WHY DO I HAVE FEELINGS OF ANXIETY AND RESTLESSNESS?

SCRIPTURE:
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings 
of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.  Like the 
rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.  But because of His great 
love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even 
when we were dead in transgressions; it is by grace you have been saved.  
(Ephesians 2:3-5)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever heard someone make the statement, 
“I just want to live my life!”? 
That could very well be their inner spirit crying out for relief.
We have tried living our life our own way 
and we have gained nothing from our efforts.
We may have achieved wealth or a high status in the eyes of the world, 
but we have not appeased our inner spirit and as a result, we remain restless.

The scriptures give us some evidences of living our own way.
We are driven by the thoughts and desires 
that are controlled by our sinful nature.
Even though the opinions of others may be that we “have it all together”, 
we know that the feelings of anxiousness 
and desires for something fulfilling are constantly with us.

Man has not been able to devise anything to fill this void, and he never will. 
However, God can!
He knows our feelings of being the objects of His wrath 
can stir a desire for righteousness in our lives.
We may have trouble identifying this restlessness, 
but He knows exactly the root of the problem.

As a result of His great love for every individual, 
He knows how to free us from this bondage.
His heart of mercy provided a path to leave our ‘dead life’ behind 
and become ‘alive with Christ’!
We don’t become alive with Christ through knowledge; 
we become alive with Him through a relationship.

The scriptures make it clear that in order to ‘live’ we must make 
a major change in our thoughts, words, attitudes, emotions and deeds.
Moving from death (in our sins) to life (with Christ) is a quantum leap.
It is not something insignificant that happens in a subtle manner.
No, God has given us a path for making a dramatic transformation. 
Instead of living for ourselves, we transition to living for Him.
This is when we discover what “real living” is all about.

ACTION:
Are you still living a life of restlessness?
Are you consumed with excessive worrying?
The scriptures tell us that you do not have to continue as you are.
You can become a new person.
Whatever hang-ups you have, God can handle them.

You may have made a profession of faith but are still feeling restless.
If so, then more than likely 
there are some things that you have not yielded to the Lord.
There are some things of a sinful nature that you are still hanging on to.
You want a relationship with Him on your terms and not His.
In essence, you have only experienced a partial “new birth”.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, You know me better than I know myself. You also 
know if I am being dishonest in my relationship with You. Make me 
aware of everything that is standing between me and my relationship 
with You. Help me to release them so that I can experience a complete 
new birth and start enjoying a more fulfilling life. Thank you for Your 
love and mercy, and for the path You have given me to leave death 
behind as I become alive with Christ. I delight in knowing that there 
is nothing in my life that is incapable of being changed through Your 
redemptive power.”