HELP >>> Anxiety <<< HELP

HELP   >>> ANXIETY <<<   HELP

Fear, worry, and uncertainty seem to be the order of the day and they all add up to increased anxiety in each of us. Check out these two acrostics using the word, anxiety.

Are we looking for help in ourselves or in Jesus?

Today, or over the next few days, I encourage you to get a Bible—hey, even an actual bound Bible with literal paper pages—and look up the accompanying passages of Scripture. Meditate on each one, asking God to plant it as a seed into your spirit.

Photo by Connie Wohlford

Find HELP In Self




Anxious at every turn.  à Philippians 4:6-7


Not good enough.  à Psalm 139:14


Xeroses due to not trusting God. à Proverbs 17:22


Intellectual ascent leaves God out of the equation.  à 2 Corinthians 10:1-5


Envious of others’ family, possessions, job, status, etc.  à Colossians 3:2


Tethered to negative thoughts, addiction, unwholesome people. à Psalm 119:15


Yesterday’s failures.  à Isaiah 43:18-19


Find HELP In Christ

Answered prayer.  à Psalm 120:1

Never alone.  à Hebrews 13:5

Xebecs of faith help you navigate worrisome trials.   à  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Identity in Jesus relieves tension.   à  1 Peter 2:9-10

Everlasting life - the hope of your future.  à  John 3:16-17

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Total surrender relieves anxiety.  à  John 8:31-36

Yes, to God brings soul peace  à  Romans 6:12-14 


Our loving Heavenly Father wants to cast all our cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7). 


The Apostle Paul assures us that we can “glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:3b-5 NKJV). 

This was created by the child of a friend.

“And we know that all thing work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. … What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, …” (Romans 6:28-32a NKJV).   







So, take heart, my friend! Kick anxiety to the curb, use wisdom, immerse yourself in God’s Word, and trust God. 


With a friend, spouse, or family, maybe you can create an acrostic using the word trust or faith.    ~~   Your comments are welcome.


Please share some of your favorite Scriptures you turn to during trying times. 


©Copyright 2020 Connie Wohlford

Mix the Word with Faith and Trust God - Part 1 of 3

Mix the Word with Faith and Trust God <> Part 1

Don’t forget to trust God!

“But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You” (Psalm 5:11a).

We hear it said, “Trust God.”   <><>  YES—that’s excellent advice.

I would like to suggest, “Mix the Word with Faith—Then Trust God.”

“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Hebrews 4:2 KJV).

In other words—They heard the Word preached but it did not benefit them because they didn’t mix it with faith. So, when we mix the Word of God with our faith we have the wherewithal to trust God. And we can be assured the Holy Spirit in us is powerfully blending it all together to give us peace all we need to truly trust. 

When was the last time you HAD to trust God? I mean really trust Him.

I wanted to say, “When was the last time you were forced to trust God?”

Though it may have felt like you were forced, we’re never really forced. We have a choice. 

Trusting God is a choice—in any situation. Have you needed to trust God for something today—this very day?  Think about that for a moment.

Thinking back to one of my own experiences in trusting God was when our son, Shannon, who was eleven at the time, had a head injury in a bicycle accident.

I know—I know. You’re thinking, “Why wasn’t he wearing a helmet?” This was back before helmets were required. At that time only big-time bike athletes wore helmets. So don’t judge me.  😊

Anyway, the ER doc said he had temporary amnesia.

AMNESIA! That word will stop you in your tracks—especially when it’s in regard to your child’s head injury. But the word that meant the world to me was, temporary.

I remember, clearly, sitting by Shannon’s bed, hour after hour, hoping Dr. Cook meant it when he said temporary. Fear rushed through me as I considered the possibility that Dr. Cook may have said that just to comfort me in the hopes that it really would be temporary.

So, I sat there alone, hour after hour. My husband was in Michigan for a week-long business trip. My parents were at work and our younger son was with a neighbor who offered to tend him until my mom got home. 

I knew, though, that I wasn’t alone. I was well aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence. 

When fear rose up and wanted to overtake me, I realized that I had a decision to make. I heard a voice in my spirit (not an audible voice). It said, “Okay, Connie, what are you going to do? Are you going to trust God—or fall apart?”

I knew my God. And I had enough of God’s Word in me to know He was trustworthy. I decided to trust God.

What I did was mix the Word with faith and trust God.

Though this was many years ago, I remember sitting there, nodding my head and telling God, “I’m going to trust You. I know Shannon will be fine. I believe Dr. Cook is right—that this amnesia is only temporary.”

So, I kept vigil at Shannon’s bedside answering his same questions over and over in between his periods of sleep. Every few minutes he asked:

“What day is today?”

“Did I miss Neil’s birthday party?”

“Who is my girlfriend?”

I patiently answered him each time as we went through the series of questions, and I would thank God that I could trust Him that Shannon would be fine. 

I had stopped asking Dr. Cook, “How much longer?” because I knew his answer would again be, “I don’t know.”   

Instead, I would pray, “God, You know and that’s what counts.”

Occasionally, I would wipe a tear from my eye and say, “God, I trust You.”

There are a lot of things in life that are completely out of our hands. 

Are you a control freak? We often want to control people. And we often want to control situations to the point it can drive us crazy. It’s amazing the stress relief we can achieve when turn a person or situation over to God and just trust Him.

Think about how frustrating it is when people won’t do what we think they should do. In just a few weeks, my husband and I will have been married for 48 years. 

A long time ago, when I learned that I cannot and should not try to make him to do what I think he should do, a huge burden was lifted from me. My maturing in that area possibly saved our marriage. 

Besides that, I am not to take responsibility for his actions. 

I put him in God’s hands. Instead of talking to him about what I think should happen, I talk to God. 

That’s not to say that Guy and I don’t talk. Certainly, we do. But I don’t keep repeating things and trying to convince him, hoping to manipulate the situation. I speak my mind to Guy and to God. Then I trust God. God always knows what’s best.

Sometimes things go my way and sometimes they don’t. But I’m letting the ultimate result be God’s. If Guy and I mess up, I know God will help us straighten things out.

We can do this in all relationships. God knows more than we do. He knows every minute detail of every thing and every one. He knows what the outcome should be. He’s trustworthy.

When an outcome seems to be not what is best, due to human error or weakness, sin, rebellion, or whatever— God’s not shocked. He doesn’t fall apart. He stands ready to forgive and turn what Satan meant for evil into something He can bring good out of. God’s like that. He’s trustworthy.

Trusting God is about having faith in God and we know that without faith it’s impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6).

The Bible teaches us how to trust and why we can trust God. We need to Mix the Word with Faith, make every effort to follow God’s leading and do things God’s way, and trust the results to Him. He’s always trustworthy. 

In Part 2 of this series, we’ll look at a woman in the Bible who trusted God. Her life and the lives of her family depended on it. I hope you’ll check back in.  

Please share about a time you needed to trust God. Your comments are welcome.

©Copyright 2018 Connie Wohlford

Bible Answers for Stress <> Part 1 of 2

Bible Answers for Stress <> Part 1 of 2

         Subtitle – How to Walk in God’s Abundant Life 

The 37^th Psalm is meaty and saturated with answers to some of our most frustrating concerns in life.

The Passage begins with three BIG little words: “Do Not Fret.”

The New Living Translation says, “Do not trouble yourself”  <>  In today’s vernacular, we might say, “Don’t stress out!”



Dwell in the land--in the place--where the Lord has put you.

Verse 1 points to fretting over evildoers, but as we move through the chapter we see strategies to alleviate all kinds of fretting and stress.

Stress Reducers: 

1- Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. ² For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb (Ps. 37:1-2 NKJV).

Whatever the situation, God’s got this. For details, read Psalm 37 in its entirety. You’ll find the outlook for evildoers is not positive.    

2- Trust in the Lord, (Ps. 37: 3a NKJV).

The more we trust is the Lord, the less we fret and worry. Therefore, we are more stable.  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water ...” (Jeremiah 17:7-8a NASB).

3- Do good (Ps. 37:3b NKJV). 

When we do good things, the light of Christ shines in us. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NKJV).

4- Dwell in the land (Ps. 37:3c NKJV).   

If you’re in the place where God has put you, stay there and flourish. “So the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he had sworn to give to their fathers; and they took possession of it, and dwelt in it” (Joshua 21:43 NKJV). 
 

5- Feed on His faithfulness
(Ps. 37:3d NKJV).
 

Eat it up!—when you see the faithfulness of God working in your life relish it.  “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 38:8). 

 

6- Delight yourself in the Lord  (Ps. 37. 4 NKJV).   

We need to take pleasure in our Lord. “Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you. ... ²⁶ For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God” (Job 22:20 &26 NKJV).

SO—Don’t worry. Be happy. AND don’t be overcome with stress!  Because: “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!”  

                                                                 -Psalm 144:15b 
©Connie Wohlford 2016

“He Went Out Not Knowing”             

These 5 words, “He went out not knowing...,” are found in the Bible. Do you know who said them and of whom they were said?

Speaking of Abraham, the writer of the Book of Hebrews said, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; (Heb. 11:8-9 KJV).”

Tomorrow we begin a new year. Like Abraham, we go out not knowing what lies ahead. We don’t know what awaits around the bend. It might hold abundant joys and really cool adventures−or perhaps even great sorrows and trials.  

When God called Abraham, (named Abram at the time) he obeyed, without hesitation. When he went out not knowing, he was taking a huge step of faith. God had called him to leave his home and kin. He didn’t have a reference point, or much of a family history with God. He was living in Haran, a pagan place. He couldn’t sing a song like Faith of Our Fathers to build his faith or boost his confidence. He took his wife, servants, Lot, his newhew, and their livestock and went out totally not knowing anything except that God had told him to do so.

So here we are, entering into a new year and we go out, not knowing what will befall us in 2016. We anticipate, hoping and expecting good things. Some among us are expecting a baby, planning a wedding, going to graduate, building a new house, and on and on.

Those of us who are in Christ, do NOT need to worry as we step into the new year. God told us very clearly in Luke 12:22 not to worry about anything. In other words, we are not to worry about things that concern us as we go out, not knowing what lies ahead. We don’t need to worry because God knows!

There are two 2-word sentences that give me great comfort as I face the unknown. The first is “I AM,” which God said about Himself to Moses through the burning bush. He was letting Moses know that Jehovah God was anything and everything Moses and the children of Israel would need for any trial or situation they’d faced.

My other 2-word sentence is, “God knows.”  When I encounter a trial, especially when I see no good ending, I remind myself, “God knows.” I know it is truth; He is good; He loves me with unfailing love; and He knows what’s best for me in any situation.

Granted, when January 1^st rolls around each year, we don’t know what lies ahead of us, or for any of our loved ones. Fear of the unknown can have a profound effect on an individual.

What does fear do to us? Fear keeps us focused on the past & constantly worried about the future. It creates desperation and indecision that paralyzes our logic, thinking, and actions. Fear causes us to be hesitant in exploring new concepts and embracing new possibilities. We can't live freely when we live in fear of the unknown.

Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on (Luke 12:22).”

Let’s consider things that we DO know, as we embark on a New Year−for that matter, as we embark on any new day:

1.  Jesus said, “Don’t worry about anything.”  Let’s take Him at His word. “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12).”

2.  Always remember, God loves us with unfailing love.

3.  God knows our end before our beginning. He said so! −Isaiah 46:10

4.  God created each of us, and knows each of us better than we know ourselves. He knows what’s best for us. Therefore, we can rest assured that He has our best interest in mind in all matters.

5.  Yes, we might miss God and mess up along the way but He knows our heart and can always get us straightened out when we cooperate with Him.

6.  God gives us principles and precepts to guide us and we can trust His Word. Of course we must read and study His Word in order to know these things.

7.  We have His presence at all times. When we’re in His family, His Holy Spirit dwells in us. He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5).”

As we go out in complete surrender to our Creator, we shouldn’t be surprised at marvelous things He will do in us and through us.

“Be an Abraham. Leave everything, and if you do this in faith, verily ye shall not lack your reward. He is able, and he has promised to give you in this life ten times more than you lose for him, and in the world to come life everlasting.”

“Let us … put the most implicit trust in our wonder-working God; when we recollect what he has already done for us.”

“I can only hold up my hands and exclaim, ‘What hath God wrought!’ And shall we doubt for the future? No; mariner, hoist the sail; loose the rudder bands; drag up the anchor; once again to sea we go, with the flag of faith at the masthead, with Jehovah at the helm, to a sure port the vessel shall be guided, though the storm may howl, and hell beneath shall be stirred; for God is with us, and the God of Abraham is our refuge. God give to every one of you the firmest trust in his providence, that you may go forth not knowing whither you go.”
“As for you that believe not in God, may you be led to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as in your Redeemer, and afterwards to trust your God, and leave all your concerns in his hands.” -Charles Spurgeon-  http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0261.htm 

©Connie Wohlford 2015

Can you trust your Bible? (2)

“Risikili” – Part 5 – Can you trust your Bible? (2)

We continue with RiSiKiLi−

                       You know− Read it, study it, know it, live it.

As we continue with the theme of the value of God’s Word and figuring out the plan of God for ourselves, I’m posting the remaining Bible attributes listed by Bible Scholar/Pastor/Teacher Jack Hayford.

We must be able to trust God and His Word if we want to know His design for our lives and be able to verify that the plan in fact does line up with His Word, the Bible. Here is the rest of Pastor Hayford’s list extolling the truth and value of Scripture. (If you missed 1-5, just take a look at my last post – June 25, 2015.)

Pastor Hayford continued: 

THE ESSENTIAL PLACE AND POWER OF GOD’S WORD*

6.  The Regenerating Power of God’s Word

The Word of God regenerates new spiritual life where man has, by nature, died spiritually.  

For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God (1 Peter 1:23 NASV).

7.  The Authority of God’s Word over Our Lives

As ‘spiritual’ people we are to refuse the ‘natural’ inclinations of fallen man, giving place instead to hearing and yielding to the authority of God’s own Word. 

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. ⁹⁰ Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. ⁹¹ They stand this day according to Your ordinances, For all things are Your servants (Psalm 119:89-91 NASV).

8.  God’s Word and Our Soul’s Nourishment

Spiritual survival is not possible for long without feeding upon the Word of God. 

So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord (Deuteronomy 8:3 NKJV).

9.  God’s Word and Practical, Fruitful Living    

The regular application of the Word of God is the pathway to success and prosperity in living.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105 NKJV).

10. True Spiritual Growth Requires God’s Word 

True spiritual growth requires the Word of God, which makes spiritual maturity genuine.

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. ² I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; ³ for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? ⁴ For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? ⁵ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? (1 Cor. 3: 1-5 NKJV). 

11. Loving God’s Word As Jesus Follower

To follow Jesus and to know God, a continuing requirement of steadfast commitment to hearing, heeding, and studying the Bible is necessary.  

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him (John 14:21 NKJV).

12. God’s Word: Purifier unto Holy Living

The Bible shows us Christ’s likeness so that we can be ordered and shaped into that image.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does (James 1:23-25).

13. God’s Word, Evangelism, and Expansion

The spreading of God’s Word and the fulfillment of our personal potential come by the Word of God.     

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater (Isaiah 55:10-11 NKJV).

14. God’s Word: Read It! Study it! Memorize it! 

God’s Word is the only conclusive source of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding concerning ultimate realities waiting to liberate and enrich those who will pursue its wealth.    

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15 NKJV).  

 

 

 

 

 

If you do not have revelation of these things, I implore you to ask God to help you receive this truth into your spirit− that it will be Ramah Word to you.  And ask Him to put into your spiritual belly a hunger for God’s Word that cannot be satisfied. He wants to do that and you will benefit in ways you could never have imagined.  

As said by Pastor Hayford, “There is no such thing as health or growth in Christian living apart from a clear priority on the place of the Bible in the life of the individual or the group. The Scriptures are the conclusive standard for our faith, morals, and practical living and are the nourishment for our rising to strength in faith, holiness in living, and effectiveness in service. The Holy Spirit who comes to fill us is the same Person who has given us the Book to guide and sustain us.”* 

*Spirit Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson, Page xii 

Note to readers: As you consider the points mentioned by Pastor Hayford, other readers and I would love for you to comment on how you’ve experienced having one of the 14 Bible attributes help you personally. Feel free to comment below. God bless you as you glean many blessings from the Word of God. Thanks for stopping by.