God’s formula for calming down.

We take our healthy and normal anxiety and blow it out of proportion by saying:

1. When will this ever end?
2. What if this happens or that does not happen?
3. This is so unfair!
4. I could try, but it would not work!
5. Poor me, this is so unfair!
6. No one really cares! etc. etc.

In Philippians 4:4-13, we are given the formula for taking normal, healthy anxiety and calming it down, doing what we can, and casting the rest on him, because “He really does care for me!” I Peter 5:7

Live rejoicing and being grateful always for everything. verse 4

Live moderately, don’t let anything become an obsession other than the Lord. verse 5

When you find yourself anxious:

Thank God for the situation that he has allowed and for what he is going to do through it. With prayer and supplication, ask for help and guidance as to what he wants you to do. verse 6

(You will find that the Holy Spirit will help you to quit ruminating and murmuring about the situation, even when you can’t see the outcome, and it all still is hard to understand.) verse 7

Have a ready list of positives of what God has done and is doing in your life and the world around you, things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, well thought of, able to help, praiseworthy. Now think on these things. verse 8

Now, DO the little you can. Anxiety is there to identify danger and push you to do the little you can so that God can take it from there. God will not remove his beneficial anxiety until you have done your part, but will help you cast it away when you have done your part. verse 9

The world is all about not caring or caring and getting angry or staying fearful or using video games or alcohol to ignore the problem. God is about us, caring and staying calm.

Ask, “Do I have food and clothing? Why is it so important? Is someone going to die?” Ask the Lord to help you learn to be content no matter what. verse 11, 1 Timothy 6:8

These steps will quiet down the anxiety and are the opposite of our normal responses

Just as you used to use your eyes and inner thoughts to get agitated

So now, use your senses and inner thoughts to care and be calm, to do and then drop, to pick up responsibility – act – and cast it back on him.