Dear Christian Friend,

Greetings in this new year, a year in which we will expect good things for you and the people who you love. We will pray for this.

I trust that you enjoyed the Christmas season and celebrated Jesus. This always make one feel good; however, many suffer anxiety following the holidays. The message which God has put on my heart for this month is, Overcoming Anxiety. I have addressed this before, but we need to constantly recognize anxiety as fear, a Christian's greatest adversary. It is the opposite of faith. Often when one thinks that they have conquered fear, it will pop up again under the name of "apprehension" or "concern." These names must be considered deceptive titles for fear, and not a gift from God. It is in opposition to God.

Common causes of a Christian's anxiety is fatigue, or not realizing that one's life is under God's control. God is all powerful and everything on earth yields to the name of Jesus (Eph. 1:19-22). His word is a lamp for our path in life (Psalm 119:105); however, the cares of this world will cause His word to be ineffective in one's life (Matt 13:22). This knowledge makes overcoming anxiety a simple matter.

• 1. When one becomes anxious, he must separate himself from as many cares of this world as possible, and rest.
• 2. He then focuses on God's word and by doing so renew his mind.
• 3. He must cast all of his cares upon the LORD (1 Peter 5:7), and as the old song says, "Leave Them There."
• 4. He must renounce fear as he, in prayer, quotes God's word. The following is an example of such a prayer and makes Romans 8:14-15 personal.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, are sons of God. Therefore, I have not been returned to fear, but I have received the Spirit of adoption as a son of God and there is no fear in Him who controls all things. In the name of Jesus and by the blood of Jesus I am free from all fear.

Everything which God does for us is done because of the confession of our mouth. If we think on good things, we confess good things and good things come upon us. If we think on bad things we confess bad things and bad things happen to us. (James 3:1-5).

Fear is a gift from the devil, a natural part of the sinful mind, the nature of man. Anxiety can cause sickness as it affects the body's muscles and its nerve system. Anxiety is the opposite of a merry heart which brings health.

A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones. [Proverbs 17:22 R.S.V.]

Don't forget to allow God to use you wherever you go. On Christmas Eve JoAnn and I were waiting in a line at Morrison's cafeteria. Behind me was a young woman in a wheel chair, I spoke to her, and God immediately opened the door for ministry. There, in line, we prayed together and she gave her life to Jesus and asked forgiveness for all her sins. Later, she came to our table and asked for prayer again. This time for God to heal her from sugar diabetes, a disease which had already caused her to loose one leg, two fingers and her kidneys. Please join us as we pray for her.