Pope: Vanity makes our life a fraud - Published on Sep 26, 2016
We feel in our souls two kinds of anxiety: a good anxiety, which comes from the Holy Spirit, and which moves us to do good works; and a wicked anxiety that is born from a dirty conscience. That was the message of Pope Francis in his reflection during the morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. The Holy Father based his homily on the perplexity and malice of Herod, as described in the Gospel of Saint Luke. Wickedness, the Pope said, always has the same roots: Greed, pride, and especially vanity – an evil that makes one anxious for appearances, pretences, and leads one to cover-up their true selves. How many people, the Pope asked, strive to appear good, but are actually wicked? They seem to be good, but ...
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When you feel anxious (1)
Do not be anxious about anything. Philippians 4:6
Anxiety starts as a trickle then creates a channel in our mind through which all our thoughts begin to flow. Most of our anxieties fall into three categories: 1) Anxiety about things we all face: like aging, disability, retirement, loneliness, financial uncertainty, accidents, illness, losing a loved one, and death. 2) Anxiety about things we all must do: like making decisions, starting and ending relationships, losing weight, changing careers, making a mistake. 3) Anxiety reflecting our inner state of mind: These anxieties reveal how we feel about our ability to handle things. For example, fear of rejection can affect every relationship in your life. In order to avoid being hurt you shut others out, your world grows smaller and your opportunities for personal growth are more limited. Many of our anxieties can be reduced to one question, 'What if I can't handle it?' Your mind is the battlefield where victory is won or lost. So ask yourself, 'Would I still be anxious if I knew for certain I could handle anything that came up?' The answer is no. Anxiety can't immobilize you and steal your joy when you know you can handle whatever happens. You say, 'That sounds too simple.' Not when you bring God into the picture! Here are two great anxiety eliminating Scriptures you can stand on when times are tough: 1) 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). 2) 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds' (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).
from - UCB Word For Today
WHEN YOU FEEL ANXIOUS (2 of 2)
When you feel anxious (2)
Do not be anxious about anything. Philippians 4:6
We all face times when we must choose between faith and anxiety. A woman trapped in an abusive relationship must choose between getting help, getting out or staying stuck. A young person being pressured to do drugs can choose to give in, or say, 'no' and walk away. A person anxious about death can read God's Word, talk to a friend or counsellor, or continue to be anxious. The Bible says: 'The righteous are bold as a lion' (Proverbs 28:1). You say, 'Right now I don't feel too bold.' Courage doesn't eliminate anxiety, it rises above it! David said, 'Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart' (Psalm 27:14). When your cause is right and you're committed to God, He gives you the courage needed to act. But you must learn to face the thing you fear. This can mean standing up for what you believe, making a phone call you've been putting off, expressing your opinion, acknowledging some character flaw and asking God to help you change. What you must remember is, doing always comes before the feeling of increased confidence. Each time you confront your anxieties you take a step forward. But when you allow anxiety to control you, you retreat into your 'safe zone' and start seeing yourself as somebody who can't handle life. Here's some great advice for living: analyse the situation fearlessly, figure out the worst that can happen. Once you've accepted that, you experience a release of energy and you can begin doing something about it, even if all you can do is - leave it in the capable and loving hands of God.
from - UCB Word For Today
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