Trusting God is Good for your health

Dear Beloved, If I could be transparent with you.....This has been a time when my anxiety has been through the roof! The frequency of my anxiety attacks has been increasing and constant worry and panic seem to overtake me. I use to be so ashamed to say as a Christian that I struggle with worrying or anxiety and sometimes it does not seem as easy as turning everything over to God in prayer. So, I would like to take you on this journey with me. I was hesitant at first to do this but I know in my heart that there is someone who is reading this who deals with anxiety or panic disorder. I am writing this to let you know that you are not alone. I hope to do a series of posts related to this. They may not be in sequence because I too will be taking this journey but I will definitely be doing check-ins and updates on the LCY FB page. I read this devotional by Rick Warren that really gave me the courage to begin this journey. I hope you are comforted and encouraged by it too. “I said to myself, ‘Relax because the Lord takes care of you’” (Psalm 116:7 NCV). God has given you the gift of your body, and it comes with an owner’s manual — the Bible. In it are all the instructions you need to take care of yourself and live a long life. You already know the basics: proper nutrition, exercise, and a good night’s rest. But there’s another health factor you may not have thought of for living long and well. Trusting God is good for your health. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5 NIV). Why is trusting in God good for your health? Because when you trust him, you don’t worry. Psalm 116:7 says, “I said to myself, ‘Relax because the Lord takes care of you’”(NCV). If you really trust in God, you’re going to be less stressed. The Bible says in Proverbs 14:30, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones” (NIV). It’s not just what you eat that matters. It’s what eats you! You can have all the right macrobiotics and organic food, but if your body is filled with resentment, worry, fear, lust, guilt, anger, bitterness, or any other emotional disease, it’s going to shorten your life. You have a choice:

• You can either worry or worship.

• You can either pray or panic.

The more you pray, the less you’ll panic. Relax, because God will take care of you! Talk It Over

• In what difficult situation or circumstance do you need to trust God today?

• What does it mean to “lean on your own understanding”?

• Think of a time when you chose to worship instead of worry. What was the result?

Always look up, Lily Williams