Anxious thoughts and strongholds – The lies and how to overcome them

The Bible tells us not to be anxious. This seven letter word, what does it really mean? Some equate it to worry or fretting. Some equate it to fear or doubt. It could be something that robs you of peace; something that halts you in your tracks and prevents you from moving forward or taking the next step(s). For faith to exist, there must initially be an element of uncertainty or doubt. Anxiety could then be the feelings you have when you’re unable to control the outcome of a situation or when you struggle to exercise complete faith in God. Anxiety starts in the mind and could exist for legitimate or illegitimate reasons. Whatever it may mean to you, I believe we can at least agree that anxiety is a stronghold, a powerful attack on the human mind that is so negative that God tells us in Philipians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious or worried about anything…” In this post, I look at the roots of anxiety and how they can become strongholds in our lives, how to take those thoughts captive, how to permanently destroy those thoughts/strongholds, and look at six Bible characters who had anxious thoughts and the lessons we can learn from how they overcame them. Happy reading!

The dark side of pride – when we forget our source

God who lifts man high also brings him down. In His word, God has given us the formula to unlock the windows of heaven and how to revel in His blessings. But He’s also often cautioned us about the risk of forgetting the source of our blessings. To help whip us in line is partly why God uses silent/wilderness seasons to refine us like gold, to re-calibrate our focus to Him when we lose track, or to prepare us for the next level of our walk with Him (e.g. Moses, Joseph, David, Job, Paul, Jesus etc.).

Be careful who you share your God-given vision with

1 Samuel 17:28-29 The scripture reading refers to when David went to the battlefield to meet his brothers when Goliath was attacking the men of Israel and speaking pompous words. This was after David had been annointed by Samuel as the next king of Israel, passing over David's elder brothers.It would appear that Eliab, David’s … Continue reading Be careful who you share your God-given vision with

Why didn’t Potiphar acknowledge the prison chief?

Genesis 40:3-4 Potiphar was Captain of the Guard (see beginning of previous chapter). Even after putting Joseph in prison, he still acknowledged Joseph’s leadership skills in prison and handed the butler and baker to him.  But where was the prison chief who made Joseph boss in prison? Why didn’t Potiphar hand the prisoners over to … Continue reading Why didn’t Potiphar acknowledge the prison chief?