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Author
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Topic: Casting our cares
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byfaith
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posted
I understand what you are saying ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
thanks for your replies and help.
Posts: 160 | From: USA | Registered: Feb 2010
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oneinchrist
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Member # 6532
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posted
Hi again byfaith,
Thank you for the response. I wasnt trying to be nosy, but just to share with you that I have learned that it is not always the devil who brings up the past. I think you understand also that it is not the Holy Spirit who causes us to sweep things(that need to be adressed) under the carpet.
With love in Christ, Daniel
Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007
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byfaith
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Member # 8061
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posted
Thank you oneinchrist,
no, it was not anything like that.
I have since gained peace about what I was fretting over....through prayer of course.
I have been under more stress this year than in some time, so I think things well up.
I had a good cry the other evening...which is not something I do. Maybe I needed it, I felt much better afterward.
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oneinchrist
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Member # 6532
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posted
Hello again byfaith,
In reference to your reply " it was all my own doing"......
Did any of your doing hurt another person?
You may wonder why I am asking you this question.........it has to do with being able to discern the difference between the enemy trying to bring you down and the Holy Spirit prompting you to resolve a matter with another person(which of course would not apply if your actions affected no other person). It is not always the ememy that brings up the past.......believe me you......I can give you a testimonial to that fact. The Holy Spirit has recently helped me and my father get through a difficult ordeal that dealt with both of us having to face some of our past.
With love in Christ, Daniel
Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007
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byfaith
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Member # 8061
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posted
thank you Eden and Betty,
I saved the Watchman Nee article to my computer.
I have been feeling a bit better, not feeling that guilt- it has been general anxiety as well.
I've been especially busy this weekend, my husband has some sort of muscle/sciatic injury and is in great pain when he tries to walk.
He is our sole income, and no work- no pay.
I will set aside some time to read that piece tonight.
Feeling a bit tired, mentally and physically, but am looking to God for strength.
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Eden
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posted
Also remember that "whenever you look within yourself, you'll see sin there" and you'll see "plenty of ground for the devil to accuse you about".
That's why, as Watchman Nee writes so ably in his book The Normal Christian Life, that we need to keep our focus OUTSIDE ourselves on Jesus who died for us and who paid the penalty for all our sins.
Whenever we foolishly "dare to look inside, we'll see plenty of ground for the devil to accuse us (and correctly so)", but when we continue to stand on the ground that "Jesus suffered and died for my sins on the cross", the devil has nothing to accuse us of, because all our sins are forgiven in Jesus.
When we are feeling especially good, we should still only focus that Jesus died for our sins and that all our sins are forgiven.
But when we are feeling especially bad, we must resist the temptation to "look within to admit the reason that we SHOULD INDEED be feeling bad because we ARE SUCH SINNERS", but even when we are feeling bad, we can and are allowed to "keep our focus that Jesus died for our sins and that all our sins are forgiven".
Then the devil, the accuser of the brethren, has NO GROUND to make accusations against. So the devil's MAIN PLOY is to try to "get you to look within again", saying things like, "see how you lost your temper there" and "see how you cursed out that person on the freeway who unexpectedly cut you off, you are not as holy as you pretend", etc., that is the devil's main ploy, to GET YOU TO LOOK WITHIN and take your focus off the fact that OUTSIDE OF YOURSELF Jesus died for your sins and that all your sins are forgiven.
And then the devil has no ground to accuse you of anything. If you haven't read Watchman Nee's The Normal Christian Life, it saved MY Christian life and helped me to NOT look within, where, OF COURSE, there is nothing but sin, JUST LIKE THE DEVIL SAID!!!
love, Eden
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Betty Louise
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Member # 7175
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posted
Remind yourself that the devil is a liar. Once you ask forgiveness past sins are gone. God doesn't even remember them anymore. Tell the old devil he is a liar and you are forgiven.
betty
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Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008
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byfaith
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posted
all my own doing.
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oneinchrist
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Member # 6532
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posted
Hello Byfaith,
You stated that you believe that the devil is trying to remind you of past sins.
May I ask you a personal question? Did these sins involve only you, or did they involve other people and you?
With love in Christ, Daniel
Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007
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Eden
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posted
thank you, I pray that for you too. Be blessed in Jesus.
Eden
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byfaith
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Member # 8061
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Eden:
byfaith, exactly, my 4 issues happened "all at once", and they are all still going on. Several of them are potentially "confrontational" and "anger producing" on the part of the person I have to deal with, and that is anxiety producing. (I've never been much of a physical fighter ...)
love, Eden
I pray that all will go smoothly....(with no physical contact fighting of course)
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Eden
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posted
byfaith, exactly, my 4 issues happened "all at once", and they are all still going on. Several of them are potentially "confrontational" and "anger producing" on the part of the person I have to deal with, and that is anxiety producing. (I've never been much of a physical fighter ...)
love, Eden
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byfaith
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posted
yes, this is true for me...although I may be having a delayed reaction to a couple months ago, many things happened at once! and I feel "traumatized" is the only way to describe it.
although those things are settled now, I am feeling anxiety - after shocks I guess
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byfaith
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Eden:
hi, byfaith, and usually when I feel anxiety it is because some of the "major continents of my life are in motion".
Like, right now I'm having tenant issues, girlfriend issues, all of which involve potential money issues, and maybe even moving to another place issues, and as a result I feel anxiety while those "major continents of my life are in motion".
Once they settle down, I'm relaxed again.
yes, this is true for me...although I may be having a delayed reaction to a couple months ago, many things happened at once! and I feel "traumatized" is the only way to describe it.
although those things are settled now, I am feeling anxiety - after shocks I guess
love, Eden
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byfaith
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Brother Paul:
Thanks ByFaith, that is what I was trying to discern. I gave the physiological stuff in case you were having unidentifiable anxieties. But you know, so keep seeking His will and do what you know is His will, and then trust in the result. Be at peace (Phillipians 4:4-8). I will pray for you as well.
The Lord guide and bless...
Brother Paul
thank you Brother Paul, mostly it is unidentifiable...just that afternoon that was what was bothering me so very much.
Satan knows when we are weak, and where to punch.
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Brother Paul
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posted
Thanks ByFaith, that is what I was trying to discern. I gave the physiological stuff in case you were having unidentifiable anxieties. But you know, so keep seeking His will and do what you know is His will, and then trust in the result. Be at peace (Phillipians 4:4-8). I will pray for you as well.
The Lord guide and bless...
Brother Paul
Posts: 235 | From: Cambridge, MA | Registered: Dec 2009
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Eden
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posted
hi, byfaith, and usually when I feel anxiety it is because some of the "major continents of my life are in motion".
Like, right now I'm having tenant issues, girlfriend issues, all of which involve potential money issues, and maybe even moving to another place issues, and as a result I feel anxiety while those "major continents of my life are in motion".
Once they settle down, I'm relaxed again.
love, Eden
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Eden
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posted
hi byfaith, Watchman Nee in his paperback book The Normal Christian Life (a must-read in my view) mentions that whenever we look within, we will see nothing but sin. But we need to keep our eyes outside of us on what Jesus is and has done and is doing for us, and then the accuser has no ground to accuse us. For, if God be for us, who can be against us? For greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world. If you've never read that book, try reading it, it's not long but that book "saved my life", so to speak.
love, Eden
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byfaith
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posted
It seems the devil is trying to make me feel guilt over past sins (that I have already asked forgiveness for) and are years ago.
I felt so terrible this afternoon with the memory of some of my past.
I know this is what he does, the accuser.
Pray for me that he will go.
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becauseHElives
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Member # 87
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posted
I deal with anxiety & depression daily because of my health but I find comfort, strength & encouragement in the scriptures that speak to me about having faith in the time of trouble, when the giants make me feel like a grasshopper...
I forget how small I am and how weak I am-and consider how great my God is!
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Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ( Luke 13:24 )
Posts: 4578 | From: Southeast Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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byfaith
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posted
thank each one of you for your replies.
I have read each post and am praying about my walk.
I know that God is working in me something for my good.
Carol- you are right that He may be trying to stop me from doing something I am doing or correcting me in some way, I feel that.
I have to not let anything between me and my relationship with Him, even the smallest things in life seem to take priority and this must stop.
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Carol Swenson
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by byfaith:
I have been burdened with anxiety lately, and I know that worry or anxiety is the opposite of faith!
I have prayed that the Lord remove this from me.
Have any of you dealt with anxiety?
What is a good Bible study that you have gleaned from?
In my case I need to pray and ask the Lord what He is pointing out to me. Most of the time it is something He wants me to do. Sometimes it is something He wants me to stop doing. Sometimes it's something another person is doing that I need to be aware of. Anxiety is not necessarily a bad thing; it can simply be a wake-up call.
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Eden
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posted
dear Brother Paul, some very interesting (and complicated) physiological stuff ... In my case I think I'm feeling anxiety because I have "made some missteps" in the area of "romance" and now I'm experiencing "anxiety about what I've gotten myself into" and "would rather get out" but am "not sure how to get out right now", so I experience anxiety, because of sin. I screwed up and now I'm paying for it. Hence, anxiety, probably similar to "temporary separation from God".
love, Eden
"anybody wanna pray with me"
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Brother Paul
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posted
ByFaith
...having had many people in my experience plagued with what we call anxiety I have given this a great deal of thought and study. Remeber how in the Bible there are two young men who have fits and thrash about? One Jesus heals and the other He delivers. This is because there are two manifestations of many types of conditions. One is actually physical (such as seizure disorder caused by an inability of smooth synapse flow in certain oarts of the brain). The charge or energy builds up on one side of the synapse until a critical point is reached and then explodes across the synapse overloading the brain which sort of short circuits. The other is a demonic or satainic counterfiet similar in physiology but no real physical cause can be found. The other is easily detectable with an EEG and MRI.
The same is true for anxiety syndrome. One type is phobia based (from the Biblical "phobeo") which is a certainly sometimes spirit motivated thinking disorder making False Evidence Appear Real (FEAR). The other is differing degrees of misfunction of the autononmic nervous system. The ANS is actually two reciprocal functions of the same parts of the nervous system. It is a series of nerves stemming from the ganglions (little brains) that descend along the spinal column. These nerves effect the heart, blood vessal dialation and constriction, the endocrine glands like the adrenals (Adrenaline and epinephrine levels) and pancreas (which secretes insulin counteracting the effect of the adrenals). The Sympathetic response is the physiological state of excitement, rage, and fear. The Parasympathetic response is that of euphoria, peace, relaxation, etc.!
Over the centuries as a result of sin, the gene pool has become more and more corrupt. Sometimes in some people for a number of reasons this forum does not afford me to explain in detail, the SNS can turn on (secretion of Adrenalin, hightened blood pressure, shallower brreathing, etc.,), but when the threat is gone or now even without a direct threat the PNS no longer turns on and returns us to calm (by dialating the peripheral vessals, countering the hightened sugar level with insulin secretion, more relaxed deeper breathing, etc.,). Also sometimes the PNS no longer is functioning properly for some genetic predispositional development (which happens with many type II diabetics).
Now then, this physiological type, so long as it is not a genetic malfunction of one of the two ANS functions can be influenced. By much practice and diligence one can overcome this...however you must be persistent...much prayer and meditation are required because these automatically turn on the PNS and thus you practice activating the PNS (just like a muscle or habit if you if you use it, it gets stronger)....physical exercises like the physical part of yoga and Tai Chi (ignoring any religious connections), and even jogging, followed by a serious cool down period with relaxation, also teaches/habituates/conditions the body to get worked up and then calm down...avoid caffine like a plague. Finally there are tried and true relaxation exercises like the Jacobson exercise (the Yoga one worked for me). Biologically we are very adaptive what we make normal become the norm...this is why we are so easily addicted to anything (food, pepsi, coffee, cigarettes, whatever).
For the mind and phobeo we need a few practices not the least of which is praying always as Paul says. We think on patterns...cue thoughts lead to other thoughts and feelings and so on. Your anxiety like much of depression can be linked to thought patterns (the playground of familiar spirits). Thoughts lead to feelings which influence our responses to everything and can even cause us to react to others and situations inappropriately (this whole thing also takes a lot of practice). But you can transform yourself by the renewing of your mind because an area of the brain called the mirror neurons simply recieves and believes everything it processes (they have to do with distinguishing and defining our realities). So you need to walk in the truth. It is by the truth that we gird up the "lioins" of the mind. We need to become sensitive the moment we begin to imagine and recognize where our mind goes before the anxiety hits. Then earlier and earlier in the loop or process of thought flow (one thought that leads to the next) we can catch the anxiety producing script and then "Cast down every imagination that exalts itself" against Christ or against the truth (the truth will set you free). So let us say when anxious you cannot eat fresh vegatables!?! The truth is that if others around you are eating them and are fine then you also can eat them. Of course at first your anxiety and the imaginary fears prevent you but you must rebuke the thought and ask the Lord to also rebuke it and declare the truth "O know I can eat this carrot and nothing will happen to me" Then at fiest just take a bite...ot go out in your hall and back in doors (if agoraphobic) or wade waist deep then chest deep etc., if hydrophobic ...
Do you get the idea? If there is no psycho-emotive component and it is purely physical then if the first approach (diligently practiced for a fair amount of time) does not work, then you need a medication that balances off that symptom (that is if it appears the Lord is not going to heal you_ or accept it and live with it_ in any event your anxiety is propbably not a negation of faith and does not necessarily mean you lack faith...God knew all about this before you were saved so fear not!
I will put this on my prayer list for a time and no matter what happens DO NOT DOUBT THE OBJECT OF YOUR FAITH (He is faithful even when we are weak) because He is the author AND the finisher of your faith.
Love
Brother Paul
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byfaith
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posted
thank you everyone!
I am praying and also thanking God for sending my fellow siblings in Christ Jesus to aide in my time of need.
I do need to exercise more, there is no doubt. I am at my correct weight but out of shape.
Thank you TB, I have read the list on your site. We truly have more blessings than we SEE as clearly as we do the trials.
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TB125
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posted
byfaith,
I invite you to check out some simple brief statements of "good news" that I have on my website. You will find it here: http://christianityetc.org/good_news.php You probably have a lot of good things happening to you every day that the Devil keeps trying to hide from you in order to keep you anxious. Don't let him do that. God is blessing you everyday.
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Bob
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Betty Louise
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Member # 7175
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posted
Eden,
You are right about exercise. For those like me who are not physically able to jog a slow walk around the block listening to praise and worship music and enjoying nature can refresh our minds.
betty
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Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
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Eden
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posted
I've dealt with anxiety the last couple of days, about relatives that are in trouble and nearly homeless, about me not having enough money to help those friends who could use some help, and sometimes finding myself alive on earth can be frightening.
For me, as long as I do at least one thing per day that made progress, like installed something that I've been wanting to install for a long time, or clean the trunk of my car, or worked on a written project, just about anything that makes forward progress, helps a lot.
And then praying and believing that Jesus does really favor us and answers our prayers, and looking for the answer to my prayers, that helps too.
Another thing that helps is realizing that contentment does not come from receiving a huge package of contentment "one day", but contentment
is to be found in all the things that happened today. Did I have MORE good things happen today than bad things? Then it was a good day.
And lastly, reading Christian books and getting some exercise like jogging with a Christian CD on, also helps a lot.
love, Eden
"and another day has finished, did I have fun today and was I content today? It's the only day I had"
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Betty Louise
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You are not a failure. Remember you are special to God. I think almost everybody has problems with nerves and depression sometimes. Remember, we are living in the end times. The world is a scary place and just listening to the news can be depressing BUT God is on our side. He will never forsake us nor leave us alone. Come here and let us know when you need us to pray for you. It is a privilege to pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
betty
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Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008
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byfaith
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posted
Thank you Betty I needed these words from a fellow believer!
I just have felt like a failure because of anxiety lately.
Thank you again, I will try what you have suggested.
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Betty Louise
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posted
Also remember that David was a man after God's own heart and he suffered from depression.
betty
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Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008
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Betty Louise
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posted
I suffer from anxiety and depression. I don't know any Bible Studies but I find listening to Praise and Worship Music Videos on You tube helps me. Sometimes if it is bad I take a mild nerve pill. Don't be afraid to seek help from a doctor. There is no shame in getting help.
God bless you.
betty
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Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008
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byfaith
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posted
I have been burdened with anxiety lately, and I know that worry or anxiety is the opposite of faith!
I have prayed that the Lord remove this from me.
Have any of you dealt with anxiety?
What is a good Bible study that you have gleaned from?
Posts: 160 | From: USA | Registered: Feb 2010
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