Spiritual Discernment: Blessing Blockers / Stress Reducers

Why we stress.
Stress is a common blessing blocker. With a short-sighted natural view, we block the flow of faith in the will of the Father. Drifting amidst frozen faith our trust wavers in an ocean of inquisition of biblical truths and promises. Faith and trust impairment paralyzes us leading to a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. We move away from biblical perseverance and steadfast faith through prayer and thus lose our divine altitude. His presence appears to be a fallacy creating canyons of strife. Without the bridge of faith and trust, continued focus in the natural world furthers our spiritual impairment. The motion of the spiral continues into destitution, anxiety, panic, and depression.

In bondage of the natural world (carnal circumstances) we are often not aware of the cycle that robs us of our resistance to the enemy. Through denial we spend a good share of time trying to convince ourselves and others that we are walking in faith. Who we truly are is masked by our pride and often fears: fears that we won’t live up to the expectations of our loved ones, the church and its membership, or other “spiritual” brothers and sisters.

Carnally we measure our success as a follower by how important we FEEL. We believe that we demonstrate and measure our faith-walk by how busy we are at church or by how much we do for others convinced that we are doing God’s work. We resist working for God, our true calling, rooting anxiety and harvesting panic. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we believe or “buy into” the lies, both carnal and spiritual, which spirals into a depression and thus, a lack of zeal and fervency for the Lord. Left unacknowledged, this can actually infiltrate our homes, our work, and the church, and frustrate the faith-walk of others. While interrupting the flow of the spirit into unbelievers out of our own disbelief, we begin to use the name of the Lord in vain. (Using the Lord’s name in vain actually refers to giving a false witness of the Lord (“so saith the Lord”) demonstrated by an exhortation rooted in your own understanding rather than hearing from the Lord and being led by the spirit. Vain refers to distorting the truth and misrepresenting God in any way.) Since the Lord’s word does not return void, carnally minded “believers” do not recognize this casual and detrimental exchange within the body of Christ or within themselves.

We experience stress because our faith is blocked and we are wavering in our trust in the Lord. Rarely do we attempt to inquire into what may be lacking in our own relationship or walk in the Lord. We look to others with blame and shame rather than through the eyes of God – that are loving and kind. (God’s love cannot be confused with the carnal understanding and application of love. Knowing the difference will save your relationship with the Lord and root other relationships in God’s will and purpose – anything less is carnal.)

When we are engaged in God’s work, we experience joy, peace, and cheerfulness. We feel God’s love flowing through us rather than seeking approval or acceptance from our natural or spiritual family and the church. We see God’s love and work in others and we join God in His work for His greater glory. We are commanded to love the Lord thy God with all thy mind, heart, and soul and to seek first the kingdom. Ironically these two commands are the quickest remedies for stress.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7).

Anxiety breaker of Philippians:
1. Be anxious for nothing;
2. By prayer and supplication;
3. With thanksgiving;
4. Let your requests be known to God;
5. Receive the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension
a. Which will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus