Boldly Approaching God: The Freedom of Praying Without Anxiety
Examining the confidence and assurance we have in turning to our Heavenly Father in prayer
Be careful (anxious, anxiety, fret, worry, full of care) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6.
What does being careful or anxious do to you?
Anxiety, being full of care, can cause our heart to beat rapidly, make us short of breath, sweat more, tremble, feel tired, dizzy, tense our muscles, experience nausea or other digestive problems, have headaches, and more.
Anxiety can lead to feelings of fear or panic, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, detachment from reality, and obsessive thoughts.
Over time, anxiety can weaken your immune system and lead to heart and digestive problems, as well as substance abuse. It can also lead to difficulties at work, school, and relationships. Anxiety disorders can significantly affect the overall quality of life and daily functioning, resulting in avoidance behaviors, social isolation, and impaired performance at work or school.
What the Bible teaches
Cast all your care on the Lord because He cares for you. This means giving all of your anxieties, worries, and concerns to God so that you can live carefree before Him once and for all.
We are to think nothing of what we will eat or wear. This means not worrying about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body. Stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about these things. When you prioritize living a life of worship to God, you find that worries about what to eat or wear become less significant.
We are to live in peace because worrying does not change the outcome of situations.
We are to live in the moment.
We are to practice gratitude.
What do we do instead?
We pray and talk to our Father, Abba, or Daddy, knowing He cares about and loves and likes us.
There is no need to beg. Simply ask God.
We thank God when we ask because we know He kindly answers, and we fully expect Him to be happy to take care of us as He promised.
We know nothing is too small or too large for our Father, who is interested in every detail of our lives.
We can speak specifically to our Father and are welcome to express ourselves freely and boldly, knowing our relationship with our Father.
We acknowledge that we need our Father when we turn to Him and allow Him to take control.
Our Father is always near and ready to hear.