We live in an atmosphere of fear. Fear is nothing new, as every decade in every century holds its own potentially life-threatening catastrophe, either real or exaggerated by imagination. It’s a problem I hear about often. I got this email this week: “Dr. Dixie, When I listen to the daily talk of people around me and the news media, I feel so helpless and tense I get sick, but I watch and listen repeatedly because I need to be informed. I know God says we’re not to be afraid and anxious, but I am terrified and have no hope for the future. How can I stop worrying?”
We are commanded nearly 100 times in Scripture to not to be anxious, worried or afraid, including the very specific instruction: “Take no thought for tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own.” (Matthew 6:34) God is not telling us to ignore the future, or that we shouldn’t plan wisely for the coming years. However, when we focus the majority of our time and attention on secular speculation about the future, anxiety is the inevitable result. Secular means “attitudes having no religious or spiritual basis”.
Anytime the focus of our attention is on a person, systems or organizations, we’re going to worry because those things have a history of failure. We know they can’t be trusted. But because American culture has become increasingly secular and knowledge of God has been taken largely out of public spaces, the majority of Christians aren’t too sure God can be trusted either. As a result, we think and feel the same way the secular world does. God specifically warns against that: “Do not call conspiracy all that these people will call conspiracy; neither be in fear of what they fear, nor make others afraid and in dread.” Isaiah_ 8:12_ AMPC ______ Thoughts always give birth to emotions. We cannot experience an emotion apart from a thought. That’s why we are commanded to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4); “set your mind (focus) on things that are above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2), and “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). God’s promise is that “the mind focused on the Spirit produces life and peace” (Romans 8:6).
The only way to neutralize the overwhelming anxiety that has become a benchmark of our culture is to focus our attention on the nature of God and His promises. (2 Corinthians 1:20a): “For all the promises of God, whatever their number, have their confirmation in Jesus…therefore we say “so be it” to God through Him…” When we focus on the faithfulness and love of God toward people, meditating on His Word rather than on the “word” of the secular media, our confidence in God’s ability to provide for us increases, producing greater peace. We cannot fix the global financial crisis, but we can determine to mature in our understanding of God’s willingness to take care of us in seemingly impossible circumstances. We cannot stop the impact of political dishonesty and greed, but we can refuse to allow the sinfulness of others to take control of our thought life and our emotions.
(Luke 21:33) The sky, the universe, the world will pass away, but My words will not pass away. (Joshua 23:14) Know in your hearts and souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one thing of them has failed.
Infinite Grace Ministries teaches how the loving, righteous judgment of God sets things right in our lives. Call 580-774-2884 for more information about your one-on-one appointment with Dr. Dixie, Robert Huckleberry or Ellen Vanderveer today!
