A Liturgy for Those Battling Anxiety - Liturgy for the Moment
LITURGY FOR THE MOMENT: Part 7 A LITURGY FOR THOSE BATTLING ANXIETY Prince of Peace, we come with restless hearts and racing thoughts. The weight of worry presses down, and we are consumed by what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. As the deer pants for streams of water so our souls thirst for You, the living God.You are the God who calms the storm, The Shepherd who leads us beside quiet waters. Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls Let waves of grace break over me.Teach us to cast our cares upon You. When fear rises, remind us of your steadfast love. When we falter, anchor us in Your unshakable presence. Oh God our rock, meet us in the chaos and lead us into Your rest. Amen. Psalm 42:1-11 ESV “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” What the anxious need from themselves: • Look back • Look forward • Look around What the anxious need from those around them • Comfort • Care • Encouragement 2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 1 Corinthians 12:24-26 ESV “which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18 ESV “Therefore encourage one another with these words.” What the anxious need from God • Everything he has promised and all he has given!
