Proverbs 12:25 tells us about the intimate connection between anxiety and depression:
I recorded the following video when I felt anxious once. The Lord gave me a good word about the situation, giving me a new way to look at anxious feelings:
In the past, I just went along with anxiety whenever potentially anxiety-producing situations occurred. I thought I had no choice.
But when I started to go there this time, God said to me:
Just because you received an invitation to be anxious doesn’t mean that you have to accept it. “
An invitation to an experience? Wow! Seeing my emotions as an invitation to an experience versus a command I had to follow gave me a new way of looking at negative emotions.
Then I started thinking about how many other invitations I have been accepting over the years:
- Invitations to be frustrated
- Invitations to be depressed
- Invitations to be discouraged.
Then I repeated to myself:
Just because I received an invitation doesn’t mean that I have to accept it when it comes to negative emotions.
Rather than being anxious when I started thinking about that negative, anxiety-producing situation, I started saying scriptures to myself.
I started saying:
- I’m the head and not the tail. I am above only and not beneath (see Deuteronomy 28:13)
- I am an Overcomer through Jesus Christ (John 16:33)
Philippians 4:8 tells us which type of words qualify as “good words” to speak to ourselves and others:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
The scriptures I spoke built up my spirit. I started feeling better. and the anxiety fled.
Consider the negative emotions that you experience habitually, and then remind yourself:
“Just because I received the invitation doesn’t mean that I have to accept.”
While we can’t control the thoughts that enter our minds, we can control the thoughts on which we dwell (live with).
So when you accept the invitation, that means that you’re choosing to dwell on thoughts that make you feel that way.
As for me, I decided that I don’t want to feel anxious because I did not want the anxiety experience.
This is another thing that I want you to think about: When you experience anxiety or any other type of emotions, those represent physical symptoms in your body.
It’s your mind that chooses how to interpret those physical symptoms (what they mean).
In the case of the anxiety, I started feeling tightness in my chest, my heart started beating faster, and my breathing became shallow.
But once I started speaking scriptures to myself, everything just calmed back down.
And all it was were those physical symptoms. I chose to label those symptoms “anxiety”.
Once again, consider your negative feelings as an invitation to an experience, one that you can choose to accept or reject. You can then respond in ways that serve you better!
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This is so, so good! Thank you, Kimberly, for your beautiful way of speaking God’s Words into our lives!!!
/sg
I appreciate your feedback, Shana and praise God for His life-giving word!
This is awesome! I’ve had anxiety all day and just stumbled across this❤️. Praise Jesus for what you do. Thanks for reminding me!
You are welcome, Jolee – God has a way of delivering the right word at the right time 🙂
A great word Kimberly! I will screen those invitations Thank you.
Wise decision, Felecia because it will result in greater emotional stability and peace!
Amen blessings to you
Blessing to you as well, Karen – God is good!
Dear sister, THANK YOU for this exhortation from the Holy Spirit! I’ve encountered a lot of work-related anxiety this year and God is helping me understand how to take control in the moment. I’m not perfect, so I thank Father that He is a patient, faithful teacher!
You have shared some powerful Scriptures here! I’d encourage others to memorize these and/or create an ICE (in case of emergency) card/note containing these Scriptures and keep it handy for those situations when anxiety comes prowling around.
Kim, may God richly bless you for your faithfulness in sharing this instruction!
Thank you for that confirmation, Rick! That is a wise recommendation to keep the scriptures with you for memorization. We need God’s word to help us stay grounded in His love and wisdom to navigate life each day. I receive your blessings and pray multiplied blessing to you and your family as well.
Thank you for your helpful words. I refuse the invitation to be overwhelmed, anxious and fearful. God’s word trumps all negative feelings.
Amen, Sophia! It takes practice, however evaluating those “negative invitations” in our thinking with become second nature to you in time>
Yes Lord help me to not be anxious for anything. Lord help me to slow down and seek you first . Father guide this day amen.
Amen, I agree with you in prayer, Renee!
Perfect timing on this video teaching, Kim! I’ve been waking up too early the past few days, and laying there thinking anxious, negative thoughts. What an unsettling way to start your day! I just journaled on this an hour ago, and prayed for God’s grace and strength to help me redirect my thoughts to positive ones. And then came your email … thank you, Kim, for this wisdom to overcome negative thinking! ❤️
You are welcome, Mary – the Lord has a way of sending the right word at the right time!
I saw this one hour after finding out that my daughter (health care worker) tested positive for Covid 19. I am in the high risk group. I saw her 4 days ago. I know the great I AM, & He is in control. Your post is a blessing!
Glad to hear the Lord confirm His word, Beverly!
Kimberly, Thank you for sharing how God showed you how to resist anxiety! I felt like what you shared goes along with what God showed me about Psalm 91:1 – that the enemy desires to draw us out of the “secret place” (God’s word and promises, His peace) by lies.
Thank you for that confirmation, Cheryl – yes, we must be alert for the enemy’s lies and stay in the secret place of the Most High. He is our refuge and our fortress!
Perfect timing for this encouraging word based on the Word of God for such a time as this. Thank you so very much for sharing this. God’s abundant blessings in all areas be poured out upon you.
We serve an on-time God, Sharin – I receive your prayer and pray multiplied blessings to you!
Thank you so much for this thought about fear and anxiety. We recently put my mother in an Assisted Living facility and she is furious with me (not my brother.) Every time we speak on the phone her anger just spews out on me. When I go visit through the plexiglass she acts better because others are watching. Not that our relationship has ever been great, but I really have let this get to me lately and have begun experiencing extreme anxiety. This morning I just stayed in bed with my Bible and read encouraging verses. I love what you said about not having to accept the invitation. Hopefully, I can put those words to heart as we continue down this path with my mother. Thanks again for sharing.
You are welcome, Susan – I pray the peace of God guard your heart and mind in your relationship with your mother.
Perfect message. I love the idea of not accepting the invitation! Thank you!
Thanks
A good word…I will be trying this.
God bless you!
I just finished the video…great message. Thank you! I liked the point you made about how we cannot control what thoughts pop into our mind, but we can control whether we dwell upon them. Thanks for the reminder to speak His scripture in the midst of our circumstances…the power in His Word tears down negative strongholds, and I need to be reminded of this from time to time because I tend to forget!
Glad to hear it was helpful to you, Lauren. We ALL need reminding of this so we can walk by faith, not by sight!
Thanks that was very good advice! I will definitely try it.
You are welcome, Jodi. Please put it into practice and you will see that it makes a BIG difference 🙂
Thank you, Kimberly. I needed that.
God’s word is always right on time, Angie 🙂
Thank you for sharing.
You are welcome, Tina!