It's terrible to be sick and to have battles with hypochondria. It's terrible to be fat and to have battles with hypochondria or cancer-phobia or diabetes-phobia. Why? Because the world trains people. And the stuff the world teaches us is often so counter to truth.
(Digression here: I finally had to stop watching two of my favorite TV shows because I am getting so tired of divorce, marriage drama, sudden accidents, cancer, being used to further the plots. Sure, I know this is something done by screenwriters but it has its effect. People are constantly getting divorced or dropping girlfriends and husbands on TV in situations that are trumped up to be meaningful. I have no doubt this kinda stuff affects people's minds. Such plot tropes are seeds and they plant weeds in the minds of young (and not-so-young) brains. Okay, digression ends.)
So, anyway, it is very hard to live in a world as a reasonable person because reasonableness is defined as fear. Fear is seen as rationale and adult, hope and trust and trusting God is seen as childish. In fact we live in a world where many Biblical truths are undermined and treated as fairytales. Hope is maligned and even the idea of the power to create our world through our words is mocked.
Fear creates negative emotions in the body. It creates negative reactions in our actions. There is a spiritual power in the world trying to make us fear. The spirit of fear rules the media. Pundits everywhere talk about how we should fear disease, job loss, Alzhemiers, dementia. But the Bible tells us over and over to conquer fear by trusting in the love of God and by loving our neighbors.
In Timothy:
God didn't give us the spirit of fear but one of power, love, and a sound mind.
In 1 John:
There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear.
In the Proverbs:
When you lie down, you will not be afraid. As you lie there, your sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the destruction of wicked people when it comes.
The LORD will be your confidence. He will keep your foot from getting caught.
When you have the good thing with you, do not tell your neighbor, "Go away! Come back tomorrow. I'll give you something then."
Do not plan to do something wrong to your neighbor while he is sitting there with you and suspecting nothing.
Do not quarrel with a person for no reason if he has not harmed you.
Do not envy a violent person. Do not choose any of his ways. Proverbs 3:24-31
1 Peter 3:8-11
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
We are to demolish arguments against God's power. And we are to take captive all the thoughts and making it obedient to Christ's power and love. We have to use the Philippians filter: we have to think of whatever is lovely, true, noble, admirable, faithful, trustworthy, beautiful, of good report, true, virtuous, excellent, praiseworthy. We are to think about out thoughts.
So upshot: I have decided to believe that I am not dying of some horrible disease and to believe that God will keep me well. And if he sees me heading toward sickliness, he is faithful and loving enough to tell me how to keep healthy. So right now... since God hasn't told me I am dying, I will believe I am healthy.
God will keep those in perfect emotional, spiritual, and physical peace who trust in Him.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.
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