How to stop worrying?

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Josho

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Now this has gotta be one of the hardest commands in the Bible, "be anxious for nothing," "do not worry," as simple as Jesus makes it sound, it's hard for many Christians, including myself, and it can be anything from the little things to the big things, sometimes I may ask God to help me and sometimes the problem just gets worst, then i just end up worrying more, now I know that is not the way God intends us to live, does anyone on this forum manage to live a "stress-free life," if so how do you live a stress-free life? Joel Osteen for example, whether you like him or not or agree with him or not, i never see him stressed, he always has a big smile on his face, he always seems to be getting through life in a breeze, he seems to be living a life of victory everyday. How do you live a stress-free life like that? And i can imagine there's not many Christians living a stress-free life, for most of us whenever we hit a big hurdle, whenever we hit a problem, it strikes us harder than the non-Christians, and that annoys me so much.
 

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Josho said:
Now this has gotta be one of the hardest commands in the Bible, "be anxious for nothing," "do not worry," as simple as Jesus makes it sound, it's hard for many Christians, including myself, and it can be anything from the little things to the big things, sometimes I may ask God to help me and sometimes the problem just gets worst, then i just end up worrying more, now I know that is not the way God intends us to live, does anyone on this forum manage to live a "stress-free life," if so how do you live a stress-free life? Joel Osteen for example, whether you like him or not or agree with him or not, i never see him stressed, he always has a big smile on his face, he always seems to be getting through life in a breeze, he seems to be living a life of victory everyday. How do you live a stress-free life like that? And i can imagine there's not many Christians living a stress-free life, for most of us whenever we hit a big hurdle, whenever we hit a problem, it strikes us harder than the non-Christians, and that annoys me so much.
Joel Olsteen is the last person that should be used as an example of someone living a seemingly worry free life. Your post was good until you put his ilk into the picture. His net worth is about 40 million bucks. One guy once said on ESPN that money will not give you a peace of mind but its easy to say that with a six figure income. For someone to live a worry free life who isn't filthy rich or living off a damn good salary with no health concerns to boot, he would have to be at that point in his life where he feels like he has nothing to lose. In a sense, this is one way to define what it means to put all of your cares on the Lord, because you just stopped caring so much about your life and the life of others you may care about and decided to let the Lord handle your life like he truly wants you to.
 

Josho

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Dcopymope said:
Joel Olsteen is the last person that should be used as an example of someone living a seemingly worry free life. Your post was good until you put his ilk into the picture. His net worth is about 40 million bucks. One guy once said on ESPN that money will not give you a peace of mind but its easy to say that with a six figure income. For someone to live a worry free life who isn't filthy rich or living off a damn good salary with no health concerns to boot, he would have to be at that point in his life where he feels like he has nothing to lose. In a sense, this is one way to define what it means to put all of your cares on the Lord, because you just stopped caring so much about your life and the life of others you may care about and decided to let the Lord handle your life like he truly wants you to.
And do you personally live a stress free life?
 

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Josho, it's very hard to tell whether someone is worrying or not, just from the face they show to the public.

As you say, Joel Osteen "always seems to be getting through life in a breeze" - but "seems" is a key word here.

Even ordinary people can go smiling to church when in reality they are hurting inside. It's even more of a temptation for a 'celebrity' preacher who feels obliged to put on a 'good show' for the public.

Nobody - and I really mean nobody - lives a totally stress-free life, and we shouldn't aim to. It's what we do with the stress that determines whether it defeats us or not. "Cast all your anxiety on God because He cares for you" (I Peter 5:7) - Peter obviously expects his readers to have anxieties!
 
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I don't like Joel Osteen. I think he is a greedy charlatan.. He preaches a "prosperity" gospel, and I've heard it said that he does not believe faith in Christ is the only way to heaven.


About worry, everybody worries, especially more so in modern times, with the busy, chaotic lifestyle, everybody rushing to their jobs and school, having children they put in daycare, school, after school activities, sports, dancing, music, art, going to church and volunteering at churches, taking care of elderly parents, everything people do these days that distracts them from spending time with Jesus Christ. The Lord wants us to pray and read our Bibles, to meditate on His word. God will ease our worries if we spend time wit him. We must be under Christ's yoke, not under Satan's yoke. I've been stressed extremely, to the point of tears, but the Lord comforts me and takes away my anxiety.
 
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Josho

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waterlilyoflife said:
I don't like Joel Osteen. I think he is a greedy charlatan.. He preaches a "prosperity" gospel, and I've heard it said that he does not believe faith in Christ is the only way to heaven.


About worry, everybody worries, especially more so in modern times, with the busy, chaotic lifestyle, everybody rushing to their jobs and school, having children they put in daycare, school, after school activities, sports, dancing, music, art, going to church and volunteering at churches, taking care of elderly parents, everything people do these days that distracts them from spending time with Jesus Christ. The Lord wants us to pray and read our Bibles, to meditate on His word. God will ease our worries if we spend time wit him. We must be under Christ's yoke, not under Satan's yoke. I've been stressed extremely, to the point of tears, but the Lord comforts me and takes away my anxiety.
Thanks for your input I would disagree with many about Joel Osteen tho, it's easy for us to listen to all the rumours about mega preachers, and I disagree with many of them rumors but that's another topic, to summarize it I believe God has got em to where they are today because they obeyed the voice of God, it's how Osteen got his stadium and it's how Kenneth Copeland got rich. If God told me to go buy land with a lot of gold in it, people would be opinionated about me as well as much as people are about Copeland and Osteen, and it doesn't mean I'm doing something wrong because God provided that wealth according to Essclesiates 5:19. But that's another topic. What I do wonder though if anyone here lives a stress free life, I'm sure there must be someone who lives such a life, if you go on to read about the article posted about St Francis of Assisi in the "Great Men and Women of God" thread you will find he was always happy, throughout his youth, when he was in a rich family, when he was in a dungeon he was happy, and when he lived among the poor he was happy, nothing took away his happiness, nothing troubled him, and i find that amazing, so that can be used as another example of a stress-free life, and is probably a better example, because he went through it all.
 

lforrest

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If someone is wealthy according to Essclesiates 5:19 then by Ecclesiastes 5:12 they should also be anxious:
"The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep."


Once I had mild food poisoning and it caused irrational anxiety; I didn't know what I was anxious about. It gave me respect for the severity of the anxiety some people suffer regularly.

There are also rational anxieties, and I have seen acts of God aimed at alleviating them. He will demonstrate that he is in control, and this is a great comfort.
 

Josho

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lforrest said:
If someone is wealthy according to Essclesiates 5:19 then by Ecclesiastes 5:12 they should also be anxious:
"The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep."


Once I had mild food poisoning and it caused irrational anxiety; I didn't know what I was anxious about. It gave me respect for the severity of the anxiety some people suffer regularly.

There are also rational anxieties, and I have seen acts of God aimed at alleviating them. He will demonstrate that he is in control, and this is a great comfort.
But there are 2 types of wealthy people, there's the wealthy men of God, and there are the wealthy men of the world. Looking at Ecclesiates 5:12 and 5:19 together, If God has provided the wealth to a Christian for their enjoyment, if God provides a man like Copeland with a property that has an abundance of oil, is it really God's will for that wealthy man of God to be anxious and not sleep? Or is it just for the wealthy man of the world?

But those rational anxieties, do they really have to be anxieties?
 

VictoryinJesus

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Josho said:
Now this has gotta be one of the hardest commands in the Bible, "be anxious for nothing," "do not worry," as simple as Jesus makes it sound, it's hard for many Christians, including myself, and it can be anything from the little things to the big things, sometimes I may ask God to help me and sometimes the problem just gets worst, then i just end up worrying more, now I know that is not the way God intends us to live, does anyone on this forum manage to live a "stress-free life," if so how do you live a stress-free life? Joel Osteen for example, whether you like him or not or agree with him or not, i never see him stressed, he always has a big smile on his face, he always seems to be getting through life in a breeze, he seems to be living a life of victory everyday. How do you live a stress-free life like that? And i can imagine there's not many Christians living a stress-free life, for most of us whenever we hit a big hurdle, whenever we hit a problem, it strikes us harder than the non-Christians, and that annoys me so much.

I am a highly anxious person so this subject, the subject of "worry" is one I have desperately prayed over. How can we experience a stress-free life? Anxiety, stress and worry come from fear. Fear comes from a lack of trust in God. So maybe the better question then is: has anyone been able to trust God solely and fully in every area of their life? Because that is where the real peace can be found. Hebrews 11:16 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him..." When the disciples were on the ship in the storm and Jesus slept in full assurance and faith…maybe what scripture is showing us is not that upon waking to find the disciples in a state of panic that Christ's disappointment was that they didn’t rebuke the storm themselves, but rather, His disappointment was that the disciples lost faith in the Father's sovereign control over the storm.

There has only been one period of my life where I experienced a worry-free life. It wasn't a period when everything was going right. In fact, everything seemed to be falling apart. It was a time when I walked in the spirit, rather than in the flesh. A period where I put my trust in God rather than in myself and trusted that whatever happens…God has got it. The instant I began that same old treacherous walk of trying to manipulate and control every circumstance and area of my life…the worry and anxiety came flooding back in. Jesus said, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” The Lord's focus was on the Fathers will and not His own will. Jesus walked fully in the Spirit and not the flesh. The world, in its state of sin and corruption, held no appeal to Him. It was us that He came for. He surrendered control to the Father. The world had no hold over Him; no possessions, no longings for fame or acknowledgement, and because of that He displayed full freedom from anxiety. Christ did not hold tightly to this life. I believe a true anxiety free life is one where, while a person walks in the spirit rather than the flesh…Christ overcomes the strongholds over us that make us hold on so tightly. Paul amazes me. How he constantly yearned to be with Christ but, yet, at the same time yielded to staying longer for the brethren. This world...Paul had let go of this world and its charm and submitted to the spirit. I haven’t truly seen freedom from worry fully materialize in my life but I used to think it was NOT a possibly, not in this life. I now believe that all things are possible with God.

(Matthew 11:28-30) “Come to me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

(Hebrews 4: 1-16) “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
 
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lforrest

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Josho said:
But there are 2 types of wealthy people, there's the wealthy men of God, and there are the wealthy men of the world. Looking at Ecclesiates 5:12 and 5:19 together, If God has provided the wealth to a Christian for their enjoyment, if God provides a man like Copeland with a property that has an abundance of oil, is it really God's will for that wealthy man of God to be anxious and not sleep? Or is it just for the wealthy man of the world?

But those rational anxieties, do they really have to be anxieties?
I doubt Ecclesiastes 5:19 is speaking of extravagant wealth, but a modest amount we take for granted. Food on the table, a roof over our heads and a few amenities to enjoy. Consider Proverbs 6:10-11 and how these blessings can quickly be taken away.

No, anxieties are not necessary.
 

Josho

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lforrest said:
I doubt Ecclesiastes 5:19 is speaking of extravagant wealth, but a modest amount we take for granted. Food on the table, a roof over our heads and a few amenities to enjoy. Consider Proverbs 6:10-11 and how these blessings can quickly be taken away.

No, anxieties are not necessary.
Well mate remember, God is a God of abundance, if Ecclesiastes 5:19 isn't speaking of the very rich men and women of God, then Abraham would have never been a blessed wealthy man with heaps, neither would have David, Solomon, Joseph, at the most they would have been middle class working people with food on the table, a roof over their heads and a few things to enjoy, now does that describe any of the people I mentioned above? It does not describe any of the above people, they were blessed out of their socks, for following God's call, and they were all very rich.

Now lets look at Ecclesiastes 5:12 and 5:19 again, if God made Abraham wealthy, is it the will of God for Abraham, David or Joseph to be anxious and not sleep?
 

Josho

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VictoryinJesus said:
I am a highly anxious person so this subject, the subject of "worry" is one I have desperately prayed over. How can we experience a stress-free life? Anxiety, stress and worry come from fear. Fear comes from a lack of trust in God. So maybe the better question then is: has anyone been able to trust God solely and fully in every area of their life? Because that is where the real peace can be found. Hebrews 11:16 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him..." When the disciples were on the ship in the storm and Jesus slept in full assurance and faith…maybe what scripture is showing us is not that upon waking to find the disciples in a state of panic that Christ's disappointment was that they didn’t rebuke the storm themselves, but rather, His disappointment was that the disciples lost faith in the Father's sovereign control over the storm.

There has only been one period of my life where I experienced a worry-free life. It wasn't a period when everything was going right. In fact, everything seemed to be falling apart. It was a time when I walked in the spirit, rather than in the flesh. A period where I put my trust in God rather than in myself and trusted that whatever happens…God has got it. The instant I began that same old treacherous walk of trying to manipulate and control every circumstance and area of my life…the worry and anxiety came flooding back in. Jesus said, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” The Lord's focus was on the Fathers will and not His own will. Jesus walked fully in the Spirit and not the flesh. The world, in its state of sin and corruption, held no appeal to Him. It was us that He came for. He surrendered control to the Father. The world had no hold over Him; no possessions, no longings for fame or acknowledgement, and because of that He displayed full freedom from anxiety. Christ did not hold tightly to this life. I believe a true anxiety free life is one where, while a person walks in the spirit rather than the flesh…Christ overcomes the strongholds over us that make us hold on so tightly. Paul amazes me. How he constantly yearned to be with Christ but, yet, at the same time yielded to staying longer for the brethren. This world...Paul had let go of this world and its charm and submitted to the spirit. I haven’t truly seen freedom from worry fully materialize in my life but I used to think it was NOT a possibly, not in this life. I now believe that all things are possible with God.

(Matthew 11:28-30) “Come to me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

(Hebrews 4: 1-16) “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Thanks for sharing, i can say yesterday and today have been good successful days of living in victory with much less worry, I guess it really does help if we rest in God more.
 

lforrest

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Josho said:
Well mate remember, God is a God of abundance, if Ecclesiastes 5:19 isn't speaking of the very rich men and women of God, then Abraham would have never been a blessed wealthy man with heaps, neither would have David, Solomon, Joseph, at the most they would have been middle class working people with food on the table, a roof over their heads and a few things to enjoy, now does that describe any of the people I mentioned above? It does not describe any of the above people, they were blessed out of their socks, for following God's call, and they were all very rich.
Now lets look at Ecclesiastes 5:12 and 5:19 again, if God made Abraham wealthy, is it the will of God for Abraham, David or Joseph to be anxious and not sleep?
The difference between the wealth in these I assume is one wealth is attributed to God's blessings, while the other doesn't specify but it most likely is from greed IMO.

Look what happens to many people that win the lottery, they end up broke or die from a drug overdose. Most people can't handle wealth, for them money is a big weakness.

If money is a weakness for a believer do you think God would tempt them with it? I do not think so, he said he would not let us be tempted more than we can handle. And God does not tempt any man. But for some they are entrusted with wealth, because they can handle it. They can handle it because they recognize everything they have is a gift from God, they can't take it with them, there are more important things than this world, etc...

So if what I say is true you should see that people who love money will never have enough. And those that are less attached to money will have what they need to live well.
 
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Josho said:
Well mate remember, God is a God of abundance, if Ecclesiastes 5:19 isn't speaking of the very rich men and women of God, then Abraham would have never been a blessed wealthy man with heaps, neither would have David, Solomon, Joseph, at the most they would have been middle class working people with food on the table, a roof over their heads and a few things to enjoy, now does that describe any of the people I mentioned above? It does not describe any of the above people, they were blessed out of their socks, for following God's call, and they were all very rich.

Now lets look at Ecclesiastes 5:12 and 5:19 again, if God made Abraham wealthy, is it the will of God for Abraham, David or Joseph to be anxious and not sleep?
I came out of the prosperity gospel teaching and I can tell you that these men have created a theology that is not biblical.

First of all the assumption that if God made Abrhaham and Soloman rich he now wants all his people to be rich is a silly one

Abraham and his direct descrndants were made wealthy because God chose them to be founders of a nation. Soloman was a king... not everyone is a a king lol.

Copelands teaching has no focus on the gospel, they are mostly focused on "the blessing" which is an idol, because they elevate it above God.

Word of faith makes God a vending machine, if you have enuff faith and speak with faith, God will give you whatever you want, again; wrong this is a false idea of who God is, idolatry.

In proverbs 30 there is wise advice for all of us, the man says:

Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise I will have too much and may disown you and say " who is the LORD?" And if I am poor I will steal and dishonor the name of my God.

Also where Paul says "He who desires to become rich pierces himself with many sorrows..." I encourage you to read the rest if you have the guts
 

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brokentuningfork said:
I came out of the prosperity gospel teaching and I can tell you that these men have created a theology that is not biblical.

First of all the assumption that if God made Abrhaham and Soloman rich he now wants all his people to be rich is a silly one

Abraham and his direct descrndants were made wealthy because God chose them to be founders of a nation. Soloman was a king... not everyone is a a king lol.

Copelands teaching has no focus on the gospel, they are mostly focused on "the blessing" which is an idol, because they elevate it above God.

Word of faith makes God a vending machine, if you have enuff faith and speak with faith, God will give you whatever you want, again; wrong this is a false idea of who God is, idolatry.

In proverbs 30 there is wise advice for all of us, the man says:

Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise I will have too much and may disown you and say " who is the LORD?" And if I am poor I will steal and dishonor the name of my God.

Also where Paul says "He who desires to become rich pierces himself with many sorrows..." I encourage you to read the rest if you have the guts
I gotta disagree with your comments about the word of blessing and the word of faith and we gotta be careful of how we speak about God's anointed and why don't you read Copeland's testimony, instead of reading and listening to gossip, I don't care how many people on the internet say otherwise, there is always someone out there trying to link God's anointed with the Devil, trying to bring up every wrong thing they did in the past, that has been forgiven. It did not matter how sinful Copeland was in the past, but God was still able to use him, God wanted him for his kingdom, and God got him. Just like it does not matter how sinful some criminal gang member is, they can be changed and God can use them as living proof, to win even more people to Jesus.

Now let me ask you is it God's will for us to live a better life than the world, or a worser life than the world?
 
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Josho said:
I gotta disagree with your comments about the word of blessing and the word of faith and we gotta be careful of how we speak about God's anointed and why don't you read Copeland's testimony, instead of reading and listening to gossip, I don't care how many people on the internet say otherwise, there is always someone out there trying to link God's anointed with the Devil, trying to bring up every wrong thing they did in the past, that has been forgiven. It did not matter how sinful Copeland was in the past, but God was still able to use him, God wanted him for his kingdom, and God got him. Just like it does not matter how sinful some criminal gang member is, they can be changed and God can use them as living proof, to win even more people to Jesus.

Now let me ask you is it God's will for us to live a better life than the world, or a worser life than the world?
Ok so let's agree to disagree because Copeland is defenitley not a sound preacher from what I see in the Bible. His theology says that everything positive is from God and every negative bad thing comes from the devil, whearas if u take the time to read the actual scriptures u will see many times where it says that God either causes harm or allows it to happen for the greater good. And he never ever talks about Christ and the cross which dealth with our sin which is the fulcrum of the christian faith.He mentioms it like once and then puts it behind him like it's not important anymore...

To answer your question which is in itself almost like an answer, of course he wants us better off but spiritually more than physically. When you read the new testament you will see that in some cases Paul, Jesus and the Apostles denied the body and their own well being for the sake of the kingdom and spreading the gospel.

Now, questions for you Josho. In some cases it is God's will to send someone to North Korea to help that country which is in dire need of it. Do you think this person is going to live a north american lifestyle? And again will this persons affluence and riches help them to go to north Korea or will it in fact hold them back from going just like the rich young ruler who went away sad because " he had many possesions". Put yourself in that situation and ask yourself , would I go to a a country worse than mine and worse than third world country if God asked me to go?

God bless
 

VictoryinJesus

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Josho said:
I gotta disagree with your comments about the word of blessing and the word of faith and we gotta be careful of how we speak about God's anointed and why don't you read Copeland's testimony, instead of reading and listening to gossip, I don't care how many people on the internet say otherwise, there is always someone out there trying to link God's anointed with the Devil, trying to bring up every wrong thing they did in the past, that has been forgiven. It did not matter how sinful Copeland was in the past, but God was still able to use him, God wanted him for his kingdom, and God got him. Just like it does not matter how sinful some criminal gang member is, they can be changed and God can use them as living proof, to win even more people to Jesus.

Now let me ask you is it God's will for us to live a better life than the world, or a worser life than the world?


[SIZE=medium]I couldn’t stop thinking about your post last night and felt the urge to respond. I am reluctant because I doubt anything I share will change your mind. The desire to be prosperous and comfortable in this life is a strong pull and once you are on track toward pursing those external things, it is near impossible for someone to persuade you otherwise. I can relate to your conflict. When I first became a follower of Christ I was drawn toward the prosperity movement. I don’t regret going in that direction because I am certain God allowed it, in fact my going in that direction could have only been ordained [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]by[/SIZE][SIZE=medium] God. I was sick and needed healing. I was tired and needed hope. I was weak and needed strength. I was nothing and wanted power. I needed to be significant. I was tempted. But when we anchor into more of this world, there is chance it can all come crashing down around us. What then? Okay, yes Copeland has a sad testimony. We all have one. But what if Copeland or Osteen lost all their wealth tomorrow...what then? When I think of some of my prayers during that season of following after these men and their message …I am ashamed. I was consumed by vanity and came to a point where I was convinced God would give me anything I asked for…if I would only speak it, and claim it, and have faith God would deliver. I know you read my testimony on how I am consumed by fear, so I won’t repeat it. What you don’t know is that suddenly, I was thrust into challenges way outside my comfort zone that called for total trust in God. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]One being a MRI procedure for the doctors to look at my spine and brain. I had already been in the MRI machine once months earlier; the procedure only took twenty minutes that time which I barely made it through. They had to stop the machine every couple of minutes because I would go into a state of panic and squeeze the "take me out now!" button. And here they were, the doctors, saying I would have to repeat the MRI but this time it would take an hour. The weeks leading up to the MRI I labored in fear, telling God I couldn’t do it. That may sound ridiculous, but that machine was Mount Everest for me. All I could think of was that tight space and that hammering sound, and the absence of air. One night I hit my knees and cried out to God that I wanted to be bold and brave- the opposite of fear. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]I cited all the things I wanted to overcome and in doing so I thought of one fear I had never considered…a plane ride. I have never been on a plane, nor have I ever considered a plane ride but there it was …the ultimate fear—being in the air, in a tight space with others, unable to escape. What would I tell the pilot to do when I went into panic mode? Land the plane? :wacko: [/SIZE] In the air there would be no exit door for my eyes to locate because the exit door would be useless. That night, after citing all my fears, I prayed to God that I could be the kind of woman that if He told me to get on a plane for a missions trip…I would obey. And this is no lie: the following day a friend I hadn’t spoken to in years called. She told me she was fasting and that God wanted her to tell me to get on a plane and fly out to California. My friend is big in a church out there. I don’t know if you have ever heard of Bethel, or Bill Johnson? It is the same message as Copeland's. In all my life no one had ever asked me to get on a plane so I truly believed this was a command from God. Bethel is known for healings and I was convinced healing waited for me in California. For a week I was consumed with thoughts of actually flying out to California. I checked the time it would take to fly from North Carolina to California. I was pumped. If I could only overcome my fear, God would heal me. It was a test. Ultimately, the fear won out and I did not go and I felt more disappointed in myself than I have ever felt. But the night before the MRI I noticed something strange…the MRI no longer frightened me in comparison to a plane ride. I thought the fear would come back once I was in the machine. The fear never did return. Compared to a plane, the MRI seemed like a kitten. The procedure took two hours instead of one and I hadn’t even realized the time because God had leveled the mountain by placing a scarier one in its place. I would like to add: you asked how to not worry and stress or be anxious. I would assume it is by fearing God, rather than life circumstances that frees a person. No one wants to hear that, but God truly is the only one that deserves to be feared. Maybe...If we fear God, who or what else is there to fear? That may sound insane but sitting here considering what can be gleaned through the diminishing of one fear by replacing it by another grander fear, it would be this: God is that plane and all of Satan's ploys and tools are the MRI; a pale comparison. God deserves reverence and when He fully has it...the rest of the fear will diminish and be leveled and defeated. Some will argue God does not want us to fear Him but let us not forget there is also healthy fear that is good for our marrow and bones. The first thing Jacob said when he saw the ladder reaching toward heaven with the Lord standing at the top was, "how dreadful is this place, this is the house of God and I knew it not." Please, Pray I can have that kind of reverence for the Lord.

[SIZE=medium]My friend out at Bethel had made an impact. Following her invitation, I consumed every sermon put out by Bethel. I consumed every sermon by Joel Osteen. Every sermon by Kenneth Copeland. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]I fed off their promises for my "best life now". It all sounds good to the brokenhearted, to the afflicted, to the down trodden, weak and hopeless. [/SIZE] That is their prey with their p[SIZE=medium]romises for us to be made bold and prosperous, and successful. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]I had sticky notes with scripture all over my walls; verses all those pastors had provided to be claimed and won by my faith. But something always felt off and one day, it was if God peeled the blinders off and what I saw was a lot of selfishness and worldly lust. Nothing was different from their message and the worlds message. So Josho, I ask you this: why would God enslave someone to the bondage of worldly possessions? These pastors are offering you and promising you what you already wanted BEFORE becoming a Christian. They are promising you what your flesh already wants. Where are their messages and encouragement for people to rush forward and suffer for Christ? They are offering you the world—much like Satan offered Christ the world if He would only prostrate himself before Satan. These pastors use the old Testament because of David and Solomon’s wealth, claiming that God wants us wealthy as well. Is that the truth or are those lessons for us on how worldly desires and riches corrupt a man. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]Have you read Ecclesiastes? It is [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]all[/SIZE][SIZE=medium] vanity. [/SIZE] It all leads to needing Christ and Christ alone. [SIZE=medium]I would like to challenge you to do one thing: [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]revisit the verses Copeland gives pertaining to God wants to give you your hearts desire and read the context surrounding those promises and you will see…prosperity pastors have taken those verses out of context and twisted and distorted the scripture to fit their own fleshly desires of world domination. The prosperity gospel even follows the world's model of success rate: only twenty percent ever reach the top and that level of success, the other eighty percent struggle to survive. Does that sound like God's model? My friend at Bethel barely eats and pays her bills, while the leaders in the church thrive. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium][/SIZE][SIZE=medium]Years after that call from my friend I am certain God never intended for me to fly out to California. I have asked myself repeatedly if God would level a fear by placing another fear in its place. Does God use the devil to intervene in our life…absolutely. What Satan means for harm, God means for good. I will never return to the prosperity gospel. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]God could give us all the money in the world, after all, He controls it. It is His to give. God could make us comfortable and set us in a cushiony fine home and give us a jet…BUT what parent that loves a child...spoils the child? Every good father knows adversity, struggle, conflict and doing without builds character and endurance. And these are worldly fathers. Why would a father in heaven see to our every whim? We are talking about a heavenly Father that is LONG suffering. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]Please consider the word [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]passion.[/SIZE][SIZE=medium] The word passion is only used once in the bible, passion without an s, pertaining to Christ. The other times the word passion is used, pertaining to mankind(us), it is always plural…[/SIZE][SIZE=medium]passions.[/SIZE][SIZE=medium] Passion pertaining to Christ means “to suffer”. To have passion for something and a willingness to suffer for that passion, to not stop or rest until that passion is realized and on the other side of that suffering waits intense joy. The kind of joy nothing in this world can mimic or take away. The joy set before Christ when He endured the cross. A passion completed to its fullest. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium](Acts 1:3) “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]God wants intimacy. We relate intimacy to the fulfillment of a physical need. But the bible repeatedly shows intimacy as suffering with another, for another's sake and well being. That is why most of us are drawn to help others that have similar sufferings to which we have endured. God is so good and long suffering that He will not lift that suffering for the sake of comfort because He loves us too much. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]God the Father endured the suffering of His son on the Cross, and the Son endured our punishment for sin on the Cross. Out of love for what was done for us, we are called to suffer and carry the burden of others —to have passion to walk the path of Christ that leads toward great joy that has NOTHING to do with money or possessions this world offers. It is the hope set before us. Suffering is throughout the bible. Suffering is what develops a rich relationship with God. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium](Matthew 10: 24-25) “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]​(1 Peter 4:1) "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;"[/SIZE]

(1 Peter 5: 2) "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;" Lucre's meaning in the bible concordance is "for gain".

Josho: We all want passion, don't we? What is your passion? What motivates you to get up every morning and begin anew? Is it truly to be comfortable and prosperous? If passion means "to suffer" for the sake of something or someone, then would it not be safe to assume "to suffer" means to truly experience... a life worth living? A life filled with passion.
 
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Josho

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VictoryinJesus said:
[SIZE=medium]I couldn’t stop thinking about your post last night and felt the urge to respond. I am reluctant because I doubt anything I share will change your mind. The desire to be prosperous and comfortable in this life is a strong pull and once you are on track toward pursing those external things, it is near impossible for someone to persuade you otherwise. I can relate to your conflict. When I first became a follower of Christ I was drawn toward the prosperity movement. I don’t regret going in that direction because I am certain God allowed it, in fact my going in that direction could have only been ordained [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]by[/SIZE][SIZE=medium] God. I was sick and needed healing. I was tired and needed hope. I was weak and needed strength. I was nothing and wanted power. I needed to be significant. I was tempted. But when we anchor into more of this world, there is chance it can all come crashing down around us. What then? Okay, yes Copeland has a sad testimony. We all have one. But what if Copeland or Osteen lost all their wealth tomorrow...what then? When I think of some of my prayers during that season of following after these men and their message …I am ashamed. I was consumed by vanity and came to a point where I was convinced God would give me anything I asked for…if I would only speak it, and claim it, and have faith God would deliver. I know you read my testimony on how I am consumed by fear, so I won’t repeat it. What you don’t know is that suddenly, I was thrust into challenges way outside my comfort zone that called for total trust in God. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]One being a MRI procedure for the doctors to look at my spine and brain. I had already been in the MRI machine once months earlier; the procedure only took twenty minutes that time which I barely made it through. They had to stop the machine every couple of minutes because I would go into a state of panic and squeeze the "take me out now!" button. And here they were, the doctors, saying I would have to repeat the MRI but this time it would take an hour. The weeks leading up to the MRI I labored in fear, telling God I couldn’t do it. That may sound ridiculous, but that machine was Mount Everest for me. All I could think of was that tight space and that hammering sound, and the absence of air. One night I hit my knees and cried out to God that I wanted to be bold and brave- the opposite of fear. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]I cited all the things I wanted to overcome and in doing so I thought of one fear I had never considered…a plane ride. I have never been on a plane, nor have I ever considered a plane ride but there it was …the ultimate fear—being in the air, in a tight space with others, unable to escape. What would I tell the pilot to do when I went into panic mode? Land the plane? :wacko: In the air there would be no exit door for my eyes to locate because the exit door would be useless. That night, after citing all my fears, I prayed to God that I could be the kind of woman that if He told me to get on a plane for a missions trip…I would obey. And this is no lie: the following day a friend I hadn’t spoken to in years called. She told me she was fasting and that God wanted her to tell me to get on a plane and fly out to California. My friend is big in a church out there. I don’t know if you have ever heard of Bethel, or Bill Johnson? It is the same message as Copeland's. In all my life no one had ever asked me to get on a plane so I truly believed this was a command from God. Bethel is known for healings and I was convinced healing waited for me in California. For a week I was consumed with thoughts of actually flying out to California. I checked the time it would take to fly from North Carolina to California. I was pumped. If I could only overcome my fear, God would heal me. It was a test. Ultimately, the fear won out and I did not go and I felt more disappointed in myself than I have ever felt. But the night before the MRI I noticed something strange…the MRI no longer frightened me in comparison to a plane ride. I thought the fear would come back once I was in the machine. The fear never did return. Compared to a plane, the MRI seemed like a kitten. The procedure took two hours instead of one and I hadn’t even realized the time because God had leveled the mountain by placing a scarier one in its place. I would like to add: you asked how to not worry and stress or be anxious. I would assume it is by fearing God, rather than life circumstances that frees a person. No one wants to hear that, but God truly is the only one that deserves to be feared. Maybe...If we fear God, who or what else is there to fear? That may sound insane but sitting here considering what can be gleaned through the diminishing of one fear by replacing it by another grander fear, it would be this: God is that plane and all of Satan's ploys and tools are the MRI; a pale comparison. God deserves reverence and when He fully has it...the rest of the fear will diminish and be leveled and defeated. Some will argue God does not want us to fear Him but let us not forget there is also healthy fear that is good for our marrow and bones. The first thing Jacob said when he saw the ladder reaching toward heaven with the Lord standing at the top was, "how dreadful is this place, this is the house of God and I knew it not." Please, Pray I can have that kind of reverence for the Lord. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]My friend out at Bethel had made an impact. Following her invitation, I consumed every sermon put out by Bethel. I consumed every sermon by Joel Osteen. Every sermon by Kenneth Copeland. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]I fed off their promises for my "best life now". It all sounds good to the brokenhearted, to the afflicted, to the down trodden, weak and hopeless. [/SIZE] That is their prey with their p[SIZE=medium]romises for us to be made bold and prosperous, and successful. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]I had sticky notes with scripture all over my walls; verses all those pastors had provided to be claimed and won by my faith. But something always felt off and one day, it was if God peeled the blinders off and what I saw was a lot of selfishness and worldly lust. Nothing was different from their message and the worlds message. So Josho, I ask you this: why would God enslave someone to the bondage of worldly possessions? These pastors are offering you and promising you what you already wanted BEFORE becoming a Christian. They are promising you what your flesh already wants. Where are their messages and encouragement for people to rush forward and suffer for Christ? They are offering you the world—much like Satan offered Christ the world if He would only prostrate himself before Satan. These pastors use the old Testament because of David and Solomon’s wealth, claiming that God wants us wealthy as well. Is that the truth or are those lessons for us on how worldly desires and riches corrupt a man. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]Have you read Ecclesiastes? It is [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]all[/SIZE][SIZE=medium] vanity. [/SIZE] It all leads to needing Christ and Christ alone. [SIZE=medium]I would like to challenge you to do one thing: [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]revisit the verses Copeland gives pertaining to God wants to give you your hearts desire and read the context surrounding those promises and you will see…prosperity pastors have taken those verses out of context and twisted and distorted the scripture to fit their own fleshly desires of world domination. The prosperity gospel even follows the world's model of success rate: only twenty percent ever reach the top and that level of success, the other eighty percent struggle to survive. Does that sound like God's model? My friend at Bethel barely eats and pays her bills, while the leaders in the church thrive. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium][/SIZE][SIZE=medium]Years after that call from my friend I am certain God never intended for me to fly out to California. I have asked myself repeatedly if God would level a fear by placing another fear in its place. Does God use the devil to intervene in our life…absolutely. What Satan means for harm, God means for good. I will never return to the prosperity gospel. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]God could give us all the money in the world, after all, He controls it. It is His to give. God could make us comfortable and set us in a cushiony fine home and give us a jet…BUT what parent that loves a child...spoils the child? Every good father knows adversity, struggle, conflict and doing without builds character and endurance. And these are worldly fathers. Why would a father in heaven see to our every whim? We are talking about a heavenly Father that is LONG suffering. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]Please consider the word [/SIZE][SIZE=medium]passion.[/SIZE][SIZE=medium] The word passion is only used once in the bible, passion without an s, pertaining to Christ. The other times the word passion is used, pertaining to mankind(us), it is always plural…[/SIZE][SIZE=medium]passions.[/SIZE][SIZE=medium] Passion pertaining to Christ means “to suffer”. To have passion for something and a willingness to suffer for that passion, to not stop or rest until that passion is realized and on the other side of that suffering waits intense joy. The kind of joy nothing in this world can mimic or take away. The joy set before Christ when He endured the cross. A passion completed to its fullest. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium](Acts 1:3) “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]God wants intimacy. We relate intimacy to the fulfillment of a physical need. But the bible repeatedly shows intimacy as suffering with another, for another's sake and well being. That is why most of us are drawn to help others that have similar sufferings to which we have endured. God is so good and long suffering that He will not lift that suffering for the sake of comfort because He loves us too much. [/SIZE] [SIZE=medium]God the Father endured the suffering of His son on the Cross, and the Son endured our punishment for sin on the Cross. Out of love for what was done for us, we are called to suffer and carry the burden of others —to have passion to walk the path of Christ that leads toward great joy that has NOTHING to do with money or possessions this world offers. It is the hope set before us. Suffering is throughout the bible. Suffering is what develops a rich relationship with God. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium](Matthew 10: 24-25) “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]​(1 Peter 4:1) "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;"[/SIZE]

(1 Peter 5: 2) "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;" Lucre's meaning in the bible concordance is "for gain".

Josho: We all want passion, don't we? What is your passion? What motivates you to get up every morning and begin anew? Is it truly to be comfortable and prosperous? If passion means "to suffer" for the sake of something or someone, then would it not be safe to assume "to suffer" means to truly experience... a life worth living? A life filled with passion.
Good post, good testimony, thanks for the friendly reply, you sure do have a great understanding of God's word, but does God really want us all to live a miserable life of suffering? We can be joyful through times of suffering, after all right? and that's 1 of the many things that separates us from the world, in times of trouble we can give a joyful praise to the Lord, we don't have to face problems like how the rest of the world faces problems, we got God on our side.

Sure some are called to go into the dangerzones, to help those in nations where they can get killed for being a Christian and while they may not be prospering or living a comfortable life in the flesh, they are prospering and living comfortably in the Spirit, but you know, the Holy Spirit may not lead everyone into these life and death dangerzones, he selects who he wants to do what he wants, he leads different people into different places and different situations, he has a plan for every individual person, for me at the moment he has led me to become a working man, a tradesman, a craftsman, then there is the next step after I finish my apprenticeship, many have prophesied that God is going to use me in places other Christians don't want to go, that many will come to me for prayer and receive healing, my own dad has even prophesied, he doesn't label himself a prophet but he does get accurate words every now and then, he told me "God has got you learning how to restore furniture now and then he is going to use you to restore people's lives." I don't know when this is going to play out, or when this season is going to begin, and i don't know what to expect, it may be a dangerzone it may not be, but the Lord is my shield & I know where I am going and that's the good news. But ya know there's usually a reason why God leads someone down a career path. And if he leads you down a certain career path, I believe he wants you to prosper in what ya do, but there are seasons.

But you know there's a reason in this day and age for the prosperity message, there are so many Christians out there struggling to live with the high cost of living here in Australia, living in debt and listening to a biblical prosperity message can take our mind away from that worry, and remind us that God can supply our needs and he can bless us with abundance. And ya know what are my hearts desires? I would like a farm, not one to make a living off, but 1 i can live off haha, i would like my own livestock,, they cost 10x more than a politician's average salary these days, but anything is possible with God. Ya know i would also love to travel the world. While i sure also would like God to use me during a massive turning around to Christ, where hundreds, or thousands or even more come to Christ, and that would be the most amazing thing, it could be anywhere and i don't think i will mind, I like travelling and seeing different parts of the world anyway, it would be just an amazing thing. And while I'm not a highly educated person, lol i would read the Bible, i wouldn't know the meaning of a word, look it up, and i may still not know the definition explained in the dictionary or I may forget what that word means haha, God has proven he can use anyone, and that's just another 1 of the many things to love about God, you don't have to be the greatest, you don't have to be the smartest, you don't have to be well liked, he can still use you, he will use anyone.

Worry, should we do it? There is a fear of God, yes, if God grabbed anyone like he did to Copeland, your heart would be pounding with fear, but it's for your own good.

But all other kinds of worry, the worry of the flesh, should we do it? What happened to the parts of the Bible where Jesus said "do not worry" and "be anxious for nothing." Why would he say that?

VictoryInJesus i know you do not disagree with those verses where God tells us not to worry, but there sounds like there are others on this forum who disagree with those verses?


So for everyone else who doesn't agree, why should we worry when Jesus told us do not to worry? Why do some of you think it's part of Christian lifestyle to worry like the rest of the world do? I'm sure that's not the way Jesus wants us to live. Where's the explanation in that? C'mon guys, do you think some translator, translated Jesus's words in the Bible wrong? The words of "Do not worry", "Be Anxious for nothing", "Do not Fear."

For now though, i will let others have a talk on this thread, I don't want to be rude, but I feel like i should leave this thread for a while, I find it too time consuming at the moment, and time is a valuable thing, that's better spent in the prayer closet with God. So don't be surprised if I don't get back to this thread and try not to get offended, I was hoping it would be more uplifting and more of a build up one and another in the Body of Christ kinda thing, but it's turning out to be something else.
 
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VictoryinJesus

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Now this has gotta be one of the hardest commands in the Bible, "be anxious for nothing," "do not worry," as simple as Jesus makes it sound, it's hard for many Christians, including myself, and it can be anything from the little things to the big things, sometimes I may ask God to help me and sometimes the problem just gets worst, then i just end up worrying more, now I know that is not the way God intends us to live, does anyone on this forum manage to live a "stress-free life," if so how do you live a stress-free life? Joel Osteen for example, whether you like him or not or agree with him or not, i never see him stressed, he always has a big smile on his face, he always seems to be getting through life in a breeze, he seems to be living a life of victory everyday. How do you live a stress-free life like that? And i can imagine there's not many Christians living a stress-free life, for most of us whenever we hit a big hurdle, whenever we hit a problem, it strikes us harder than the non-Christians, and that annoys me so much.

Josho, how are you? I hope you are well and less anxious. If I have one message and testimony to share that maybe can help someone, it is this: God has completely lifted my anxiety and fear of the unknown. Years ago, whenever someone gave a tense and fidgety woman(that's me) the advice of "be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" and "continue in My word and the truth shall set you free" I said I understood, but secretly, I did not believe the Word as medicine from all the traumas of life. Secretly I thought: you have no idea how messed up I am. I have always carried the label "quirky" because of my many quirks. Most of these quirks were negative but still they were a part of me. They became a definition for who I am. I thought I would have to live with those quirks for the rest of my life. My husband used to say that I am the weakest person he has ever seen. It is true. And I used to be offended whenever I was told I am weak. I used to be offended whenever the verse pertaining to a woman as "the weaker vessel" would come up in conversation. Now I say: thank you. I am weak and I am thankful. I am thankful I am weak and need Him every single day.

Josho, over the span of my life: I have had to sign in to the mental ward of the hospital for treatment (when I was younger), seen countless counselors and psychiatrist, taken all kinds of medications (Xanax, antidepressants...), and eventually learned to cope by just checking out, advoiding people, life and became a hermit. None of those things ever touched my anxiety level. None of those things ever released me from my prison of torment and fear. All of the torment coming from within my own mind.

God has removed every bit of it. My quirks (although I had learned to accept those negative quirks as a part of me) are completely gone. No more panic attacks. Now I live life. I go in crowds. I sit elbow to elbow in the pew at church (at the front, rather than near the exit). My husband and I are facing more than ten court cases over the next couple of weeks. We are being sued left and right, basically for telling the truth, rather than lying. A mountain of lies on the other- side is building(multiple cases). I have no idea how we are going to defeat those lies. That is the common denominator in all the cases: lies coming up against God's truth: the truth that light coming in brings mans deed into the light and sets them free. Truth really does set a person free. But it seems the world will fight the truth coming into the light with a vengeance. One case involves a little boy(we love this little boy so a lot is at stake) and his well-being and safety for the rest of his life is going to be decided within the courts. Truth against lies. My husband lies awake at night, tossing and turning, consumed by stress and anxiety over all that is being thrown at us. I sense his restlessness and his mind racing and tell him: go to sleep, there is nothing to fear. God has got it. No matter the outcome. God has got it.

My husband told someone the other night that there has been a complete reversal in our home: now he is the one anxious, and I am calm. I couldn't help but smile while overhearing it, not because I did anything to change it...God changed me. My husband told me "do you realize your quirks are gone?". Yes. I realize it. I don't know if you suffer from anxiety, Josho. Or if anyone coming to the board suffers and feels trapped and hopeless. But I promise. I have seen and experienced it. God really can remove the anxiety and fear, and give peace...peace under any circumstance. God gives rest. I am still weak, but I now rest in the fact that He IS my strength in every circumstance. I used to think it would take a miracle for my shoulders to relax and my "what if's" to silence...God is that miracle.
 
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