Posts by John Stephen Smith

I must avoid anxiety like the plague that it is! In dealing with the Evil One, the Bible says we are to “resist” Satan and “he will flee from us.” That’s the attitude we need for anxiety as well – one of resistance and avoidance! Here are some steps to take. STEP ONE: ACKNOWLEDGE ANXIETY’S A______________________________ EFFECTS. From the writings of Charles Stanley, a well-known Preacher, comes these 7 harmful effects: Anxiety B_________________________ the mind. Anxiety slows your C__________________________________________________. Anxiety…

Where does my anxiety come from? Where did something this frightening get its start? How has it had such control over my mind? If I could just get some understanding as to its causes, maybe I could start to get a handle on how it is affecting me mentally, physically & spiritually. Important Distinction: Anxiety is not a A_______________________, but a B_______________________________! There’s something deeper inside you that is causing the anxiety, the restless nights, the confused mind, the shakiness…

We begin this study with seven foundational passages from the Bible to fortify our spirit until we can delve deeper into the causes, effects, and answers to living with an anxious spirit. There are many more scriptures than these seven and even more specific ones, but here are some to help your mind find peace, with 1 Peter 5:7 being our theme verse for this series. 7 Verses to Sustain Your Peace of Mind: “Give your A_____________________ to the Lord…

Train Yourself The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength” 2 Timothy 4:17 We now come to a great paradox in understanding the will of God. We are to train ourselves but not focus on ourselves. We are to train to be strong but rely on God to strengthen us. We are to train ourselves to be courageous and take a stand but do so in total surrender and humility to God’s will. This training of self is…

Train Yourself “Set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity” 1 Timothy 4:12 Read the context of 1 Timothy 4:6-16 to get the full picture. At its simplest, godliness is taking on God’s character. It is imitating God. This has been the essence of godly living from the earliest times. The Old Testament law was premised on this injunction: “Be holy for I am holy.” In the New Testament it is the same. In Ephesians 4:24 Paul tells…

Train Yourself “Until I come, devote yourself to the reading of Scripture, etc.” 1 Timothy 4:13 Now understand clearly – A _____________________________________ is the goal! We are to train ourselves to be “godly.” As with almost any type of training, there are necessary disciplines that accompany the desires we have for success. So, if our desires become “Godly Desires”, the next step is to determine what some “Godly Disciplines” are. Disciplines are the habits (processes priorities, regimens, routines) that connect…

Train Yourself “Until I come, devote yourself to the reading of Scripture, etc.” 1 Timothy 4:13 Now understand clearly – A _____________________________________ is the goal! We are to train ourselves to be “godly.” As with almost any type of training, there are necessary disciplines that accompany the desires we have for success. So, if our desires become “Godly Desires”, the next step is to determine what some “Godly Disciplines” are. Disciplines are the habits (processes priorities, regimens, routines) that connect…

Train Yourself “I desire to do your will, my God.” Psalm 40:8 Train yourself to be godly – to pursue godly desires. Do you want to be godly? If so, to what degree? To what lengths would you go to be godly? How strong are your desires in this area? If you do, follow closely with the truths in this lesson. Desires are immensely POWERFUL! They come from deep within you, your ____________________________ – the birthplace of decisions and actions…

To Grow Wise In Face Of Trials We should pray because we are spiritually stronger for praying. We should pray because it brings peace and security as we entrust our self to God and pour out our anxious thoughts. We should pray to stand firm in the face of temptation. And today, we need to pray, because, through prayer, we grow wise in the face of trials. And perhaps this is among the most significant reasons. The immense value of…

To overcome temptations Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Why pray? Week one: Because of the ___________________________ we receive. Week two: For the __________________________________ that we gain, in anxious times. Today’s Reason: To overcome ________________________________________. Matthew 26:41: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit…