ANXIETY AND FEAR

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 27 May 2012

Hi all,

Anxiety and fear are terrible things. Jesus’ comments suggest that if we have anxiety for the future you’re suggestion that God is more interested in His pets than He is in you. ²⁶ Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to Him than they are? Matthew 6:26 NLT Today’s meditation looks at anxiety.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Time with Jesus – Sunday, 27 May 2012
INTRODUCTION	DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	ANXIETY AND FEAR
Have you ever asked yourself, “What is the difference between a healing and a miracle?” There is of course a sense in which they are both miraculous, having come from the supernatural. But to you and me, they are not the same. If someone has leprosy, that person can be healed from the disease. The person will no longer have leprosy. Wonderful and good. Yes it is supernatural. We rejoice with the person that he has been healed. A miracle? Yes but not in the sense I’m referring to. Leprosy is a terrible disease. Slowly it affects the extremities. People get to the point where they may lose a toe, a hand or a foot. Now when the toe is gone, a reconstructive miracle is needed to replace the toe. God is able to do that as easily as He can heal leprosy. Reconstructive miracles are not seen very often. John gives a wonderful account of a constructive miracle. The man was born blind. In all probability he had no eyeballs. Jesus then made new “eyes” for him with his spittle and soil. 6 Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud. John 9:6 ESV This was similar to what had happened when Adam was formed from clay. (wet mud) God breathed the breath of life into Adam and created him. Jesus did the very same. He mixed His breath with the “clay” and made mud. This He placed on the man’s “eyes”. Jesus sent him to wash off the mud in the pool of Siloam. A miracle had taken place. The man could see for the first time in his life. Such miracles still take place today. Usually we don’t hear about them. Sometimes, God does not heal someone. Paul asked the Lord to heal him from the thorn in the flesh. He asked three times. He was not healed. God told him He liked him better the way he was. This kept Paul being humble and dependant on God. Today, many healings take place at conferences. Some of them are genuine. Some are not. Personally, I’m a bit sceptical when someone tells me he had a headache and now it’s gone. The man could be a liar. It’s happened before. The leader’s entire ministry has been a money-making scam. That’s why I like to hear of medically attested miracles. It can be demonstrated that the person had a certain medical condition. After the healing, the affected part was healed and the medical profession can prove it! I’ve had anxiety syndrome since I was a tiny baby. The bombs and my Mom’s anxiety about my safety were communicated to me. I’d love to get rid of it. But the Lord says He likes me the way I am. Sure, I’ve got a thorn in the flesh. Sure I’d like deliverance. But only he can create a reconstructive miracle in my head. Some say that Jim is going mad. My comment is that I didn’t have far to go! “Why not join me?” Jim & Phyllida Strickland	32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:32 ESV 6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honour. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 NLT 9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war." 2 Chronicles 16:9 TNIV 8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the person who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the LORD, you holy people who belong to him. Those who fear him are never in need. 10 Young lions go hungry and may starve, but those who seek the LORD'S help have all the good things they need. Psalms 34:8-10 GW 25 "So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life more than food and the body more than clothes? 26 "Look at the birds. They don't plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you worth more than they? Matthew 6:25-26 GW 6 Don't worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him. 7 Then God's peace will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus. God's peace can never be completely understood. Philippians 4:6-7 NIrV	I was born in England in nineteen forty two. We lived in Hull together; and there we surely knew The terrible destruction as bombs came raining down A dangerous place to live in; and we lived in that town. The mothers were all terrified. “My baby” they would scream. It really was a nightmare. Far from a pleasant dream. My mother’s disposition was great anxiety. I know I shouldn’t say this, but her problem then was me! How to protect the little ones from all these bombing raids? No wonder that the families were terribly afraid! We were evacuated to, a village fairly near. But we could hear the bombing; and Mom was filled with fear. I do not have a memory of any of those things. But deep in my subconscious, those fear-filled days still cling. It isn’t so surprising, Mom’s anxiousness was shared, With me while still a baby; for she was really scared. I’m sure you’ll understand that I’m a very anxious man! That is just what happened and how it all began. And so this great anxiety has been with me for years. Assisted by the things which caused my dreadful inner fears. A Christian isn’t anxious. That’s just what Jesus said. I know this for a fact, but the problem’s in my head. I’ve prayed about this matter. I’ve pleaded to be healed. But every time I do it, the Father has revealed, That this remains a problem that has helped to make me, me! “My grace is quite sufficient”. He’s said repeatedly. I know that He could heal me. But it is in His hands. I think I’d rather live with it than break my Lord’s commands. He’s kept me and protected me and given me a life That I have found together with Phyllida, my wife. It really is quite wonderful; the best I’ve ever known. An excellent example, man shouldn’t be alone. And in this time He’s shown me that a man without a limp Simply can’t be trusted; He’s a religious chimp. So, what about anxiety, of worries and of fear? Is Jesus truly teaching us to never let them near? Of course He is! It’s obvious, Don’t wobble like a jelly! Jesus Christ is with you and Satan’s tricks are smelly. Don’t let the aroma of what may never be, Come and interfere with your true tranquillity. God knows all about it and He is in control. Protecting you in spirit, in body and in soul. Jim Strickland  Written 27th May 2012