Build Your Kingdom Life – Part 2

Jesus does not want us to build our lives in worry, anxiety, or taking anxious care. He wants us to build them in righteousness, peace, and joy—one thought at a time.

 

While worry assaults the thoughts, anxiety intimidates the emotions. There is the issue of the chicken and the egg—which one came first? The point is that both thoughts and emotions are impacted by both worry and anxiety. However, worry can be recognized by its assault on thoughts, while anxiety is most often recognized by its torment to emotions.

 

 

 

Anxiety is often an unnamed uneasiness. It is often something inside us that has never been expressed. Frankly, everyone has their own boatful of unexpressed concerns because no person has the time or even concern to listen to everything every other person thinks or feels. It’s just not possible. There is an exception—and that is our Heavenly Father! He delights to hear all that you think and feel!

 

 

 

In fact, anxiety can mask other painful emotions such as disappointment, frustration, vulnerability, powerlessness, etc. The uneasiness of anxiety can arise from concern that you may be in, or walking into, a situation where you will face disappointment or powerlessness, etc., again.

 

When you stop to hear and express to Father what you are feeling, then ask Him to meet you there with His healing love, you are on your way out of anxiety.

 

 

 

“Taking anxious care” often centers on the very real spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being of yourself and your family. The cares of this life are real—and constant. However, they come with a price.

 

That price is the loss of the fruit of His Word.

 

“The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful” (NIV, Matthew 13:22).

 

When His Word bears fruit in us, our very real (and often concern-inducing) lives are made much better! For our own well-being, it behooves us to be intentional to “seek first His Kingdom” as opposed to seeking first “taking anxious care” for the constant concerns of this life.

 

It’s just a shift in what is done first.

 

Earth first in our thoughts and priorities will leave us anxious, worried, troubled with care—and without time or energy available to invest in Kingdom thought, prayer, and/or action.

 

Kingdom first in our thoughts, prayers, and order of our day makes the rest of our very real, daily concerns for ourselves and our families fall into order without siphoning huge amounts of time, space, and energy.

 

 

 

Father placed the antidote for anxiety—in all its forms–in His Word, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (NIV, Philippians 4:6).

 

Heavenly Father encourages us — recognize that anxiety! Stop and hear what you are feeling anxious about. Then, express it to Me. Turn it into prayer. Give thanks because you are heard!

 

He Hears You!

 

I love this, and it is true. He hears your voice. “I love the LORD because He heard my voice” (NIV, Psalm 116:1). That’s one main reason we can be thankful. We can give thanks because HE HEARD YOU! And He’s working out the details.  

 

Father did create us spirit, soul, and body. He is the only one who knows where the dividing line is—and that’s really good. There is a feedback loop, or interactivity and connectivity, between the triune parts of our being. If part of our spirit is wounded or assaulted, it will impact our soul and our physical health.

 

 

 

Here is an important note. Food is a factor in anxiety (and other ailments too). Deficiency in minerals and vitamins, and gut imbalances, can trigger anxiety by its impact on the nervous system. In addition to nutritional deficiency, when a diet is high in processed foods and sugars, then anxiety can often result. The solution is simple, but not easy if that’s been the main diet—change your diet. Additionally, choose a quality multivitamin and supplements.

 

The Lord intervened in my life several years ago and told me to get breakfast in my schedule, which included a green drink (at that time, it was greens, apple, lemon, water, and a protein, swished down with a quality vitamin). Previously, I hurtled into the day with prayer, coffee, and maybe powered protein. After I adjusted my morning schedule at the Lord’s direction, I felt much better! The physical body does require healthful food and supplements to work well—and that includes the building blocks that the body needs to release all its good (and feel-good) chemicals. When these are low in the body due to nutritional deprivation, anxiety, and depression can result.

 

Deficiencies in nutrition combined with a lifestyle of worry and anxiety have been linked to dementia. It’s good news to know this. The reason that is good news is that it is revealed. When something is revealed, we can work on solutions.

 

The really great news is that Father already gave us the answer—express your concerns (anxieties) to Him, recognize your worries, and turn them into prayer and thanksgiving for being heard. Choose to eat well.

 

You’re building your wonderful Kingdom life—one thought, one choice, one bite at a time!