Anxious for Nothing:Finding Calm in a Chaotic World
I just love Max Lucado. If you have not read his books this is a good place to start. Max has a relaxed friendly style of dealing with some tough topics. Anxious for Nothing is a book that addresses the struggles many face with anxiety in this crazy day and age.
Most people would agree, you are anxious. Max assures us that anxiety and fear are cousins not twins by clearly laying out some contracts between the two. Fear sees a threat, anxiety imagines one. Fear results in fight or flight, anxiety creates doom and gloom. Anxiety can twist us into emotional pretzels.
He then goes on to encourage us to use the scriptures to help us move out of that state of anxiety. Philippians 4:6-8 tells us to be anxious for nothing. This verse is written in present active tense, implying this is an ongoing state.
Don’t let anything in life leave you perpetually breathless and in angst. (Lucado's version of this verse.)
Paul’s words give us a plan for being anxious for nothing:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-8
This book examines this verse in bite size pieces with many great real-life stories that help to bring the truth of the scripture to life. I will share just a couple of my favorite things from the book.
First Max lays out the acronym CALM. Using Phil 4:6-7 to find
CALM: Celebrate, Ask, Leave, Mediate
Celebrate on
Ask God for Help
Leave your Concerns with Him
Meditate on good things, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise.
So why don’t you try it? Write CALM in a place you will see it, so when you are feeling less than calm, you can use it to celebrate, ask, leave and meditate.
Last there is a great section in this book is where Lucado explores choice.
He states, “you
can pick what to ponder. You did not choose your parents, you cannot determine the weather but you can choose what you think about.” He goes on to challenge. “Do you want to be happy tomorrow? Then choose happy today…. Count your blessings, sing hymns, pray, spend time with others who are positive.? These things will set you up for happiness. I Love this.
If anxiety is a struggle for you then I highly recommend this read to help you find an alternative to living anxious.
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