All Our Anxiety Dr. Charles Stanley

All Our Anxiety

1 Peter 5:6-7

Isn't it interesting that Satan prowling like a roaring lion is mentioned in
a passage dealing with anxious thoughts? Worry can feel like an attack”we
get torn up on the inside by fears, frustration, and helplessness. Anxiety is a
tormenting emotion, and the Devil wields it very well.

We don't have to live with worry, because the Lord closes the mouths of
lions that threaten His followers (Dan. 6:22). Peter described how to keep
clear
of anxiety's jaws. First, we humble ourselves before God. What causes worry
is a sense of helplessness in a given situation, so the best response is
yielding
yourself to God”submitting to Him with the confidence that He has the power
to control your life. Another thing that builds trust is the realization
that
God is always engineering circumstances for your good and His glory (Rom
8:28).

Remember, prayer is a declaration of dependence. When we humble ourselves,
we're kneeling before an omnipotent God. Nothing is a challenge for His
power,
which brings us to the second step of casting cares upon Him: the simple
exercise of telling the Lord your troubles and then trusting Him to deal
with
them. He assumes responsibility for meeting believers' needs (Matt.
6:31-32). Your part is to prioritize obeying Him and living a righteous life
(v. 33).

There's one more step: Resist Satan by remaining firm in faith. In other
words, don't snatch those concerns out of God's hands to worry over them
anew.
When the Devil's ways make you tremble with anxiety, reject His lie and
affirm that the Lord is adequate to handle the situation.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please
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www.intouch.org.