One thing I appreciate about my friend, Dr. Kluane Spake, is that she lives in the real world. Her perspective and teachings are not simply theoretical, but have been forged and put into practice in real life with its real difficulties. She has written a timely and helpful article on anxiety and worry.

Enjoy!

Be Anxious For Nothing!

Dr. Kluane Spake

Yes... I know, you've heard it all before - we all "know" about not worrying. But somehow, many once passionate believers now have assumed more of a platonic relationship with God's commands. Worry and anxiety are such common and ensnaring HABITS that many of us don't even recognize them anymore.

John 14:1 "Let not your HEART be TROUBLED: ye believe in God, believe also in me." (KJV)

Notice (Jn. 14:1) that troubledness comes into our heart (the seat of our being).

The deal is, things will get harder. We aren't prepared for that. Many of us thought that "finding Jesus" meant we would live "happily ever after!" How many of you have found that to be true? Well...

As difficulties and bad news increase, it's imperative that as believers, you and I must become even more unwavering. Be strong and courageous. You are supposed to see beyond the natural circumstances. Stand and keep standing. You are to be Overcomers in every area of life.

Remember that unguarded emotional "feelings" of worry are the enemy of faith.

These feelings draw from the source of doubt, fear, and unbelief. Right now, 19 million Americans suffer from clinical anxiety and require professional help. That's $52 billion spent annually in drug costs. Another 3.4 million suffer from panic attacks. (And if you need secular help, be sure and get it!) The statistics show us that stress is real - and getting worse. And indeed, we need answers.

Perhaps we can look again at the scriptures.

We are not to be anxious. That's a command.

No exceptions... Like when something realllllly bad happens.

Did the Lord really intend for us to live without being anxious? Worry steals our peace and it makes us sick (heart trouble, ulcers, etc.); it takes away our creativity and initiative, it distracts us from forward effectiveness, and it blocks our energy. Worry keeps us from entering into the REST of God (Heb.10-11). And that rest causes us to experience the reigning of Christ in our lives.

"Genuine concern" can accidentally lead to destructive worry - and CONTINUALLY we need to take a close look at our heart and motives. My friend, this is the hour to purge every bit of leaven out of our lives and our weakened emotions (Mk. 8:15).

This is difficult for me to write! But, we have to get to the place that we understand that anxiety is emotional sin! We are commanded to NOT do it. And, we are not discipled to the point that we need to be. Yes, we have problems. Yes, many situations are difficult. Yes. Much is sad and even grievous. Jesus took his sorrow over John the Baptist being killed and turned it into compassion to heal multitudes. The apostolic church must come to the place where we find answers and solutions. We develop strategic plans to build.

The major problem with emotional SIN (Rm. 7:20) is that we tend to SEE things as they seem on earth and not as they are in heaven. Anxiety is first overcome in the spirit realm and then manifested in our heart (our being). Out of the abundance of the HEART, the mouth speaks.

Not only does anxiety choke our faith, but it binds joy, shuts down our confession, and causes increased and disabling pressure. Many times, we want to quite worrying, but can't.

Hasn't the church lived long enough under the law of the flesh and the law of sin and death - wanting to do good and finding evil present (Rom. 7:21)?

Truth is -- worry is one of the greatest enemies to believers today. BUT, Paul found the answer and so can we! Just keep reading. Paul tells us that the remedy isn't giving into our weaknesses because we live under the spirit of death. There's another law of God after the inward man (Rom. 7:22). It is here (in this law) that we can delight. It is the LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE (8:2). Why do we stop before we get here?

We can be totally healed of our long-standing emotional weaknesses.

Resurrection power in us means we don't have to be afraid.

My God! We don't have to be angry anymore.

Jesus died to bring us LIFE.

The end of anxiety is the beginning of faith.

The Message Bible says, "Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud (spirit of death). A new power is in operation. The Spirit of LIFE in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death." (Rom. 8:1-2 MSG).

Lift up your heads oh ye Gates (Ps. 24:7). The Spirit of LIFE brings forth COURAGE into the heart of believers so that we can RULE in the Gate at this optimum moment (Ps 24:7). Now is the time for the First-fruit company to come forth.

"Who will deliver us from this death?" Strategic warfare must begin to touch our old comfortable mind-set. Don't blame the devil anymore. We don't have to die to anything anymore. DARE TO BELIEVE AGAIN. It's time to LIVE. Jesus is here. We can touch the hem of his garment. He came to give us LIFE ABUNDANTLY (Jn. 10:10). Praise God, you and I can overcome our anxieties.

Paul declared, "We teach (the mystery) in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That's what I'm working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me" (Col. 1:26-29 MSG). The command of maturity is upon us - maturity demands soul realm wholeness. That WHOLENESS brings us to living in our full potential!

"Can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign LIFE, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant LIFE GIFT, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?" (Rom. 5:14-17 MSG)

A renewed mind (the inner man) is in true SELF-CONTROL. We are able to bring our flesh into captivity. When we find the Spirit of Life, we remember that the Lord said He will never leave us - He will never forsake us. All worry is unfounded and does not recognize the Truth about Christ IN US. Faith must become our ongoing present reality.

When we chose God, we chose to NOT WORRY. We can't serve two masters. Worry compromises our stand - and defeats us before we OVERCOME. And remember... the promises are for the Overcomer.

We must begin to LIVE IN that Third Day RESURRECTION truth. If He is IN US then His MANIFESTION of LIFE is IN us, HERE AND NOW. Worry is conquered by His death --not ours.