A Prescription For Anxiety

​A Prescription for Anxiety
Phil. 4:6,7

Intro: We are living in a time of Unprecedented Anxiety. Human life has always had its share of anxiety; of worries; of troubled thoughts and agitated emotions. After all, there is Much about life on this earth to cause worry and anxiety. We worry about our personal health and the health of our family; we have worries in regard to work and income; we have the pressures of physical life; shelter, food, clothing, and transportation; we often have anxiety in regard to human relationships and the list could go on and on. There is much about life on earth that causes worry and anxiety.
The world offers some prescriptions and cures for anxiety but most of them totally miss the Heart of the problem. I know that there are some medications that are beneficial so I try not to blast all medicine; BUT our world is Pill Crazy! EVERY problem of life has a Pill thrown at it. What boggles the mind is that the negative side effects of Just About Every Medication are more abundant than the positive benefits. Now I am human too, and I am smart enough to know that you and I are not going to live a life with NO Worry and NO anxiety; its just part of our nature. BUT there is a Bible prescription for Anxiety that Will Work!
It’s found in these familiar words of Paul to the Philippians and the prescription has Three Parts.


I. FAITH- Don’t Worry about Anything.
Our Victory over worry and anxiety begins with Faith in our Great God. Fear and Faith cannot co-exist. Where fear rules, faith is subdued. Where Faith rules, fear is subdued.
Jesus said in Mark 11:22- Have Faith in God.
Do you Believe and Know that God Does Exist?
Do you believe and know that God formed the worlds with just the power of His Word?
Do you believe and Know that God rewards those who diligently seek him?
If you answered YES to those three questions- you are well on your way to victory over worry and anxiety.
John said that Our Faith is the Victory that overcomes the world. It’s the world and its elements that cause our fear so we must have Faith in God that will overcome the world.
Paul said that Faith comes by Hearing the Word of God. We must feed our Faith and our Fears will starve. Believe in the Person of God; Believe in the Promises of God; Believe in the Power of God;
Believe in the Word of God. Have Faith; Build your Faith; Exercise your Faith; and Don’t Worry about anything. Be careful or anxious about nothing.


II. PRAYER- Talk to God about Everything.
Prayer is the Greatest Expression of Faith.
If you don’t believe in God, you don’t pray to God.
If you don’t believe God can or will do anything for you, you don’t pray. BUT When you Do Believe in God; and you believe in his Word; and his Love; and his Power; YOU PRAY!
Prayer is taking the troubles of human life to an eternal God who has all power in both earth and heaven.
Sometimes we have confided in a friend and shared some of the troubles and burdens of life and it made us feel Better just to talk to someone about it. How much more should we make it our regular practice to Talk to God about Everything! I don’t think we should pick and choose as to what we think is important enough to talk to God about. It’s ALL important to Him. He told us to Cast our Cares upon Him for he Cares for Us. So, which Cares should we cast on Him? Only the “big” ones? Only the “real important” ones? Only those we can’t handle on our own? No! Part of having victory over worry and anxiety is to Talk to God about Everything.

III. GRATITUDE- Thank God in All Things.
It may seem odd, but being unthankful Does increase anxiety.
We often get confused and we take things for Granted, instead of Being Grateful. Those are Not the same thing!
James wrote that Every Good and Perfect gift comes down from our Father.
Paul asked the Corinthians, “what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”
In more common words he said, “What do you have that you did not receive from God? Since everything you have came from God, why do you, in Pride, act like you are the one responsible for it instead of giving God the glory for it?”
Those who Thank God in ALL things will have greater victory over anxiety. 1 Thess 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Billy Sunday once said, “Your praying will improve if you’ll yank out a few Groans and put in a few Shouts.”
There is a prescription for anxiety:
1) Faith- Don’t Worry About Anything.
2) Prayer- Talk to God about Everything.
3) Gratitude- Thank God in All Things.
THEN, Paul wrote, “the Peace of God, which passes all understanding, will Keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”