ARE YOU HAVING FEELINGS OF ANXIETY, WORRY, OR FEAR?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.    
(Psalm 6:1)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever had a time (or times) when you felt uncomfortable and restless.
No matter how much you tried to relax and calm yourself, 
the feelings of restlessness continued to linger.
Your intense desire for calmness may have prompted you to ask your doctor 
for a prescription that will give you some temporary relief from your anguish. 

When we fail to stay in contact with our Savior, we can expect 
to be ‘out of step’ with Him and His commands, 
which could be the root cause of our uneasiness. 
This discomfort can cause anxiety, panic, depression,
and feelings of melancholy, etc. because we have a void in our lives.
Satan has convinced some that they can “talk” religion 
and still “walk” in sin, but it doesn’t work like that.

For instance, some couples are ‘shacking’ up together 
and attending church on a regular basis.
They have learned to say all of the religious clichés in their efforts to
convince others that they are ‘walking in perfect harmony with the Lord’.
But God is not pleased with this hypocritical attitude of redefining His 
commandments in an effort to numb the guilt of fulfilling sinful desires.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, 
or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper 
for God’s holy people. (Ephesians 5:3)

We can ‘dress up’ our outward appearance for others to see, 
but God knows when we are living a sinful life outside His boundaries.
If we expect to have a close fellowship with our Savior, 
then we cannot live a lifestyle that displeases Him.
As Christians, unfortunately we all make mistakes at times, 
but when we choose to make our lifestyle one that conflicts 
with God’s commands, it is rebellion, plain and simple.

God has given us a mind, but when used incorrectly 
it can have a devastating impact on our eternal destiny.
We cannot try to justify our sinful actions and expect God’s blessings.
Sadly, there are people who have convinced themselves that living 
a sinful lifestyle is okay as long as they do and say the ‘churchy’ things.

The reality is, there will be a day of judgment 
and some will discover too late that God was displeased 
with their blatant disobedience of His commands.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of 
heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your 
name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many 
miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from 
me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

We can see the anguish, torment, and anxiety of the psalmist 
as he pleaded with the Lord to have mercy on him for his sinfulness.
Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint; heal me, LORD, for my bones 
are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, LORD, how long? 
(Psalm 6:2-3)
I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed 
with weeping and drench my couch with tears. (Psalm 6:6)

When reading his words, we can see:
(1) someone who acknowledges he is responsible to God,  
(2) someone who admits he has sinned against God, 
(3) someone who knows he deserves God’s wrath for his disobedience, 
(4) someone who knows God can show mercy to those with repentant hearts, 
(5) someone who realizes a close relationship with the Lord 
    is more important than anything else (including his sinful lifestyle), 
(6) and, someone who is remorseful for his disobedience and has 
    an intense desire to restore his relationship with the Lord. 

The psalmist pleaded with the Lord to deliver him from
the selfish desires that were causing him emotional upheaval, 
and creating a fear of God’s wrath as a result of his disobedience.
Turn, LORD, and deliver me; 
save me because of your unfailing love. (Psalm 6:4)

But, the psalmist also indicated a desire to stop living a hypocritical life 
of disobedience, and start living a life of obedience which would include 
praising God and telling others about His goodness, mercy and grace. 
Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
Who praises you from the grave? (Psalm 6:5)

ACTION:
Are you guilty of a sinful lifestyle of disobedience?
Has Satan cleverly convinced you that you can continue 
in your sin and still be welcomed into God’s kingdom?
Satan’s desire is to cause us to think worldly and selfishly, and to rationalize 
our sinfulness, but God’s Word tells us of the realities of our disobedience.

If you are having some of the same feelings the psalmist had, 
then God could be alerting you that you need to change your lifestyle,
plead for His forgiveness, pray for restoration, and commit to leaving
your sinfulness behind and focusing on your relationship with Him.

You and God are aware of which sin 
is creating a chasm that separates you from Him.
Medicines and other foreign substances may numb our feelings 
of angst for a short time, but only God can cure them permanently, 
and only He can bless us with His peace and joy.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me for my sinful life and restore my 
relationship with You. Help me to break free from the control 
of sinful and selfish desires, and to give Your Spirit control of 
my life. You know the torment of anxiety, anguish, worry, sorrow, 
and fear that my sins have caused in me. I plead for Your mercy 
and guidance as I return to a life of obedience with a sincere
desire to praise You, and to tell others of how You have blessed 
and changed me.”

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