An Anxious Heart

My dear friends Stephen and Brooksyne Weber (pictured) carry on a vital ministry of encouragement online. Their Daily Encouragement devotionals are always meaningful, Christ-centered and uplifting. Today's was no exception.

I've already been the recipient of God's loving kindness today. I was battling an anxious heart. Feeling overwhelmed by the cares of life, I called my dear friend and mentor Paul Collet and came away with a refreshed spirit. He cheered me up and my anxiety subsided.

Enjoy Stephen and Brooksyne's thoughts today:

"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up" (Proverbs 12:25).

Have you personally experienced the first part of today's verse? That is; an "anxious heart""weighs a man down." Of course I know what your answer is to that question. Someone once defined worry as "a small trickle of fear that meanders through the mind, cutting a channel into which all other thoughts flow."

The perspective of trust is at the very heart of being a child of God. It's great to be a child of God today! My sins are forgiven and the God of the universe beckons me to call Him "Father." I have an assurance that He cares for me and His promise is that He will never leave me nor forsake me. Wow, if I just keep that bright perspective the troubling "things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."

But I still find myself identifying with the first phrase in the daily verse. An inner battle rages between trust and worry. Trust dispels worry, but much like the popup figures in an arcade shooting gallery, worry tends to keep popping back up!

The anxieties of this life really do weigh one down. Sometimes it seems they really press on the heart and one can literally feel the weight (the KJV says it "maketh it stoop"). I'm sure most of you know what I mean. And I wouldn't be surprised if some of you reading this message are experiencing a heavy anxious heart even now.

Thank God for the power of a kind word! I have so often been the recipient of such words. An earnest "I'm praying for you", a caring "How's your health?", or a sincere "I really appreciate you." Words like these really cheer the heart up and in each of the above examples I can recall a specific instance that I continue to draw energy from. The word for "cheer" is literally derived from a Hebrew word meaning to "brighten up."

I hope you receive some kind words today and dispense some kind words yourself, as you fulfill the Biblical principle of sowing what you desire to reap.

Be encouraged today,

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, the cares of this world often press in on us and weigh our hearts down. It's not your desire that we carry a heavy load because You are the Burden Bearer. You use the difficult circumstances of our lives to bring glory to Yourself as You bring spiritual maturity into our relationship with You. Our faith is strengthened and our understanding deepened as You take the evil that Satan hurls at us and turn it into glorious occasion for Your power to be released and deliverance to take place. You are the same God who led us into battle that will also lead us to victory in Jesus name, amen.