ANXIETY-WORRY
I. What does worry accomplish? Nothing!
1. Demonstrates we are leaning on our own strength. Proverbs 3:5-6
2. Demonstrates we have a small view of God’s power. Matthew 6:32
II. What are the consequences of worry?
1. Choke out the Word. Matthew 13:22
2. Ineffective and unproductive as a believer. Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19; Luke 8:14
3. Keeps us from looking forward to Christ’s coming. Luke 21:34
4. Destroys faith. Matthew 6:30
III. What does God not want us to worry about?
1. Material things (food, clothes). Matthew 6:25-28
2. Accomplishing things on time. Luke 10:41
3. What others will do to us. Psalms 56:4
IV. How did Christ respond to anxious experiences?
1. He didn’t worry about uncontrolable events of nature. Mark 4:38
2. He didn’t worry about failures of others. Luke 10:40
V. What Scriptural principles will help combat worry?
1. If God takes special care of birds, He surely will care for you. Matthew 6:26-30
2. Recognize God knows and is aware of our needs and problems. Matthew 6:32
3. Focus attention on the needs and responsibilities you have today. Don’t worry about tomorrow’s problems today.
Matthew 6:34
4. Visualize God’s presence with you. Joshua 1:9; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20
5. Rely on God’s promises. Psalms 37:5, 4:8; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 26:3-4
6. Focus on prayer, to produce peace in your heart and mind. Psalms 55:22; Philippians 4:6-7; I Peter 5:7
7. Develop patience. Psalms 27:14; Isaiah 40:31
VI. What 5 terms will guard against worry?
1. Fear not. Isaiah 41:10
2. Commit. Psalms 37:5
3. Trust. Psalms 37:5
4. Cast. I Peter 5:7
5. Wait. Psalms 27:14; Isaiah 40:31
(Explanation to the counselor)
I. What does worry accomplish? Nothing!
When confronting a person with the problem of anxiety, the counselor might ask them what benefits come from spending time worrying?
Sample questions:
-Does it get your work accomplished?
-How many hours do you worry in an average day?
-What have you left undone because of your focus on the problems? These questions can lead you to conclude with them, there is no value to their time spent in worry. This leads into the next one; namely, what are the results or consequences if I do not resolve the anxiety?
II. What are the consequences of worry?
Worry has a detrimental effect on one’s relationship to God. If one is counseling a believer, he will want to share the 4 consequences. Sample questions:
-Are you aware that if your focus is on your anxious thoughts you will not be able to grow spiritually or benefit from the Word? (1)
-Do you desire to be effective as a believer? One of the consequences of anxiety is that you will become ineffective and unproductive. This results from a focus on your own problems which causes one to not be able to focus on the needs of others. (2)
III. What does God not want us to worry about?
Some of the common things we worry about are things that the Bible says we shouldn’t be anxious about. Ask them what the focus of their anxiety is on:
health, job security, money, possible accidents, etc.
Then show them what the Bible says about things we should not be anxious about.
Sample questions:
-Do you think God wants us to worry about money, food, or clothes? (1)
-Do you thing God wants us
to worry about accomplishing things on time? (2)
-Do you think God wants us
to worry about what others might want to do? (3)
IV. How did Christ respond to anxious experiences?
One may use Christ’s example to give positive insights into how to respond to anxious situations.
V. What Scriptural principles will help combat worry?
These practical principles must be clearly explained and applied to the focus of their anxiety so they will understand how to apply these to their need. Sample questions:
-If God is able to care for the most insignificant bird, do you think He places a greater value on the needs you are facing at this time? (1)
-Are you aware that God knows every need before you know it? (2)
-Would you be willing to focus your thoughts only on today’s needs? (3)
-Would you begin each day visualizing Christ personally helping you with these problems? (4)
-Would you begin each day claiming one promise for your anxiety? (5)
-Would you pray for peace in your heart and mind each time anxious thoughts come? (6)
-Would you allow God time to develop in your life what He desires to develop through pressures? (7)
VI. What 5 terms will guard against worry?
These 6 verses should be memorized and used when one is tempted to focus on anxiety instead of claiming God’s promises. A 3x5 card may be used to remind them to stop focusing on their anxiety. Place STOP on one side of the card with the five words on the other. When they are tempted or begin to worry, pull out the card and focus on the Scriptural response and the memorized verses.
Copyright John Regier 1991
Notice: These materials are not intended to take
the place of professional, mental health services, but rather to provide
Biblical insight and helpful resources regarding various spiritual and emotional
problems. While we are glad to offer these resources for your personal
use, we encourage you to contact our pastor, Nolan
Jackson, Sr., for in-depth, free, Christian Counseling. If you are
interested in setting up an appointment, please call 770-786-8676 or e-mail
(be sure to include contact information).
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