"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." Galatians 6:13
Every Christian has in their possession the armor of God. The question becomes, will we take up the armor or go it alone in our spiritual battles? God's armor provides us with everything we need to do battle as long as we practically apply all we possess from being in Christ.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth Ephesians 6:14a
Since a significant part of ancient combat was hand-to-hand, a loose tunic was a hindrance and even a danger. Before the battle, the tunic carefully cinched and tucked into the heavy leather belt that girded (restrained) the soldier’s loins. God’s belt of truth ties it all together, demonstrating that the believer is ready for battle.
Since Satan is a liar (John 8:44), your belt of truth is always under attack in one or more forms:
1. Lies about the character of God.
2. Deception about who you are in Christ.
3. Lies promoting fear about life’s future direction.
4. The deception of temptation to sin.
We must live in the truth of a close relationship and dependence on the person of truth – Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
1. Read, study, meditate, and apply the Scriptures, letting the Word of truth sanctify your life daily (2 Corinthians 6:7, John 17:15).
2. Submit to the Holy Spirit's leading and teaching – the Spirit of truth (John 14:17, 16:13).
3. Resist the enemy by choosing, knowing, and standing in the truth.
Put on the breastplate of righteousness Ephesians 6:14b
The breastplate protects my most vulnerable area – my heart, the home of my feelings and emotions. The mind and emotions are two areas where Satan most fiercely attacks believers.
Three Ways That Satan Attacks
• Accusations (Revelation 12:10) Despair comes from believing what Satan says rather than what God says about my righteousness in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).
• Condemnation (Romans 8:1) Satan condemns me to keep me from coming to God.
• Spiritual Pride by trusting in my righteousness rooted in pride.
Three Ways to Stand against Satan
• Confess all sin. Apply the principle of confession by acknowledging sin and receiving the forgiveness Christ provides. (I John 1:9).
• Stand with Christ’s righteousness. Satan has nothing to accuse us of because we are made righteous in Christ (Romans 8:33, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Philippians 3:8,9).
• Keep a clear conscience before God and man (Acts 24:16).
As shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the Gospel of peace Ephesians 6:15
I share with counselees the great news that Christ is victorious over sin and Satan! In Colossians, 2:13-15 Paul the Apostle tells us that God made us alive in Christ, and Jesus forgave all our sins! He canceled the record of the charges against us—past, present, and future. He took that record of our sin and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross. God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities.
There can be no accusation made against God’s elect. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Because of the good news of the Gospel, we are at peace with God, and we stand in the confidence of God’s forgiveness!
In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one Ephesians 6:16
The Apostle Paul tells us that putting on the full armor of God is taking up the shield of faith. When the spiritual warfare becomes heated with flying arrows, the Christian takes up the shield of faith, “…wherewith [he] shall be able to quench (extinguish) all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (Ephesians 6:16). The Roman shield was made with linen that could be dipped in water. When the fiery darts hit it, they were extinguished.
We can enlarge and strengthen our shield of faith by spending daily time in the Word of God. As you pick up the shield of faith, you can stop the evil one's flaming arrows and stand firm in spiritual battles.
Take the helmet of salvation Ephesians 6:17a
This helmet is another piece of armor for spiritual victory. The Roman’s helmet would protect the head from arrows (fiery darts), but its primary function was to ward off blows from a very destructive weapon called a broadsword. The enemy soldier lifted it over his head and brought it down on his opponent’s head. God’s helmet of salvation protects us from Satan’s deathblow.
The word salvation in the context of Ephesians 6:17 emphasizes the ongoing deliverance, which our salvation brings. Here, Paul is not concerned with Satan taking away our salvation. He is referring to our hope of liberation in times of spiritual battle. Paul is referencing Isaiah 59:17, “For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.” By appropriating this salvation as our helmet, we have every reason to remain confident in Christ's victory.
Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God Ephesians 6:17b
We do not put on God's armor to wait for the enemy to attack, but instead, we are to join with Christ in an offensive battle in which we take up the Word of God. In Ephesians 6:17, Paul expresses what is needed for the believer to overcome Satan and his hosts when he says to take “the sword of the Spirit, which is God's word.”
As Christians, we cannot be passive in utilizing the sixth piece of the armor of God. When we are not applying Biblical truth in our lives, we are easy prey to evil forces. In our culture today, we have an excess of self-help books for solving problems that replace the study and application of God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 teaches: “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
The Reality of Spiritual Conflicts
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." 1 Peter 5:8,9
One valuable counseling distinctive at IBCC is that we consider the reality of the spiritual warfare battles our clients face. It is crucial to help them discern their responsibility to address any potential issue that gives the enemy influence in their lives to help them grow in living our of their new heart in Christ.
The big question: How Can Satan influence Christians?
Satan’s has three goals (John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”)
• Steal: Satan comes as a thief to convince you that you do not have victory and freedom in Christ.
• Kill: Satan comes to hurt and damage your heart. He does this through rejection and the lies that occur in the message of that wounding.
• Destroy: To lay waste and make desolate your life. Satan desires to influence you to walk in the flesh and continue to make choices that will bring destruction to your life, marriage, family, and future generations.
Here are the spiritual conflicts I consider to help our clients evaluate, address, and regain any influence Satan has gained in their lives.
• Lies (John 8:44) vs. Truth.
• Pride (James 4:6) vs. Humility.
• Bitterness “‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26, 27) vs. Forgiveness.
• Rebellion “For rebellion is the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry....” (1 Samuel 15:23) vs. Submission.
• Sexual Immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, 1 Corinthians 6:15-20) vs. Moral Purity.
• Spiritual Counterfeits false gospel, spirits, wrong Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:3, 4) vs. True gospel and Jesus Christ.
• Fear “For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) vs. Faith.
• Unresolved Guilt vs. Clear Conscience. (Acts 24:16, 1 Timothy 1:19)
• Unhealthy Relationships/Soul Ties (1 Corinthians 15:33)) vs. Life-giving relationships.
The reality of spiritual battles in our lives is a present reality. The questions are, do I want to acknowledge it? Do I want to address the issues that the enemy is using to keep me from walking in the freedom I have in Christ? We are equipped at IBCC and count it an honor to walk alongside those having spiritual battles to learn to walk in their new heart in Christ.
What is Worldliness?
Colossians 2:6-9 "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
What belief systems do we face today? How does that impact us? How does worldview change our perspective and the decisions we make? As a counselor, I need to be prepared to address the impact of an ungodly culture and it's influence on our clients' lives. Like never before, technological advancement and social media accelerate the communication of these beliefs. In its many forms, distortions of the truth and false teaching lead people away from the true gospel and Jesus.
What is Worldliness?
I define worldliness as "a shared set of beliefs with certain unbiblical philosophies that drive culture", these beliefs go unquestioned by those that live in them. Our worldview is the eyeglasses in which we see life through, to perceive what is true about me, my life, my relationships with others, and God. Our family background, church, culture, peers, education, media, and entertainment impact and shape our belief systems. As the prince of the power of the air, Satan wants to keep people ignorant of the truth. Apart from Christ transforming our hearts and renewing our minds with the Word of God, we are blind to the world's influence.
Unbiblical Belief Systems We Face Today
The deception is very subtle because the philosophies of our day hide in the appearance of some moral good deceiving many. We witness these philosophies on a daily basis in some form or another. This post-modern humanistic worldview includes at least four fundamental religious and ethical ideals.
1. Religious Relativism
We all worship the same God; we only refer to Him by different titles. Jesus said many would come in his name.
2. Tolerance
The demand that we value the views and practices of others to the degree we value our own, regardless of any absolute moral standard in particular as defined by scripture.
3. Philosophical Pluralism
The denial of absolute truth is the hallmark of modern thinking. Your truth can be whatever you decide. It is summed up in the belief that any particular religion's claim to be intrinsically superior to another is wrong.
4. Moral Relativism
It is the view that moral judgments are true or false only relative to some particular standpoint (for instance, that of a culture or a historical period) and that no standpoint is uniquely privileged over all others. Meaning history can be redefined to adapt to the changing moral standards of a society.
Five Basic Elements of a Biblical Worldview
Romans 12:2— "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
What do you believe about who God is?
Christian Theism believes in a personal God who created rules and interacts with the world. The God of the Bible is personal. The God of the Bible is sovereign. The God of the Bible is Holy. The God of the Bible is the creator of the world. If God created the world, Secular Humanism is not even a remote possibility. If God created the world, then God created man. If God created the world, then our view of truth, knowledge, and ethics must be shaped by this single fact.
What do you believe about the origin of man?
Christian Theism sees man as a unique creation of God. The Bible teaches that man is created in God's image. As God's image-bearer, man has inherited dignity and value. In Adam, man fell into sin. Apart from the redemptive work of Christ, man remains in his sin.
What do you believe about what is truth?
Christian Theism sees truth as objective, absolute, and is rooted in the Scriptures. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
What do you believe about real knowledge?
Christian Theism holds that God created the world and everything in it; therefore, our pursuit of knowledge must balance reason and revelation. We come to know the truth through God's revelation in creation. Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." Psalm 50:6, "The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge!" Romans 1:18-20 "For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their wickedness suppress the truth. What can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them."
What do you believe about ethics?
Christian Theism views ethics as timeless and absolute. God determines what is right and what is wrong. Humanism begins with a man as the starting point and works its way out from there. Pragmatism (results rather than principles determine proper action) and Utilitarianism (the view that the happiness of the highest number should be the criteria of the virtue). God's Word gives us explicit instruction on ethics. 2 Peter 1:3, 4 "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." Ethics transcends time and culture. Biblical ethical principles can be applied universally. If it is sinful to commit adultery in the United States, it is also sinful in any third world country.
The battle that comes from living in this world is something we all have to address. I have witnessed the impact of deception and how it brings destruction to people's lives. At IBCC, we desire to come alongside hurting people and lovingly help them make important life decisions based on the knowledge and wisdom that the scriptures teach.
Our Three Enemies
Ephesians 2:1- 3—"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."
We were born into a world at war. That is reality, and we witness it all around us every day. In counseling situations, it is always at the forefront of my mind. A spiritually healthy Christian life includes acknowledging three enemies, which is why it is part of our counseling model. They are the influence of the world system, our flesh, and finally, Satan. In overcoming an enemy, we have to acknowledge that we have one. We have to know our enemies' weapons, tactics, and weaknesses to understand how to defeat them.
Until Christ returns, there will be battles raging on all three fronts. One of my mentors in ministry described the three enemies this way, "the World as our external enemy, the Flesh as the internal enemy, and the Devil as the infernal enemy." The great news is that Christ has set us free, and we can choose to walk in victory over all three!
Jesus Christ Has Won the Victory Over Our Three Enemies!
The World
• John 16:33—"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
• 1 John 5:4— "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."
The Flesh
• Galatians 5:16, 17—"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."
The Devil
• John 16:11— "concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."
• I John 2:14—"I write to you, fathers because you know Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one."
• I John 4:4—"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
Regardless of your struggle or counseling need, it is vital to address all three of these battlefronts. In the coming weeks, I look forward to helping you with your battles against all three enemies!
Understanding OCD
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6
Having obsessive-compulsive thoughts and responding to them is more common than most people realize. Like any fear disorder, there are various degrees of severity. I have been able to counsel dozens of Christians who have struggled with different symptoms and behaviors of OCD. Here are a few things I have learned over the years from an educational and Biblical discipleship counseling perspective.
What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a fear disorder characterized by perfectionism, obsessions, and compulsions. It presents itself in repetitive and often persistent ideas or thoughts. Common issues with OCD include fear of contamination, harm, illness, and various other worries.
OCD often develops between late childhood and early adolescence to cope with ongoing stress from parental, family, school, or social issues.
They can have an unwavering focus and inflexibility in the "right way" to do something to the point it negatively impacts their relationships.
OCD tendencies can seem senseless, absurd, intrusive, bothersome, and embarrassing.
If the thought or idea is not acted upon, it can create intense anxiety or a panic attack.
These obsessions and compulsions are distressing, time-consuming, and can interfere with a person's daily routine, functioning, and relationships.
Obsessions are capable of producing tremendous anxiety or feelings of discomfort, such as hopelessness, condemnation, and disgust toward themselves and others.
Individuals with OCD perform these actions or rituals to relieve anxiety, avoid some dreaded event, or to prevent or undo real or perceived discomfort.
Common compulsions include cleaning, contamination, checking, repeating, touching, hoarding, collecting, counting, organizing, and many other rituals.
The person will often struggle with nagging questions like what if, and what about.
Help for Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies
OCD can be more difficult with a chemical imbalance, and the person might need medication to help them. In the life of a Christian, obsessive-compulsive tendencies can make their life miserable and damage relationships around them. It becomes a weight they carry around. If they are willing to take responsibility and look to Christ, they can get better (Hebrews 12:1,2).
Spiritual Problems that Promote Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies
First of all, there is a need to understand and address any spiritual problems that are a part of their struggle.
Fear, worry, and regret.
Confusion about what is reality and the truth.
Pride and control.
Perfectionism to the degree they can never feel "good enough."
Negative thoughts about themselves and others.
Judgemental and critical toward others.
Fears of losing their salvation.
A Helpful Approach to Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies
They need to understand what reality is (what is healthy normal) and accept how the magnified and distorted thoughts behind the OCD behavior is impacting their life.
With my clients, I address one thought pattern or action at a time. The goal is to help them look to Christ as they begin to treat their OCD. I want to help them build confidence with the small choices they make.
It is beneficial for them to understand how their OCD behavior negatively impacts their relationships.
They need to challenge and address the questions in their mind that increase fear and anxiety. The questions, What about ____? Or What if ____? These build on the thoughts, fears, perfectionism, confusion, perfectionism, etc.
The deception is this: "If you (obsessive thought or behavior) again, there will be peace." Any calm or peace is short is duration. The more the thought or behavior pattern is repeated and acted upon, the harder it is to control. As obsessive-compulsive tendencies control more of their life, they have less confidence, more anxiety, and uncertainty.
The process of change involves self-awareness and taking action at a critical point in the process. Learning to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)) when triggered and the temptation, fear, confusion, or thought to do or think it "just one more time" comes, this is the point when you must say, "No," and look to Jesus Christ and focus on the truth and make a choice to move on (Philippians 4:7). It is essential to say "no" and move on at a critical point, but it can happen in most cases. It is one small victory at a time.
We have a sound mind because that is what the Scriptures say God has given you, 2 Timothy 2:7, "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power, love, and self-control.".
We are in a spiritual battle, and Satan has many ways to bring destruction in people's lives. Getting people involved in obsessive-compulsive problems is just one way. It has been a blessing to see people look to Christ and find help in their lives and find freedom!
Cross Centered Living...Denial of Self or Self Denial?
"When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it."
Mark 8:34,35
Did you know that we can all be a narcissist? Yes...when we live a self-sufficient and self-centered life apart from Christ.
Adam and Eve were the first people to entertain the idea "to be like God" (Genesis 3:5), which is the essence of the self-centered life that Satan promotes and our flesh easily cooperates with. Satan's lie is that you are capable of being the god of your own life.
That is why identifying with the cross of Christ is the daily life of the true Christian. Jesus is telling us that to follow Him is to deny ourself. That means taking ourselves off the throne of our life. Jesus is asking for His Lordship over every area of our life.
Jesus said...deny yourself.
Dying to self is our primary battle of life. Denying yourself is not the same as self-denial. The purpose of self-denial is focused on self improvement, whereas, denying yourself is denying self-rule. Our flesh desires to sit on the throne of our lives, but only Jesus is truly worthy. Seeking to overcome self through our own self discipline is a futile effort.
Identify with His cross!
The cross is not our own cross but Christ's cross. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) Taking up the cross means to acknowledge our need for Jesus Christ every day to live through us. Our life is hidden in Christ because He is our life (Colossians 3:3, 4).
Follow Jesus... where He leads you.
Be filled and led by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will lead us down the path of death to self-rule. 2 Corinthians 4:11—"For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." It is only as we live out of our new heart in Christ that we can obey Him.
In this world we find our identity and sense of worth in positions, titles, accomplishments, possessions. If our goal is for the things of this world, we will lose our life. If our goal is living our lives now for His kingdom and eternal things, we will also receive the benefits of living and knowing Christ now. We are sacrificing the pleasures of things to gain the source of true joys in this life. It is better to know we are children of God than to gain something in this world that we will eventually lose.
How to Process Your Fear
"...for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
2 Timothy 1:7
Fear was the first emotion recorded in Scripture after the fall. Adam said, "I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself" (Genesis 3:10). Ever since the fall of man, fear is an emotion we all need to address in our lives.
Feeling fear is a natural response when our emotional, psychological and physical safety is threatened. For fear to intensify, it must possess two attributes: we must perceive it as imminent (present) and potent (dominant) over us. For example, the number one fear people experience is death. When we are young and healthy, death seems far away. However, when diagnosed with a life-threatening illness like cancer, fear, and anxiety can overwhelm us. The truth is those in Christ are all delivered from the fear of death! (Hebrews 2:15)
Acknowledging and understanding your fears and addressing them with the truth early in the process can be of great help.
Asking yourself and processing these questions can help you begin to work through your fears. Work through one concern at a time. You might want to start by addressing your greatest fear first.
What is my reason to fear? Is it a rational fear? Does the initial fear lead to other related concerns?
How imminent is it? How powerful is it?
How realistic is it?
You cannot remove everything in your life that causes you fear. However, you can work on lowering its intensity. These are the critical questions to address it...What thoughts do I have that makes this object of fear grow in intensity? Am I asking myself repetitive what about or what-if questions that are increasing my fear? What lies am I believing?
What Biblical truth can bring me comfort and speak truth to my fears? Make a list with two columns. On one side, write down the list of negative thoughts or lies that build on the fear and the other column, the Biblical truth that speaks to each negative belief or lie.
What bodily sensations does this fear cause me to have? Increased heart rate? Tingling in my arms? Heavy breathing and pressure on my chest? Are my physical symptoms caused by my emotions or do I have a physical issue? Do I need to seek medical help?
What reactions does this fear cause me to have? Is my reaction healthy for me and others around me? Is there panic or a fearful response?
What bad habits that come from my fear? Am I developing phobias, avoidant behaviors, addictions, obsessions?
Is there someone I can reach out to help me work through these questions and gain a healthier perspective?
What does it look like for me to allow Christ to comfort me in my fears? (1 Peter 5:7)
When the resurrected Christ first appeared to His disciples He found them cowering in fear of the Jews. He simply said to them, "Peace be with you" (John 20:19). God's provision for personal redemption had come and they no longer had to be afraid. The same is true for us today!
Experiencing the Reality of Fear
The Reality of Fear & Anxiety
Isaiah 41:10 "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."
A virus that began thousands of miles away in Wuhan, China, brings the reality of fear and anxiety home for all of us. Fear is an emotion that powerfully energizes our nervous system. When we experience fear, the amygdala in our brain is activated. The amygdala is the part of our brain designed to be on guard and protect us from fearful things and people. Fear impacts all of us in various ways. The command, "fear not," is the most repeated in the Bible. Yet, it is not always the easiest to do.
Many people I counsel struggle with various degrees of fear and anxiety. Their distress ranges from generalized anxiety to the impact of past trauma and living with chronic PTSD. I try to help them understand the physical, emotional, and spiritual struggles they are experiencing, and guide them through a process to help address their fears.
In the coming weeks, I will be discussing several topics related to this complex issue. First, I would like to address anxiety. You might be asking, what is the difference between fear and anxiety? Fear has a known object (sometimes not consciously remembered) related to a past or present experience. When a person experiences anxiety, they may not always know the cause.
What is anxiety all about?
• Anxiety is a sense of being out of control.
• It is a fear of the unknown.
• It is an assumption that bad things will occur.
• It is a sense of uncertainty, tension, or uneasiness about a future event, but not always sure of what the specific activity or thing feared.
• It is an uncomfortable feeling of dread characterized by nervousness, tension, and apprehension.
• Anxiety is extremely common in unhealthy relationships.
• It can associated to past trauma relating to a feeling of being out of control or trapped.
• Anxiety occurs when a person becomes afraid to address a negative situation and emotion inside.
• It is an adaptive feeling of high nervousness experienced by all of us, to something unpleasant and generally leads to some action to relieve the feeling.
• It can be free-floating, a term used to describe a lack of focus on a specific target. Unlike a fear that develops in reaction to a particular (real or imagined) danger, anxiety can have no apparent cause of which the person is aware.
• An exaggerated state of anxiety, resulting in a profound disturbance in the ability to function, is called panic.
What can I do to help myself with anxiety?
• Daily remind yourself that you are God's child, and he will take care of you for eternity.
Luke 12:32, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
• Acknowledge your feelings and express them in prayer.
Philippians 4:6,7 "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."
• When anxiety starts to surface, stop and ask yourself, "What negative thoughts am I thinking?". Attempt to see the circumstance from a positive perception.
Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
• Address double-mindedness: Plan A (God's will) vs. Plan B (my will) thinking. We must be careful to align our thoughts and surrender our will to God's plan for our life.
1 Peter 5:6,7 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
• Practice self-awareness and assess your thoughts. What do you believe about this event or situation? What are the lies you are believing or feeling? What is the truth of God's Word that speaks the truth? Are you under a spiritual attack? Separate facts, assumptions, and feelings.
1 Peter 5:8,9 "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings."
• Write down and share with God your feelings and thoughts in a diary or a notebook.
Psalm 141:1 " O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!"
• Read and personalize the Psalms every day.
Psalm 61:1-3 "Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy."
• Plan how you will respond step-by-step if a panic attack occurs. Work on being self-aware at the onset of your trigger. Understand what your trigger is. Take your thoughts captive. Take time to relax and do something that you enjoy. Practice relaxation exercises by breathing deeply and slowly.
2 Corinthians 10:5 "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,"
• Learn the importance of mutual emotional regulation. Talk to a trusted friend who will listen and understand you when you are anxious. It can help you to have greater clarity and return to joy.
Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
What Can I do With All This Stress
What Can I Do With All This Stress?
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." - Jesus, John 16:33
One of the aspects of stress that is problematic, is that it is cumulative. What do I mean? Stress is something that builds over time, even when we are not consciously aware of it. With more responsibility, new problems, painful situations, stress can take an emotional toll on us.
As a growing Christian, we must allow stress to help us grow in our dependence on Christ in every area of our life. We cannot let it overwhelm us and negatively impact us and those around us. How we process stress in our life will significantly affect us spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
Here is a beneficial process that I have personally applied and counseled my clients to work on. You can get your Bible and pen and paper and it can be help to you!
First of all, reflect on these verses through meditation and memorization. Any other scriptures that are personally meaningful to you concerning God's grace are helpful.
Isaiah 40:29, "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength."
Psalm 73:26, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Jeremiah 32:17, "Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you."
Secondly, pray and ask the Lord to help you make a list of your top 10 fears, concerns, worries, painful situations, etc.
Write them down. Take that list and evaluate what bucket to put each item. Separating our list into these different categories can help us to know how to address the different areas that impact our lives. There could be aspects of each burden that apply in more than one bucket.
The three buckets are:
I can still change it, and what does the Lord want me to do about it? Pray and ask God for wisdom as to what steps you can take to address the situation. Write down your applications. Be proactive. As you begin to apply these steps, the stress in your life will lessen, and the sense of accomplishment will increase, relieving stress.
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Peter, 1 Peter 1:13
I can't change the situation, and I need to grieve the loss and accept it. When people experience the painful reality of loss in their life, they are at risk of getting stuck in depression in the grief cycle. Losing hope can be replaced with faith if I allow myself to feel the pain and look to Christ for healing and accept the loss. We can then put our confidence and trust in God for what will happen to us and know he will use it in our lives for good.
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Paul, Romans 8:18
It can still change, but only God can change it, and I need to trust God with the situation. Trusting God is an excellent place for us to be. We learn in scripture that there are many things that only God can change. We need to distinguish between what is our responsibility to change something and what only God can change. If we take responsibility for only what God can change, it will lead to us controlling another person or situation that will add to our stress and sense of hopelessness and make the situation worse.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5
As you prayerfully process through these steps my hope is that it will help you find help in relieving your stress and experience the grace of God as you depend on him.
How Stressed Out Are You?
How Stressed Out Are You?
Psalm 25:12,13a "Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being..."
One of my goals as a counselor is helping my clients remain as functional as possible as they address the painful emotional issues in their lives. Sometimes this can be difficult for some people depending on several factors. One crucial factor in this is their current stress levels and how they manage it. It is essential to become more self-aware of the impact of stress in our lives, because we are not always realistic about how many responsibilities we can take on. Most importantly, prolonged stress in our lives will lead to burnout!
One verse that has been important to me in regards to my own self-awareness is Romans 12:3, "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." Notice that Paul uses the term "sober judgment" to describe having a proper perspective of yourself, instead of "more highly" of yourself, which is rooted in the flesh, pride, and self-sufficiency.
Recently a good friend of mine introduced me to the "Human Function Curve" in a helpful diagram. Here are some helpful questions to better evaluate yourself.
Where are you at on the function curve?
Where does God want you to be on the function curve?
What can you do to move towards God's best for your life in this regard?
What are you trying to control that you need to turn over to God?
Are you self medicating to address your stress?
What is the trajectory of your life? Is the path towards 'self,' or is it 'other-minded'?