Dealing with Anxiety and how to get the most out of Matthew 6

In another forum online someone asked the following question:

What are some good scriptures that can help through depression anxiety and other issues? I have a lot of these issues and sometimes I find it hard to find the right things to calm me down.

Personally Matthew 6 have been very helpful for me in my own life.  Specifically Matthew 6:25-34.  Here’s my quick thoughts and expanded from the original comment.  Perhaps it might be helpful for others on WordPress and Social Media as well.

1. Again I found Matthew 6 to be a great place to meditate on concerning anxiety.
2. There’s some who might wonder how does just looking at some verses “work.”  If you approach it to see it do “magic” you might miss the opportunity to see how God’s Word can be applied to our lives involving more than just looking at it like a fortune cookie quote.  Again, God’s Word is powerful and yes reading it does have its’ effect because it is the Word of God and it will sanctify.  With that said other disciplined approach might be needed to get the most out of Matthew 6.
3. Some in my church have benefited from working on memorizing it.  I admit I haven’t memorized this passage word for word.  But it seems wise to memorize it as a way of recollecting what promises and perspective there is when we have those thoughts that lead us to be anxious or stress.  Memorizing it is like loading up your police belt with ammo for the occasion you need to use it in situations that’s tough and you can’t just pull out your Bibles handily.
4. I personally enjoyed going through more deeper studies on passages in having the Word has its effect on me.  That is, I’m looking at it very carefully, slowly, deliberately.  I’m breaking out commentaries, looking at the original languages, etc.  Don’t neglect the fact that studying the passage intensely has its effect in renewing our minds!
5. It might be a good idea to hear others preached on it.  Listen to the preaching and teaching of those that are biblical.  It will minister to you!  God gave preachers and teachers for a reason!
6. For point 5 Sermon Audio might be a helpful place to start.  Go ahead to their website and look up Matthew 6, and not just stay around to download the popular messages but the more recent and also the “non-celebrity” preachers as well.  Hear to hear God’s Word, and not just a human personality.
7. Even when you fellowship with others at church ask them to read Matthew 6 and later get back to you what do they get out from it. Sometimes other people’s application of Matthew 6 can be a catalyst to encourage you to trust in the Lord with anxiety, worries, stress, etc.
8. Per point 7, share as a testimony of God’s work in your life when you see it’s application and God’s grace working through it to minister to you!  Be blessed and bless others!
9. Sometimes it might be great to just write down on paper what things you worry about.  Go ahead list it.  Sometimes its scary.  What if someone else finds it?  You can destroy it and burn it.  But before you do write out by hand Matthew 6.  Let the Word in Matthew 6 be the basis for why you can cast your anxiety away–and cast it unto the Lord.  What a physical, tangible symbol.  Again, this is just but a tool but the reality is found in the work of God in Matthew 6 renewing your mind.
10. If I might add, I found the studies on the sovereignty of God and the faithfulness of God in terms of His attributes with systematic theology books have also been helpful with dealing with depression. I know I told this to someone and they laughed–but I think it pays big dividends to study the attributes of God especially the two attributes I’ve mentioned.
11. I must also add that one shouldn’t be afraid of re-doing the above again and again throughout life.  I tell my church often that if you aren’t looking at Matthew 6 at least once a year–well, you’re missing out because people always are worried and anxious and God has his Word as remedy for it just sitting there!

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