – even yawning will help.

As you are in your practice of prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving, take a deep breath every time you express thankfulness. Inhale to the point that you think you can’t take in a single molecule more. Then slowly exhale. A good rule of thumb is to inhale to the count of 8 seconds and exhale to the count of 8 seconds. It may take some time to work up to this. Start with 5 seconds if eight seems too difficult.

If you are too muddle-minded to pray, then start with deep breaths before moving on to prayer. Just don’t forget to pray because that is where we meet God, and his presence brings healing.

 

WHEN YOU FEEL ANXIOUS – FOCUS.

As previously mentioned in a post called “What is Anxiety?” we learned that an anxious mind is a focus on what happened or what could happen. The Bible says tomorrow isn’t a promise. It also tells us that our sin is removed from us as far as the east is from the west, buried in the depths of the sea. It is forgotten.

Focus on the moment. Start with prayer, always start with prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to be your helper as you focus. Using thanksgiving as a part of this process is also helpful. For example, I am outside writing today:

• Thank you for this beautiful sunny weather.
• Thank you that is today the perfect temperature for me.
• Thank you for the songs of all the birds around me right now.
• Thank you for this gentle breeze which cools me off at just the right moment.
• Thank you for the technology to sit outside while I work.
• Thank you for the provision you have given me to make all of this happen.
• Thank you that I am healthy enough to sit in this chair.
• Thank you for the comfortable chair.
• Thank you for the cushions in my chair.
• Thank you for every breath I take.
• Thank you for a good night’s rest.

Keep it up until you feel changed!

In the entrepreneur world – F.O.C.U.S. stands for Follow One Course Until Successful!

Focus on the moment you are in and realize that none of it is possible without the love and the grace of God – the God who cares for you more than anything else He created. You are the crown of His creation.

 

Prayer

Dear Jesus, Thank you for providing everything I need when I need it. I repent for having fear, anxiety, and worry. I ask your forgiveness. Help me to learn to trust and rely on You more and more every day. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to be my comforter and guide, especially in my times of trouble. In Jesus Name- Amen

At Karen Bourg Companies, we can help you work through these anxieties toward a fulfilling life and a stronger faith.

At some point in your life, you have experienced anxiety, worry, or stress. You may call it nerves or butterflies. Not all feelings of anxiety are bad. Emotions are an alarm system God designed so that we may be aware and able to make holy choices. Let’s talk about anxiety; it causes and from where it comes.

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

 

Anxiety Revisited – What is anxiety?

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” Amit Ray

Merriam-Webster defines anxiety in a few different ways, including a medical definition. Let’s review each of these definitions and put it in perspective with scripture.

Anxiety as anticipation is defined as “apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill: a state of being anxious.”

“Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34 ESV

We are specifically instructed not to worry about tomorrow.

 

The medical definitions according to Merriam-Webster is: “an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical signs (such as tension, sweating, and increased pulse rate), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one’s capacity to cope with it.”

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

 

This definition of anxiety is particularly helpful because it names the physical symptoms along with the emotions in case you weren’t sure what you were feeling was anxiety. Again, this definition reflects the reality that our thoughts and feelings direct anxiety. It is helpful to know the general symptoms of internal stress to respond well.

The final part of the definition describes anxiety as a “mentally distressing concern or interest; an ardent desire sometimes mixed with doubt, fear, or uneasiness.”

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26 ESV

All of us have experienced mental distress mixed with fear, self-doubt, and uneasiness even to the point of dread. It is great that God has sent us a Helper, a Comforter in the Holy Spirit, that we may receive the comfort we need from Him to do His will – even when we are uneasy.

 

Anxiety Revisited – Where does anxiety come from?

Anxiety is often synonymous with stress. There are diverse types of stress, all have an impact on your spirit, soul, and body, and should be handled accordingly.

Eustress is positive stress. It is the stress associated with things that make you feel excited and give you energy or motivation. Eustress is related to things like the first date with someone you like. Eustress could include the feelings you have about getting a raise, receiving gifts on Christmas morning, or taking a vacation. Eustress is often described as butterflies and is short term. It is the excitement and anticipation of something positive.

Distress is negative stress. It includes the feelings of dread that might come with meeting with your boss, having legal or financial problems, fighting with your spouse, or losing your job. Distress is often most associated with the feelings described in the medical definition of anxiety. Distress often impedes performance and clouds thinking. It can be a short term or long term state of mind.

When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13 ESV

 

Being aware of the unexplainable stress you are feeling can help you deal with it in appropriate ways. Self-care and prayer are the most effective ways of handling anxiety. Prayer allows you to seek the answers you need to act on distressing situations. Self-care allows you to take care of your physical body and spiritual health as all stress and anxiety (positive and negative) influences all dimensions of your well-being.