High Octane Fuel

Eve took one bite of that apple.  And anxiety grabbed her by the throat.

In Latin, anxiety literally means "to choke."  And oh, how it has both hands firmly in place.

Anxiety poses itself as a natural and necessary part of our lives, but in reality it is only thinly disguised desperation, fear and an uneasiness that wakes an exhausted person up at night and keeps Tums in business.

But God never intended anxiety to take up residence.  God helps me to see how ugly it is and how much space it has commandeered in my life, like an enormous broken down couch inherited from an elderly aunt.  Now what do I do with it?

The Bible says to "cast" those overwhelming emotions away, to hurl, to throw, to send away, to shed like a coat out of season and out of style.

Cast all your anxieties on Him for He cares for you.
                              1 Peter 5.7

Cast your burden on the LORD
    and He will sustain you.
                               Psalm 55.22

I don't know about you, but my anxieties are not so easily disposed.  They cling like toddlers with separation issues.  They attach themselves with superglue.  They crawl out of the dumpster and back into my heart at the first possible opportunity.  And I am reminded of how my mom used to clean out her closets.  She just moved the stuff from one closet to another, a different room but still a permanent resident.

Why am I even anxious at all?  Because I am deeply concerned about someone or something.  And indeed, God wants us to be passionate.  He gave us deep emotions.  We have just twisted them into worries and let them choke the life out of us and bind our ankles with barbed wire. 

My grandmother would take whatever she had on hand and transform it into something good.  And so should we.

The archaic nautical term "casting" refers to turning the ship around. Turn those powerful anxieties inside out, that which Satan means to trip you up, and let God transform them into something good.
 
Let anxiety fuel your prayers. 

Pour those powerful emotions into how you pray -- high octane fuel in trusting God.

Have no anxiety about anything.
            but in everything
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God which passes all understanding,
will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

                                       Philippians 4. 6-7