Sabaoth Summer 2021
LIFE’S CHALLENGES Dealing With Life’s Challenges The Biblical ‘DIY’ Way
STRESS / ANXIETY / DEPRESSION Praying the Word of God through stress, anxiety and depression
Click on image To see Workbook
(For a more interactive version of workbook contact us here)
Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. (Philippians 4:5-7 Amplified)
And Remember Faith that is not tested is not real faith and the surest way to test faith is unbelief – ‘opportunities’ to doubt will surely come but then it is an opportunity for us to go before the Lord and pray: O Lord help my unbelief.
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD IS REALLY SAYING TO US IN HIS WORD, WE NEED TO READ THE PASSAGE MORE CAREFULLY AND IN CONTEXT. SOME WAYS TO DO THIS (ESPECIALLY ONLINE) IS TO:
Ctrl + click on the bible passages and this will take you to Bible Gateway (www.biblegateway.com) where you can access numerous almost all versions and languages of the Bible available.
Google bible passage (or go straight to Bible Hub (www.biblehub.com) to see an array of cross references and commentaries on the Bible passage.
The benefits of praying through God’s Word
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. (Colossians 1:27-29)
Then:
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. (Hebrews 4:12)
when we pray through God’s Word, though our intellect will make the medical perspective available to us; the most important perspective is “what is God saying about this my situation???” (which He has already given us in His Word); is made clear to us by having good intuition. Intuition is a natural ability or power that makes it possible to know something without any proof or evidence: It is a feeling that guides a person to act a certain way without fully understanding why.
DEALING WITH STRESS / ANXIETY / DEPRESSION Praying the Word of God through stress, anxiety and depression
Not knowing what the future holds (in some climes, not knowing where the next meal will come from); physical insecurity; the feeling of the need to please everybody; not being able to say “no” to people are some factors that act as triggers for stres, anxiety or depression; others are the feeling of insecurity or low self-esteem; perfectionism or even, overworking.
Stress and anxiety or depression may seem similar, but they’re not the same. The difference? Stress, while anxiety is a reaction to the stress. Anxiety, which has no clear cause, tends to last longer and be more difficult to treat.
Difficulties and challenges – experience we all have to deal with every day is what is called stress. It is a response to the pressures or threatening situations we face daily: While anxiety is a reaction to the stress; it is when one (over time) fills his/her self with stress. It develops from an anxious mindset and perhaps being overloaded with stress.
To be anxious is to worry or preoccupy oneself on troubles. one feel restless, disturbed, or burdened. If the anxiety is intense then the body is uncomfortable and the mind won’t slow down. Which makes it difficult to relax; even in the sleep sometimes when fears, nightmares, or flashbacks. Fears is first initiated, so as to give legitimate ‘doorway’ for spiritual attack through dream and thus restlessness even during sleep.
Stress affects a lot of people, and can influence your health. Symptoms include:
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Chest pain
- Heart palpitations
- Skin rashes
- Loss of sleep
Stress typically goes away when the causes disappear. However, chronic stress can escalate into anxiety or depression, so it’s important to take steps to reduce or eliminate stress whenever possible.
Sample of how to use workbook
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Month |
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Scripture |
Your Thoughts, Observations & Prayer Extracted From This Scripture. |
| 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
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Ctrl + click on the bible passages and this will take me to Bible Gateway where I can find the versions or languages that I am comfortable with:
Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way [that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life’s circumstances]. The Lord be with you all. (Amplified Bible) Ǹjẹ́ kí Olúwa àlàáfíà, fúnrarẹ̀ máa fún yín ní àlàáfíà nígbà gbogbo. Kí Olúwa kí ó wà pẹ̀lú gbogbo yín. (Yoruba Language) Google bible passage (or go straight to Bible Hub (www.biblehub.com) to see an array of cross references and commentaries on the Bible passage. My prayer from this passage (WHICH SHOULD BE GEARED TOWARDS CONSECRATION; AS GOD WILL ALWAYS FAITHFULLY FULFIL HIS PART OF THE DEAL) is: that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life’s circumstances “O Lord multiply Your glorious riches in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ unto us and fill us with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding so that we may be able to walk with You regardless of life’s circumstances.”(“We” or “us” is used here because it takes the same ‘one’ sentence to pray it for myself and also to pray it in a corporate context).
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