Be anxious for nothing . . .

Let Your Gentleness Be Evident to All

Unchecked anxiety can unleash an Enola Gay of angry outbursts, rash accusations, and fiery retaliations against those in your path who are unfortunate to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. How many people have been wounded as a result of such unbridled stress? On the other hand, how many disasters have been averted because one person decided to be calm?

It is this composure Paul is referring to when he states, “Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Philippians 4:5 NIV). The Greek word translated as gentleness describes a temperament that is seasoned and mature. It envisions an attitude that is fitting to the occasion, levelheaded and tempered. The gentle reaction is one of steadiness, evenhandedness, and fairness.

Jesus promised that “in this world you will have trouble” (John 13:33 NIV). It is as inevitable as the sun rising on a new day—as waves crashing on the shores of a beach. But what you also need to remember is that Jesus has promised to be with you in the midst of those troubles. Before Jesus departed this earth, he said to his disciples, “Go and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20 NIV).

In fact, throughout the Bible, God repeatedly pledged to be present with his people. He was with Abram as he traveled to a new land. He was with Hagar when she fled into the wilderness, and with Isaac when he was forced to move from place to place. He was with Joshua when he faced the Canaanites, and with David when he faced the Philistines. He was with Peter in prison, and with Paul whenever and wherever he found himself in dire circumstances.

God was never watching from a distance. In fact, his very name is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” He became flesh. He became sin. He defeated the grave. And he is still with you.

Maybe you’re fighting today to keep a family together, a business afloat, or a school from going under. How you handle that fight will reveal where your trust ultimately lies. If you trust in Jesus and believe he is always with you, the byproduct of releasing the control to him will be a contagious calm that surrounds your life. This calm will allow you to see how God is working in your situation—and others will notice there is something different about you. It will bring healing to your anxiety, mature your faith, and show others that God is always faithful.

Anxiety management is like pulling stumps out of the ground. Some of your worries have deep root systems, and extracting them is hard work. But you don’t have to do it alone. Present the challenge to your Father and ask for help.

Will he solve the issue? Yes, he will. Will he solve it immediately? Maybe. Or maybe part of the test is an advanced course in patience. This much is sure: contagious calm will happen to the degree that you turn to him.

***

Occasional anxiety happens to all of us. It is when it affects us to the point that we could complete day-to-day tasks that it becomes problematic. (National Institute, N.D.) But, with the help of our Heavenly Father, we can overcome this "game changer" You might be thinking "But, Walter, how can that be?" Before returning to the right hand of His father, Jesus promised "I will be with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20 [NIV]). With that promise - and the fact that He is omnipresent - we can know for a certainty that He will not forsake us or abandon us. I deal with anxiety day in and day out so I can assure you that turning to God works as well - if not better - than any medication the doctor could prescribe and with no problematic side effects. Here's what I do:

1. If I feel an anxiety attack coming on, I stop what I am doing and pray. It's usually not anything flashy or wordy . . . just "Lord, I am beginning to feel overwhelmed. Please take it away and replace it with your joy. Amen."

2. After finishing my prayer, I pull up YouTube and put on some contemporary Christian hymns (such as Mercy Me) or some old school southern gospel and I am as good as new.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH] (N.D.). Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved on April 21, 2018 from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml

I am surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses

Every since I first sang this hymn some years back, I knew it was true in my life but, perhaps, never so much so than a week ago yesterday (Sunday) when I was literally surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Let me explain. For the past sixteen (16) years, I have volunteered at a week-long summer camp for child and adolescent burn survivors.  On Sunday morning, prior to the arrival of campers, we have a non-denominational church service with a message and prayers for a good, injury free week. Well, a week ago yesterday, the group asked me if I would mind if the group lay hands on me and pray over me. I told them I would REALLY appreciate that since I was still recovering from my pacemaker implant back in March. Little did I realize how much it would help! Even before the prayer had ended, I felt renewed strength and decreased pain. Thank you camp family!

Finding the faith to press on

Press On (Selah)

Beginning last December (2013), I was troubled by Atrial Fibrillation, a condition where the atrium (top right chamber of the heart) doesn't beat effectively, instead it quivers. Rather that worrying about it, I came home from the doctor and got on Facebook and ask my family and friends to get a prayer chain going -- that I had a long, hard road ahead of me. Also, being a Latter-Day Saint, I knew I must try, as I have been taught, to endure to the end. Does that mean I prepared to die? Not at all, instead I "dug in" and prepared to battle the problem with Heavenly Father's help. I won't lie . . . it was the roughest three months of my life. The funny thing was that I was willing to accept it as the "thorn in my side" because friends were being strengthened - and acting on their own health problems - seeing how I was dealing with mine. That wasn't Heavenly Father's plan for me as he guided my Cardiologist to send me to an Electrophysiologist who performed surgery and implanted a pacemaker (pictured above right). Now, some two months and two weeks after the surgery, I am back in good health. All because I endured and pressed on!

In times of need

A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race. This has been your [the Twelve in England] feeling, and caused you to forego the pleasures of home, that you might be a blessing to others, who are candidates for [eternal life], but strangers to truth; and for so doing, I pray that heaven's choicest blessings may rest upon you. (See: History of the Church, 4:227)

As a whole, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are unique in our acts of unselfish service to others. Explains Elder Dallin H. Oaks: "Each year tens of thousands of Latter-Day Saints submit their papers for full-time missionary service," (Oaks, 2009). But it is not just that, often members of the LDS church are among the first on the ground following a hurricane or other major disaster. Why do we do it? The answer can be found in Matthew 16:24-25: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.; For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it," (Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV), 2013). You see, in serving others, we are also serving our Savior. 

 

Reference

Matthew 16:24-25 (new international version). (2013, August 27). Retrieved from http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 16:24-25&version=NIV Retrieved: August 27, 2013

Oaks, D. (2009, April 01). Unselfish service . Retrieved from http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/unselfish-service?lang=en Retrieved: August 27, 2013

In times of tragedy

I

I hadn't planned to blog today, but, given what happened in Newtown, CT early today, I felt I had an obligation to write something that would offer some degree of comfort. I too am hurting, as it hit close to home for my family and I. You see, in May 1968, my 18 month-old sister when her daycare center was destroyed by a natural gas explosion. Because of that I can truly say that I understand the disbelief, pain, and loss they are experiencing tonight. The good news is that there is someone who can relieve that pain . . . our loving Heavenly Father!

 

In a March 2009 address to the Church, First Counselor Henry B. Eyring stated "With all of the differences in our lives, we have at least one challenge in common. We must all deal with adversity." He went on to explain that there may be periods - sometimes lengthy ones - when our lives seem to flow along with little or no difficulty. But, because we're all human, this comfort gives away to distress, periods of good health come to an end, and misfortune arrives. When this distress arrives on the scene - especially if it involves the death of a loved one such as a spouse, child, or parent - it can cause fear or even anger.

 

The best answer I can give for those feeling that tonight is found in the Serenity Prayer:

 



God grant me the serenity

to accept the things that I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

 

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life;

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

 

Amen

 





 

 

Praying to our Heavenly Father (Part II)

How should we pray?

It doesn't matter where you are, whether your prefer to stand or kneel when you pray, or whether you prefer to vocalize your prayer or pray silently you should always pray with a sincere heart. Moroni 10:4 tells us also that we should pray with real intent meaning that were are serious in what we're asking Heavenly Father for and that we're willing to abide by His answer.

 

When we pray to our Heavenly Father, we need to tell Him what we really feel in our hearts, confide in Him, seek forgiveness for our transgressions, plead with Him, thank Him, and express our love for Him. We should not repeat meaningless words and phrases such as was done by the Pharisee's and the Sadducee's (See: Matthew 6:7-8). We should always ask that His will be done keeping in mind that what we desire might not be the best thing for us (See: 2 Nephi 18:20).

 

How are our prayers answered?

Our sincere prayers are always answered. Sometimes this answer is "no" because what we're asking for is not the best thing for us. Sometimes the answer is "yes" and we experience a warm, comfortable feeling about what we should do (See: D & C 9:8-9). Sometimes the answer is "wait a while" or "not right now". Heavenly Father answers our prayers at a time and in a way that He knows will help us most.

Sometimes Heavenly Father answers our prayers using other people. This can be a good friend, a spouse, a parent or other family member, or Church leader. Here's an example: a young mother whose baby was injured in an accident at their home. She had no way of getting her injured child to the doctor. Being new in the neighborhood, she really didn't know any of her neighbors yet. The young mother stopped and prayed for help. Within moments, one of her neighbors came to the door and said "I had a feeling I should come and see if you needed any help." The neighbor was able to help the young mother to get her baby to the doctor.

 In some instances, Heavenly Father will provide us with the power to answer our own prayers. As we pray, we should do all that we can to bring about those thing we desire.

 

 

. “Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers”

Praying to our Heavenly Father (Part I)

Why do we pray

Have you ever stopped to contemplate the question "why do we pray"? Simply put, prayer has been an intergral part of the Gospel since the beginning of time. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, where commanded by an angel of the Lord to "repent and call upon God in the name of His son, Jesus Christ. (See: Moses 5:8) This Commandment has never been revoked and still applies today.

Pray for strength. If we go to the father in prayer with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (See: Ensign - A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit) and pray for protection from "the snares of the Evil One", God will hear your prayer and answer it (See: 3 Nephi 18:15, Doctrine & Covenants 10:5).

Prayer for the Lord's guidance and help in our daily lives. It is important for us to pray for our family and friends, our neighbors, our work, and other daily activities. We should be mindful to seek protection from our enemies -- including Satan. (See: Alma 34:17-27).

 

We should express love to our Heavenly Father. This helps us, as His children, to grow closer to Him. We should give thanks to Him for our welfare and comfort and His many blessings each day. (See: 1 Thessalonians 5:18)
 

When should we pray?

 

That is the nice thing about prayer, we don't have to wait for a certain time . . . we can do it anytime we want to commune with Heavenly Father. Sometimes you might be alone when your pray where you can pour your heart out to Him (See: Matthew 6:6); other times to pray include: during a church meeting, while we're walking, or preparing a meal. We can keep Heavenly Father in our thoughts at all times (See: Alma 34:27) 

 

There are times when we might not feel like praying. If we are angry, discouraged, or upset, these are the times we should make a special effort to pray. (See: 2 Nephi 32:8-9)

 

We should pray in private at least twice a day. The Scriptures tell us to pray morning, mid-day, and evening. (See:  Alma 34:2)

 

We should pray with our family.  In doing this, our families also receive Heavenly Father's blessing. (See: 3 Nephi 18:2)

 

To be continued . . .

 

I say these things in Jesus Christ' name, Amen!