Matthew: Jesus and Anxiety

Today we continue our series through Matthew and get insight into Jesus' help on anxiety.

 

Notes/Quotes:

Matthew 6:25-34

“Sometimes we want God to simply TELL us what to say. Tell us what to do. He wants to TEACH us what to say. Teach us what to do. Teaching requires interaction: the teacher & the taught. Teaching implies connection. Relationship. It requires instructor and student. Rabbi and disciple. A table for two. We who put our trust in Christ don’t just have a boss barking orders. We have a teacher. We’re taught in the classroom as we study Scripture. Taught on field trips we sometimes never meant to take.  Taught. Not just told. We have a God who wants to be with us. Who wants to show us his ways. Reveal to us his heart. His good intentions. His righteousness. He wants to teach us how to live. How to love. How to endure.” - Beth Moore

“These teachings are but commentary on the prayer we’ve just been taught” - Stanley Hauerwas

“The birds and the flowers sing and preach to us and smile at us so lovingly, just to have us believe.” - Martin Luther

“Anxiety is a sign that the false self is demanding we nourish it instead of dying to it. Awareness is critical to be sure, but it is not the path of growth, it is simply the gate. The goal of managing anxiety is not simply for relief, it is to connect more fully with God and to raise awareness of what God is doing. Anxiety blocks our awareness of God because it takes our subconscious attention. This means that anxiety can be an early detection system that we’re depending on something other than God for our well-being”- Steve Cuss

Here’s how Jesus cures our anxieties:
Redirects focus 
Reminds us of the Father
Renews faith in the present