Anxiety Reading Plan – W1D1

Check out all the previous Anxiety readings here.

Anxiety Reading Plan | Day 1

Prayer

As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Ask Him to teach you more about Himself today.

Bible Reading: Matthew 6:25-27

Read these verses three times slowly.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Reflection & Questions

This week we are going to tackle the topic of Anxiety, which is becoming more and more of a problem in our society. But it’s not a new problem. In fact, it’s been a problem ever since the fall of Adam and Eve. In today’s and tomorrow’s reading, we’re going to read teachings from Jesus on anxiety.

These verses shine a light of Jesus’ tenderness and compassion for people. He knew they struggled with anxiety and worry. In fact, one of the ways to begin to manage anxiety is to recognize that it is a problem. As it has been said, “to tame it, you’ve got to name it.” Jesus didn’t brush over the people’s anxiety nor did he condemn it. He addresses it and wants to help them see how to overcome it.

His answer to the people’s anxiety isn’t to give them a five step plan or to lay out how everything will be taken care of. Instead, He reminds people they have a heavenly Father. In his book, “The Anxiety Opportunity”, Curtis Chang uses the analogy for this of having a blueprint versus knowing the architect. Our anxiety is begging for the blueprint, to know what is going to happen (to know the whole plan). But God rarely gives us the plan. But what he does offer is a relationship with the Architect, our heavenly Father. As Chang puts it, ““Anxiety is an opportunity for any Christian to grow from just wanting the blueprint to wanting the Architect.” One of the key ways for us to manage our anxiety is to see that we have a heavenly Father, who loves us deeply. As we begin to trust the Architect more, we will see that we need a blueprint far less.

1. What about Jesus’ words comfort you today?
2. Why do you think God wants to give you Himself rather than the blueprint?

Prayer

Pray in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

Recommended Summer Reading

If anxiety is something that you or a loved one wrestle with, “The Anxiety Opportunity” by Curtis Chang is a great read. Check it out on Amazon.

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Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.

Questions?