WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.400 Welcome. 2 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:20.600 This is Restoring Word, and we're talking about anxiety and fear and how to overcome 3 00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:21.600 it. 4 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:28.360 Have you ever had an unreasonable fear or phobia or something you just couldn't get 5 00:00:28.360 --> 00:00:29.360 over? 6 00:00:29.360 --> 00:00:31.080 Well, we've got good news for you today. 7 00:00:31.080 --> 00:00:37.640 We've got some promises in God's Word and some strategies that help everyone, no matter 8 00:00:37.640 --> 00:00:42.360 where they are, overcome and deal with anxiety. 9 00:00:42.360 --> 00:00:48.000 My first scripture comes out of 2 Timothy, starting in chapter 1, verses 7 and 8. 10 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:56.960 For God hasn't given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 11 00:00:57.360 --> 00:01:04.480 Now, you know, our greatest battles in life are always going to be fought in between our 12 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:06.840 ears. 13 00:01:06.840 --> 00:01:15.200 What we think and how we think often paralyze all of us, and I know it has paralyzed me. 14 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:22.480 I'm a special education teacher, and I work with students every day who sit down to work 15 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:29.440 and to study, and because they've had such bad, traumatizing learning experiences, now 16 00:01:29.440 --> 00:01:33.920 they're almost paralyzed when they look at math or they have to write something or they 17 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:35.880 have to remember something. 18 00:01:35.880 --> 00:01:41.600 It's like they completely shut down, and that is not God's plan. 19 00:01:41.600 --> 00:01:49.600 God says right here that you are to have a spirit of love and of power and of a sound 20 00:01:49.600 --> 00:01:50.600 mind. 21 00:01:50.720 --> 00:01:59.560 Well, how does this battle that we fight in between our ears, in our minds, in our imaginations, 22 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:02.280 how do you fight that battle? 23 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:08.479 Well, I've got probably six or seven episodes ahead of me, but today I just want to talk 24 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:18.840 and lay a foundation scripturally about guarding your mind, guarding your thoughts, and understanding 25 00:02:19.040 --> 00:02:24.480 that not every thought that you have is yours. 26 00:02:24.480 --> 00:02:25.480 What does that mean? 27 00:02:25.480 --> 00:02:29.880 Have you ever gone to a movie theater, and you've been sitting in this theater, and you 28 00:02:29.880 --> 00:02:34.920 walk out of the movie, and then all of a sudden you're thinking strange things, and you're 29 00:02:34.920 --> 00:02:36.440 wondering, well, where does that come from? 30 00:02:36.440 --> 00:02:38.120 I don't think like that. 31 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:39.800 Well, why? 32 00:02:39.800 --> 00:02:45.080 Because things come into your soul, your mind, your will, and your emotions through the eyes, 33 00:02:45.080 --> 00:02:49.960 through the ears, through touch, through taste, and through the soul, it goes down 34 00:02:49.960 --> 00:02:52.640 into your spirit man, okay? 35 00:02:52.640 --> 00:02:55.280 I've got another wonderful verse here. 36 00:02:55.280 --> 00:03:03.720 Romans 12 verse 2 says this, and don't be conformed to the world, but be transformed 37 00:03:03.720 --> 00:03:13.280 by the renewing of your mind, that you can prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect 38 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:14.480 will of God. 39 00:03:14.480 --> 00:03:20.400 The good will of God, the acceptable will of God, okay? 40 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:24.800 There's good, there's acceptable, and then there's perfect, and the perfect will of God 41 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:32.920 is for you to love Him, to serve Him, to walk in love and not in fear. 42 00:03:32.920 --> 00:03:37.480 You're not designed to walk through life and to be paralyzed. 43 00:03:37.480 --> 00:03:41.800 Well, how does that transformation happen? 44 00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:44.360 How does that begin? 45 00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:50.720 Well, it really is a daily discipline, and I don't care how long you've walked with Jesus 46 00:03:50.720 --> 00:03:58.200 or how many memory verses you know, or in my case even where I've taught Bible for years, 47 00:03:58.200 --> 00:03:59.960 you never arrive. 48 00:03:59.960 --> 00:04:03.480 You're always growing in God. 49 00:04:03.480 --> 00:04:05.040 No one has ever arrived. 50 00:04:05.040 --> 00:04:06.240 I don't care who you are. 51 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:13.640 You still have to go through the process of putting things into your mind that are going 52 00:04:13.640 --> 00:04:19.640 to help you fight anxiety, that are going to help you deal with negative thoughts and 53 00:04:19.640 --> 00:04:20.959 imaginations. 54 00:04:20.959 --> 00:04:26.000 I like to think of them as kind of fiery darts that come at me, you know, and then all of 55 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:31.240 a sudden it's like, why am I thinking those fearful things? 56 00:04:31.240 --> 00:04:36.840 You know, I watch the weather a lot, and I get a kick out of watching it because it's 57 00:04:36.840 --> 00:04:41.240 kind of exciting, but then on the other hand, sometimes my imagination will get away with 58 00:04:41.240 --> 00:04:42.240 me. 59 00:04:42.840 --> 00:04:43.840 Where is this storm going? 60 00:04:43.840 --> 00:04:45.640 Are they going to be okay? 61 00:04:45.640 --> 00:04:46.640 That's not God's will. 62 00:04:46.640 --> 00:04:51.920 I'm supposed to stand and pray and speak the word of God and believe God that those that 63 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:55.160 I love are covered and protected in Jesus' name. 64 00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:58.560 Now, not all anxiety and fear is bad. 65 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:00.000 Some of that anxiety and fear is bad. 66 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:05.000 Fear can actually be a good thing, that adrenaline rush that you need to be effective. 67 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:06.000 That's okay. 68 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:14.060 You just have to learn how to use it effectively, where it isn't debilitating. 69 00:05:14.060 --> 00:05:20.420 Another great scripture here is in 2 Timothy, starting in verse 3, and it says all scripture 70 00:05:20.420 --> 00:05:24.940 is given by inspiration of God, and it is profitable. 71 00:05:24.940 --> 00:05:27.620 All scripture is profitable. 72 00:05:27.620 --> 00:05:28.620 For what? 73 00:05:28.620 --> 00:05:33.940 For proof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness. 74 00:05:33.940 --> 00:05:39.040 You know, once you know that you've asked Jesus into your heart, that you've asked him 75 00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:44.420 to forgive you of your sins, and that you've renewed your mind, you can begin to walk in 76 00:05:44.420 --> 00:05:52.220 a level of strength and peace that can only come from him. 77 00:05:52.220 --> 00:05:58.620 You can walk free of anxiety and fear, and you can know that you're in right standing 78 00:05:58.620 --> 00:05:59.620 with God. 79 00:05:59.620 --> 00:06:01.260 God's not mad at you. 80 00:06:01.260 --> 00:06:02.780 God's not trying to punish you. 81 00:06:02.780 --> 00:06:07.500 You know, some people think that God is this God in the sky who's just out to get you and 82 00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:08.820 ruin your good time. 83 00:06:08.820 --> 00:06:10.940 That's not the case at all. 84 00:06:10.940 --> 00:06:12.820 He is a loving God. 85 00:06:12.820 --> 00:06:13.860 He loves you. 86 00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:16.620 He wants what's best for you. 87 00:06:16.620 --> 00:06:22.980 And when you walk right with him, and you walk in righteousness, there's a whole level 88 00:06:22.980 --> 00:06:27.620 of peace that's really hard to comprehend and understand. 89 00:06:27.620 --> 00:06:31.280 But that's the victory, is that you have peace. 90 00:06:31.280 --> 00:06:39.380 You have a sound mind where you're not entertaining weird things. 91 00:06:39.380 --> 00:06:47.580 Verse 17, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 92 00:06:47.580 --> 00:06:51.980 So scripture helps to complete you. 93 00:06:51.980 --> 00:07:01.100 It helps you be led by him into places of peace and righteousness and supernatural provision. 94 00:07:01.100 --> 00:07:03.660 You learn to understand his voice and his character. 95 00:07:03.660 --> 00:07:04.660 Why? 96 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:08.620 Because you've spent time in the word, and you're learning more about his character and 97 00:07:08.620 --> 00:07:13.320 his nature and what he's like and what he's not like. 98 00:07:13.320 --> 00:07:19.300 And then Philippians 4, 8 here, and this is really kind of the gold standard in terms 99 00:07:19.300 --> 00:07:22.340 of thinking about good things. 100 00:07:22.340 --> 00:07:29.060 You know, I don't know about you, but when it's all over the media, strife and anger 101 00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:33.060 and anxiety, and there's going to be this is going to happen, and then that's going 102 00:07:33.060 --> 00:07:36.700 to happen, and then this is going to collapse, and then this is going to happen. 103 00:07:36.780 --> 00:07:43.100 And, you know, I just have made a decision recently, I'm not living in those thoughts, 104 00:07:43.100 --> 00:07:48.340 that I know there's things out there that are potentially going to happen, but Jesus 105 00:07:48.340 --> 00:07:49.980 is big enough. 106 00:07:49.980 --> 00:07:54.500 And I am potentially going to think on the good things. 107 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:56.420 This is from Philippians 4, verses 8. 108 00:07:56.420 --> 00:07:58.100 This is a good one. 109 00:07:58.100 --> 00:08:06.860 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things 110 00:08:06.860 --> 00:08:14.260 are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of 111 00:08:14.260 --> 00:08:25.500 a good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate 112 00:08:25.500 --> 00:08:27.060 on these things. 113 00:08:27.060 --> 00:08:37.580 Okay, so you don't meditate or think about or entertain in your brain fear and anxiety 114 00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:43.299 and this and that and this anger. 115 00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:48.420 You know, the media gets you sucked in to get you mad, so that you'll come back and 116 00:08:48.420 --> 00:08:49.420 watch more. 117 00:08:49.420 --> 00:08:51.580 Well, turn it off. 118 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:52.580 Turn it off. 119 00:08:52.580 --> 00:08:56.700 Crack open your Bible, crack open a good book. 120 00:08:56.700 --> 00:08:59.900 Crack open a book that will help feed you. 121 00:08:59.900 --> 00:09:04.340 Listen to someone preach the word on a subject that, you know, maybe that's what you need 122 00:09:04.340 --> 00:09:05.780 to hear right now. 123 00:09:05.780 --> 00:09:09.500 And honestly, I'm getting ready for state testing, and I'm getting my students ready 124 00:09:09.500 --> 00:09:13.900 for state testing, and this whole series is really about them. 125 00:09:13.900 --> 00:09:16.260 They don't have to be afraid. 126 00:09:16.260 --> 00:09:18.220 They don't have to walk in anxiety. 127 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:20.660 They don't have to operate in fear. 128 00:09:20.660 --> 00:09:26.420 They can have a sound, peaceful mind. 129 00:09:26.420 --> 00:09:30.220 Instead of the emotional roller coasters that go up and down and up and down, they 130 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:36.700 can walk steady with Jesus and be whole in their heart and in their mind. 131 00:09:36.700 --> 00:09:41.140 Going on here in verse 9, the things which you have learned and received and heard and 132 00:09:41.140 --> 00:09:49.500 saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. 133 00:09:49.500 --> 00:09:50.940 That's what we need. 134 00:09:50.940 --> 00:09:54.060 The God of peace. 135 00:09:54.060 --> 00:09:58.140 You know, sometimes I look at people who have very stressful jobs, and I look at them and 136 00:09:58.140 --> 00:09:59.980 I think, how do they handle that? 137 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:07.840 handle that pressure. How do they handle all of this stuff that's just exploding 138 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:13.760 around them? Well, they have learned, they have received, and they have heard the 139 00:10:13.760 --> 00:10:19.880 Holy Ghost, Jesus. They've meditated on how much He loves them. He gives them 140 00:10:19.880 --> 00:10:26.560 strength in their inner man, and these things they do because why? The God of 141 00:10:26.560 --> 00:10:33.240 peace is with them. You can be in the middle of a storm, and you can be at 142 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:37.240 peace. Nobody ever said there wasn't going to be storms in life. Nobody ever 143 00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:41.280 said that things were going to be easy. Nobody ever said that there would be 144 00:10:41.280 --> 00:10:46.760 seasons where everything would just be wonderful, and you could just relax, and 145 00:10:46.760 --> 00:10:51.520 you don't have to worry about anything. No, that's not life. I mean, in 146 00:10:51.520 --> 00:10:58.680 reality, life is going from one battle to another, and the sooner you learn how to 147 00:10:58.680 --> 00:11:05.760 battle effectively and efficiently, renewing your mind, filling your mind 148 00:11:05.760 --> 00:11:10.840 with peace and things that are going to give you strength, the more victorious 149 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:15.080 you're going to walk in this life. One more scripture for you today, and it's a 150 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:19.320 little bit long. This is 2 Corinthians 10, 3 through 6. Oh, I got two. I got 151 00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:23.920 two more. Though we walk in the flesh, we don't walk according to the flesh, for 152 00:11:23.920 --> 00:11:29.680 our weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they're mighty in God for the 153 00:11:29.680 --> 00:11:34.640 pulling down of strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that 154 00:11:34.640 --> 00:11:42.040 exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into 155 00:11:42.040 --> 00:11:49.000 captivity, into the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all 156 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:52.480 disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. This is New King James, 157 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:59.840 bringing all those negative thoughts into captivity. I take authority over 158 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:05.720 anxiety in Jesus' name. I take authority over the spirit of fear in Jesus' name. I 159 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:11.840 have the mind of Christ. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 160 00:12:12.160 --> 00:12:16.520 You know, I've been looking at the history of panic attacks, and what 161 00:12:16.520 --> 00:12:20.960 happens is it's just a spiral where your mind affects your body, and then your 162 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:24.240 body affects your mind, and it just gets more and more and more and more, and all 163 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:27.440 of a sudden, you know, you're just completely shut down. That's not 164 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:32.960 God's will for your life. God's will for your life is for you to walk in strength 165 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:39.600 and in peace in Him, and it happens when we humbly acknowledge that we need Him 166 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:45.680 desperately, desperately, and we're willing to just take the word, which is 167 00:12:45.680 --> 00:12:50.760 good, and it's lovely, and it is of a good report, and we pour the word into our 168 00:12:50.760 --> 00:12:56.720 minds. We can then know and have peace, and when you operate in that place of 169 00:12:56.720 --> 00:13:02.160 peace, even though everything around you is absolutely crazy, you can make calm 170 00:13:02.520 --> 00:13:09.720 and wise decisions, which is, you know, what we all want. So this is Isaiah 41 10. 171 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:15.800 Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will 172 00:13:15.800 --> 00:13:22.920 strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, and I will uphold you with my righteous 173 00:13:22.920 --> 00:13:28.200 right hand. That's what He wants to be. He wants to strengthen you. He wants to 174 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:32.480 build you up. He wants to hold you. He wants to strengthen you with His 175 00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:41.720 righteous right hand. He is good. He wants to be there in the middle of the storm. 176 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:46.480 He wants to walk you through the difficulty. You know, sometimes I look 177 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:50.600 back at some things that have happened in my life, and I think, how in the world 178 00:13:50.600 --> 00:13:57.720 did I do that? I can tell you I did it with Jesus. I did it with Jesus. There's 179 00:13:57.720 --> 00:14:03.120 no other way. This is 2nd Timothy 1, starting in verse 8. Therefore, don't be 180 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:08.280 ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner, but share with me in 181 00:14:08.280 --> 00:14:13.320 the sufferings for the gospel, according to the power of God, who has saved us and 182 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:21.280 called us with his own holy calling, not according to our works, but according to 183 00:14:21.280 --> 00:14:28.160 his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time 184 00:14:28.160 --> 00:14:35.760 began. You know, we don't have to think about what's going to happen. Our 185 00:14:35.760 --> 00:14:45.960 testimony is of Jesus, His grace, and His Word operating through us and empowering 186 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:54.800 us to do the impossible. He's walked with us. He saves us. He empowers us to 187 00:14:54.800 --> 00:15:00.000 walk in the calling that each of us have. Not all of us are called into five 188 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:05.720 ministry. Some of us are called, like me, to work with very difficult, troubled 189 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:11.400 children. Some of us are called to deal in the military with very stressful 190 00:15:11.400 --> 00:15:17.400 things or in business with, you know, high pressure and sales and commissions and 191 00:15:17.400 --> 00:15:22.720 pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure. You can get so bombarded from all of that 192 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:27.240 that you don't walk in freedom and that's not God's will. Join us next time 193 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:34.600 as we continue to focus on how to walk victoriously through anxiety and fear 194 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:41.880 and stress and turmoil. God's will is that you would walk in peace and that 195 00:15:41.880 --> 00:15:46.960 you would walk in grace and you can do it through transforming your mind and 196 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:52.800 learning to guard what you think. Thank you for listening and we'll see you 197 00:15:52.800 --> 00:15:55.280 again soon. 198 00:15:57.660 --> 00:15:58.240 Mhm. 199 00:16:04.760 --> 00:16:05.460 Mhm.