Today I want to continue talking about this topic of anxiety.  Anxiety is a big deal.  It affects literally everyone on the face of the planet in one form or another.  

Now the degree to which anxiety affects you is the degree to which you know these principles and apply them in your life.  This next principle is extremely important: Take no thought saying….

The Bible is full of instances where we discuss the power of our words.  In fact, it says in one place, 

3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

Hebrews 11:3 NLT

The words God spoke created the world around us, and gives us a glimpse into just how powerful words can be. 

If you missed it, this is our second post in this series discussing anxiety. I highly encourage you to read our first post, Overcoming Anxiety with Thanksgiving.

Our Text

Our text for today comes from Matthew chapter 6 where Jesus is directly dealing with this concept of anxiety and anxious thoughts.  

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Matthew 6:31 KJV

Anxious Thoughts Come to Everyone

Like I said, everyone has the opportunity to take hold of anxiety. As the bills pop up, the car breaks down or any other problem arises, it’s easy for us to think thoughts of anxiety. 

They start out innocent (maybe they start as a to-do list in your head):

• I need to pay my electric bill.
• I need to buy more groceries. 
• My kids need some new school clothes.
• Etc.

At this stage in the process, there’s no problem. Of course you have to remember to pay your bills or know that you need to go to the store.  

The problem comes when these thoughts start to degrade into worry. 

• How am I going to pay the electricity bill?  It’s $40 more than it was last month…
• What about groceries? I just went to the store 3 days ago…
• Last time I bought school clothes it cost me $200. I don’t have that this month…

Don’t “Take” the Thought

I want us to pay really close attention to what this verse is saying.  It says, 

“…Take no thought, saying…” 

Your saying determines what you’re taking, and there’s a reason for this. 

See you have the authority over your thought life and over what you do and don’t allow your mind to think. 

The words you speak out of your mouth give yourself permission to think along those lines. 

Your Words Give Anxiety Permission

That’s why this concept of speaking and thankfulness is so important.  Last post we talked about using our words in thanksgiving.  

That’s because we cannot take anxious thoughts by saying them if we’re giving thanks and praising God.  

You can’t do both at the same time!

Anxiety is a Trap of the Devil

The devil’s primary goal is to get you out and away from knowing who you really are in Christ Jesus.  One of the ways he does that is through anxiety and worry. 

If you’re too busy thinking about all of your wants and needs, that means you’re too busy to consider what Jesus wants you to do and who you are in Christ!

Your meditation (where you think and speak) will become your destination (where you go in life).

Think about it.  

When was the last time you saw a really successful person that talked non stop about they’re failures. 

Oh I can’t do anything right.

I guess I’m always going to be poor.

I’ll never amount to anything.

These are not Biblical thoughts! But when we get our eyes on the circumstances that’s what we end up feeling and therefore what we end up speaking. 

Think on “The Kingdom of God” & “His Righteousness”

Right after our primary text for today comes Matthew 6:33 where Jesus tells us the things we are supposed to think and speak on. 

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33 KJV

Note

I do want to make a note here on this particular verse.  Think about this, you don’t have to command someone to do something that comes naturally.  You’ve never heard a sermon where the person came up and told you, “Now use your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body.” That’s because it’s natural.  These things we are talking about don’t come naturally to us at first.  We have to train ourselves to think this way. 

“Seek ye first” is the same as “think on first”

The things you seek are the things you think about.  These words are interchangeable here.  Our thought life should reflect what we desire more than anything else.  

Evaluate your thought life right now.  What have you been thinking about?

Have you be considering the Word of God? Have you been looking to find the best way to talk about the Word to someone, or have you been thinking about a particular scripture meditating on it daily? 

Or have you been thinking about the circumstances and all the problems you’re facing in life right now?

Think on “The Kingdom of God” & “His Righteousness”

Unfortunately, we don’t have enough time to go into both of these topics in specific today, but study the Word of God for yourself to learn what Jesus speaks about the Kingdom of God (Matthew 13, Mark 4) and His righteousness (Romans 5).

Think on Good Thoughts

Paul gives us a really good list in Philippians about all the things to think on.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8 KJV

It might come as a surprise to you that this verse was written as he was in prison. I promise you even if you’re reading this from prison you’re not in the condition Paul was in as he’d been beaten and thrown in prison for preaching the gospel. 

If anyone had an excuse to worry and be anxious it was Paul, but even in this moment he wrote this to believers under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to encourage them (and us) to think on the right things. 

Wrapping Up

I pray that as you read this post you’re encouraged to think on thoughts of life and peace and not on things of death and destruction.  I pray in the name of Jesus that your eyes would be enlightened to a new way of living and thinking. 

That you wouldn’t meditate on the problem and talk about the problems in your life, but that you would meditate on and talk about that solution – The Word of God – in your life. 

I encourage you to read our previous posts about this topic and other topics like it.  

If this blog post helped you, please comment either in the post or on the chat and say hi. I love to hear from you guys as you read these posts.  Also don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter so you can keep up dated on everything that’s happening.