Cast Your Fears . . . Bishop Quigg Lawrence

If I were to pour truth serum down your throat and ask you this question, how would you respond? Do you have fears and anxieties that are, brick by brick building an invisible prison around you and ruining your life?

Well welcome to the club.  Did you know the Bible speaks a lot about this? Jesus and St. Peter both addressed anxiety and fear head on.  Why?  Because they know that most everyone on the planet suffers from anxiety or worry.  Even Jesus-loving, bible reading Christians do.

If you keep reading, I think you may find some real help.

Jesus said in Luke 12, “ And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span?  If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?”

Peter said in 1 Peter 5:7,  “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

Worry and anxiety is the elephant in the American living room.  I might say that too often it is the elephant in the Church.

Ok, OK so even though we are about the richest society the world has ever seen  and have virtually every gizmo, gadget, resource and pleasure, we are still imprisoned by anxiety, fear and worry.  We pop pills and let those anxieties produce harmful behaviors.

Well, what can we do about anxiety?

As noted above, we can actively DUMP (cast) our anxieties and cares upon the Lord’s broad shoulders who cares for us and promises that He can carry them.

Philippians 4 also gives us concrete advice.  Tangible help.  LET YOUR REQUESTS BE KNOWN TO GOD.  Talk to him and tell him all about it.  Pray to him.  Listen to Him.  Spend time with him.  Thank Him for His love, care and provision.  “By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving”.

Maybe you are like me and have bought into the excuse (lie) that you’re just not into prayer that much.   It’s not your deal.  You see prayer as a sport for monks and old church women.  HOW IS IT WORKING FOR YOU?

Jesus promises anxieties will go if we spend time in his presence praying to Him and meditating upon his Word.  He promises that he will place a guard over our hearts and minds and we will experience the peace of God that SURPASSES all human understanding.

So you get to decide.  Have you had enough worry and anxiety?  Have you had enough pain? Or is your pride and slothfulness going to keep you in the invisible prison?  I have never met a person who persisted in daily prayer to the Lord who was filled with worry and anxiety.  Never.  Not one.

+Quigg Lawrence

Anglican Bishop Province of Rwanda and ACNA

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