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3 Biblical Ways to Calm Anxiety · Kate’s Devotional Podcast

• 0:07
  SPEAKER_00: Hi, I'm Kate Dresden and welcome to Kate's devotional podcast.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: I drop my podcast every Wednesday.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_00: It's always a five minute or less devotional to bring you encouragement as we try
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: to live our lives according to the Bible.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: So glad you're here.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: Do you remember the last time you felt anxious, worried, stressed out?
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: It happens to everyone at some point.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: Just know you are not alone.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_00: When someone gets anxious, it's usually because they're fixating on one of three things.
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  SPEAKER_00: Number one, the worst case scenario.
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  SPEAKER_00: We are always thinking about the terrible things that could happen with our problem.
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  SPEAKER_00: Or number two, we tend to get stressed out over extra work a problem can create for us.
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  SPEAKER_00: You know how the whole thing just keeps getting bigger and bigger and we tend to just get overwhelmed.
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  SPEAKER_00: Or number three,
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  SPEAKER_00: we tend to fixate on how the issue is going to negatively affect us,
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  SPEAKER_00: whether that's emotionally or physically.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: When we focus on all these things, we're thinking of it in the context of our own capabilities.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: What can we handle?
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  SPEAKER_00: But instead, we should be looking to the one who has control over everything, and that's God.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: I'm going to read out of Philippians 4, verses 6 through 8.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: It's going to be out of the New King James Version.
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  SPEAKER_00: It's going to tell us exactly what we need to do when we feel anxious.
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  SPEAKER_00: Do not be anxious about anything,
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  SPEAKER_00: but in every situation,
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  SPEAKER_00: by prayer and petition,
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  SPEAKER_00: with thanksgiving,
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  SPEAKER_00: present your request to God.
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  SPEAKER_00: And the peace of God,
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  SPEAKER_00: which transcends all understanding,
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  SPEAKER_00: will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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  SPEAKER_00: Finally,
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  SPEAKER_00: brothers and sisters,
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  SPEAKER_00: whatever is true,
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  SPEAKER_00: whatever is noble,
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  SPEAKER_00: whatever is right,
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  SPEAKER_00: whatever is pure,
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  SPEAKER_00: whatever is lovely,
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  SPEAKER_00: whatever is admirable,
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  SPEAKER_00: if anything is excellent or praiseworthy,
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  SPEAKER_00: think about such things.
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  SPEAKER_00: So here are three things that I think these verses tell us to do.
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  SPEAKER_00: Number one, connect with God.
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  SPEAKER_00: We're supposed to go to God with our needs in every situation.
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  SPEAKER_00: So just like a lamp needs a source of power to work, Christians need to communicate with the Savior.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: Because without prayer, we're not connected to the true power source.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: Number two, be thankful.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: The Bible talks about how we're to be thankful no matter what's going on in our lives.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: So even in hard times, believers need to make that decision to be thankful.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: You know, we have so much that we can be thankful for.
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  SPEAKER_00: After all, we have the gift of salvation.
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  SPEAKER_00: Not to mention the Holy Spirit helps us through anything.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: So keeping that kind of a spirit helps sustain us through all of life's difficulties.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: Number three, focus on the higher things.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: We have to turn our focus to be on God's character and abilities, not our own.
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  SPEAKER_00: because we can find comfort and peace in these four things.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, number one, God is sovereign.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: He has the ability to control all things.
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  SPEAKER_00: And number two, God is omnipotent.
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  SPEAKER_00: That means he's all powerful.
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  SPEAKER_00: Number three, God is omnipresent.
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  SPEAKER_00: That means he is always present and what a comfort that is.
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  SPEAKER_00: And number four, God is omniscient.
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  SPEAKER_00: That means he is all knowing.
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  SPEAKER_00: See, if we can focus on these higher things of God, our anxiety tends to diminish.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: It reminds me of that song, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: The lyrics talk about how if we fix our eyes on him,
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: the things of the earth,
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: they grow dim in the light of his glory and grace.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: I think that's the lyrics.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_00: I love that song.
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  SPEAKER_00: So let's wrap this up this morning.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today,
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  SPEAKER_00: if you find yourself nervous or worried or fearful,
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: follow the instructions that Paul laid out in the book of Philippians,
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_00: because I'm going to be doing the same,
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_00: and God's going to help us find peace.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: If you want more of my podcasts or written devotionals,
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_00: check out my free Substack account at katedrustin.substack.com.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_00: Make it a great day, and thanks for listening.