Over the past few days this verse has topped my ‘heart charts’ … Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” With that in mind I posted a question to a buddy of mine and asked him what guys in particular wake up and feel ‘anxious’ about.  He gave me some great answers.  I posted his answers on face book and got a whole new slew of responses…  I have posted that whole thread on this blog.

No question, unchecked anxiety is a life and faith killer!  Anxiety in a biblical sense means far more than feeling ‘nervous’ about something.  It actually means to ‘promote one’s self interest’  That sounds like an odd definition, but here is the power and application of Philippians 4:6.  Anxiety,  which is a form of fear, can so overtake someone that they promote ’self -survival’ at all costs.  Every thought, every decision, every turn is processed with self survival in mind.  A person living like this has little impact on the world around them. That is why anxiety is such a faith killer.  When my life gets so wrapped up in my concerns for survival,  my neighbor or world gets nothing of God’s potential in me.

So here is what most guys are anxious about … according to my friend Rick…

1. Am I good enough? Do I measure up in front of my peers? 2. Age. Do I look old enough to be taken seriously? Do I look ridiculous keeping up with younger guys? 3. Money. Things cost more but I’m making less. I have to tell my kids “no”. I can’t do what I want to do because there is not enough $.

From Sarah “things I get anxious about: do i have what it takes? (to be a mother, to accomplish the things i want to). my memory: I forget the most important things sometimes, trying to remember the small things. as a woman: will i b enough to “wow” my future husband, till we leave this earth? concerning god: will he say”well done my good & faithful servant…”

From Greg  “as you can tell by the time of this post, I have trouble closing my eyes. I am anxious because as every day passes, I worry that I have not done enough. I was raised a certain way and I feel I have a lot to do to make the work done by others be fruitful! I have made a lot of mistakes!! If I close my eyes for good, will my mistakes do me in? That is the type of thing that makes me anxious.”

From Melanie “My brain never shuts off…I worry about everything! And then I feel guilty cuz I’m not “giving it over” 2 the Lord. The other 2 comments about “not measuring up” are right on target. Within every human being is a huge space that aches to know were significant…that we matter. I recently heard it described like this…”Do you see me?” What a perfect description…”

I am praying that the Awakening Fast works on all my anxieties…