Hypochondria – a lesson from the Wilderness | Temptation 2

So we saw previously that Jesus came against Satan with the Word of God and Satan gave up with that one. He must have given up pretty quickly because scripture changes immediately to his next attempt.
He persisted and took Jesus up to the pinnacle of the temple to tempt Jesus to throw Himself off so God would send angels to catch Him.

‘Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Matt 4:5-6

Jesus again responded with the Word of God:

“Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Matt 4:7.

Note that Satan is making up his own scenario here – a crisis that doesn’t even exist! Look here:
Satan – creates a false scenario to test God that He truly physically protects His children
Jesus – had no need to do what Satan said because He walked in a trusting relationship with God that resulted from obedient service.

If you’re honest, what currently in your life is a made up scenario? Its hypochondria! Deep within we know we don’t have the illnesses we worry about. Actually, any situation that calls for a “what if” question in your mind can be classified as a made up scenario.
So how do we move from freaking out about a scenario that has not happened yet? We call on the name of the Lord. Jesus didn’t have to jump to prove His trust in God; He only had to use the Sword of the Spirit- by declaring and trusting in God’s word.

What prompted Satan to make up a scenario for Jesus anyway? Pride, control, manipulation, deception, not acknowledging God’s authority etc. Think of which issues in your life have prompted the development of hypochondria, this made up scenario. Remember, hypochondria is when the issues we deal with are too stressful that we subconsciously rather think of “the worst possible {made up} scenario”, which is our health. What is pushing you to rather focus on your health?
As we see, Satan waits until you are at your weakest to approach you with all sorts of doubtful questions about yourself, your life and your health. When are your weakest moments? Think of how you have handled anxiety and hypochondria up until now. Line it up with how Jesus handled His weak moments in the Wilderness. How big is the difference and how can you match them up?

Also look how Satan was tempting Jesus to use His own power to sort out His current situation. Turning stones to bread and testing God’s love by throwing Himself off the temple. That’s what he does – he pushes us to do everything in our own power instead of relying on God for the leading and the answers. When we rely on our own strength, we lose.
What are you currently doing in your own power instead of relying on God for? Googling symptoms is obviously one. Think of something personal and stressful you are going through at the moment- how are you taking things into your own hands and where are you leaving God out? Is He leading your day? Are you allowing Him to lead you through the next decision? Or are you making the decisions on your own?

Satan also tries to reinforce our thinking that God is a distant stern old Man very far away who waits in anticipation to strike us down with every mistake we make. He enjoys confusing us about who we are in Christ (‘if You are the Son of God’…) We are sons and daughters of the Living God. We are under a blood covenant so there is no reason to think that His promises and care are for the prettiest or most intelligent. Those promises are for us too! Take hold of them by confessing them into your life daily.
Look up Scripture that declares who you are in Christ and ask the Holy Spirit to make those truths very real to you about who our Daddy really is!

A lesson from David | Part 3

This is Part 3 in a lesson from David as it pertains to anxiety. Part 2 is here

1 Samuel 17

We saw how David stepped up to the plate and brought a godly perspective to the battle. You may wonder, “Well this was David – God had His eye on Him to be the greatest King of Israel! So he already had favour anyway. David did not have my problems. I’m no David!”

Well, David often faced his own trials that prepared him for this very victory. Life wasn’t always sweet and chilled in those rolling green hills. He was the youngest of his brothers which made him almost ‘insignificant’. In verse 33 Saul tells David he’s too young to face and fight such a battle, and David explains that while tending sheep he had to fight off and kill bears and lions to protect the sheep and lambs. David was approximately 15 years old when he fought Goliath, so God had been preparing him all his little life to fight this battle! This is how God usually works. He wants us to be faithful at the point where we are- be faithful just a little, and He will use it to accomplish greater things for you. If David hid away in fear from the lion and bear, he would never have been ready to fight Goliath. God was with him against the bear and lion, and with him against Goliath. Just like He will be with you through all your trials and worries of the day – if you trust in Him to handle them for you.
Saul then relents and gives David his armour to wear, but it was so heavy and big that he couldn’t walk with them, “David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” (v39)
This I find very important, especially when it comes to my story. I placed my experience of healing from hypochondria on my blog in the hopes that it will help others and to bring God glory. I truly believe God drew you to my story because He wanted to put us in touch and that He wants to help you and set you free.
At the same time, God does not want us to wear other peoples’ armour. Saul’s armour did not fit David, spiritually or physically, so he took it off. Try not to fight this battle using other armour. To think about how God helped me is great, because when you draw from others’ experiences you tap into the anointing yourself! As we are one body in Christ, then my story is actually your story too! God sees it as one!

But make your experience your own. I can’t tell you why I was healed in only 4 days by only declaring that God will fight the battle for me- God works differently with different people. By you believing that God will fight this battle for you is scriptural, but is it fitting you? Is doing it my way necessarily your good fit? Sometimes God fights the battle we are in, and sometimes He directs us what to do to see victory. My decision after reading about Jehoshaphat’s battle felt like the Holy Spirit placed it on my lap saying “here’s your answer”. I had supernatural faith that this was how I had to pray, I knew deep within me. This is what you need to find for yourself as well!

When David got rid of Saul’s armour it was a spiritual principle because David was then relying on God’s armour alone. He knew that God would win that battle. With anxiety we always play it safe by wearing different kinds of armour (we pray as well as listen to doctors’ reassurances, own human reasoning etc.) but God wants us to trust in Him alone. Never forget my story because it will bring hope. But be watchful that you don’t start relying on Caddie’s “method” only instead of purely relying on God and what He has for you! He wants to show you how.

***

The Bible says that ‘hope deferred makes the heart sick’ (Prov 13:12). All throughout the Old Testament God would always remind Israel what He had done for them in the past and it hit home. And we saw David recall how God helped him in the past. There is something that stirs the spirit when we recall what God has done for us.
Recall and write down all the good things God has done for you the past few months, as small as it may be. You will begin to tap into the strength and life of what He did for you in the past.

How can you be faithful by giving God all your concerns for the day?

What armour are you wearing? One I can think of is Googling symptoms! Think of any armour you may be using that is not God Himself. (Basically anything you are relying on to bring you temporary peace). How can you take off that armour and wear Jesus instead?

Are there times when you use David’s words about God’s armour “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them”?
Think of times you may think that relying on God is “wishy-washy”. Dig deep and think of why you may think He’s not powerful enough to help you alone.

Verses:
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, because You have done it; and in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good. Psalm 52:8-9

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

A lesson from David | Part 2

This is Part 2 in a lesson from David as it pertains to anxiety. Part 1 is here
1 Samuel 17

So we saw yesterday that the Israelites were paralysed by fear to even stand up and fight the battle. They were easily placed into fear by 2 things:
– “things which are seen” (2 Cor 4:18) which was Goliath’s massive stature (a massive worry, task or problem etc.) and
– words (thoughts of a disease, thoughts of feeling hopeless, thoughts that you will never cope with the stress today, thoughts that something bad will happen etc.)

Now we see another angle pop into the picture. David. And he brings a fresh perspective into fighting a battle because of his heart and attitude.
Note the Bible refers to Goliath as a ‘champion’ (v4). This is not a compliment, but the word champion comes from the Hebrew word “a middle man; the man between two.” So Goliath was the man who stood between Israel and the Philistines as a representative of his army. He did a pretty good job at it if we want to admit.
BUT we have our own Representative/Champion on our WINNING side – and that is JESUS! (1 Tim 2:5) David knew this all too well and it is what gave him the ability to stand up to this giant. This is exactly why God said David was ‘a man after his own heart’ (1 Sam 13:14). This is because David did not look at the battle in fleshly terms, but rather in spiritual terms- he cared what God cared about. The size never bothered him and Goliath’s words and threats never bothered him…because he knew God was with him. God was his Champion.

We all know how the story ends, but more importantly let us compare the difference between the Israeli army’s attitude and David’s- we can clearly see the how and why he was able to win this giant of a battle:

Israel’s response	David’s response
They focused on the danger/difficulty of the battle (size of the problem and negative words in their ears)	David focused on Israel’s reputation and God’s honour (“who is this…that he should defy the armies of the living God?”)
Referred to Goliath as “this man” (v25)	David referred to Goliath as “this uncircumcised Philistine” (v26). He was just an enemy that had to be defeated. End of story.
No faith – “Surely he has come up to defy Israel!” (v25)	David thought it absurd that an enemy of God should even dare to “defy the armies of the Living God”
Focused on the material rewards for the battle- “the man who kills him…the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.” (v25)	David focused on what God cared about and what was lying with God’s heart- “the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel” (v26)

Meditate on how Jesus is our Champion today. We can never be our own Champion- Jesus paid the price on the cross to take that role from us. He stands between you and the problem…if you will let Him! This means letting go control. Think about the issues, anxieties and thoughts that stifle you. How can you allow Jesus to play champion in those areas?

Meditate on the differences between Israel’s perspective and attitude and David’s. In which army do you lie? Write down your issues, worries and anxieties individually and how you currently handle them and think about them. See where and how they match up with Israel’s thinking. How can you shift them over to David’s winning side by seeing them from a spiritual perspective? Remember, we need to care about what God cares about, and He does not want us anxious.

Verses:
“while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor 4:18

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” Matt 6:25-27

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” Phil 4:6

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” 1 Tim 2:5

“The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart” 1 Sam 13:14

A Lesson from David | Part 1

This is Part 1 in a series of David as it pertains to anxiety

David’s victorious battle was a foreshadow of Jesus’ victory on the cross for us, and how He is still working to bring victory in our lives! To avoid a lengthy email I will break it up over 3 days or so for you to absorb and meditate over each piece.
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We see the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. Every time I read it I have a good chuckle because it must have been quite a sight – the Philistines were on one mountain while Israel’s army was on the opposite one with a valley between them. They cowered away in fear every time Goliath shouted at them.

“When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” 1 Samuel 17:10

This was Goliath’s intention! He was massive and probably knew how scary he was. His aim was to ensure Israel quivered in their boots because once your opponent fears, you have won the battle. He paraded in front of them hurling insults and threats. So, he looked and sounded terrifying; so much so that Israel did nothing but sit and hide in fear. This is the exact strategy of the enemy against us believers! If fear strikes you to the core- thoughts and deception of disease or the overwhelming stress you’re facing and fear of not coping etc- then you are so terrified to move, and even pray, that the enemy does not have to fight back much does he? He has you where he wants you- cowering in fear about what’s going to happen next and fear of dying. By sitting and worrying, we get nowhere in our battles. Sometimes if I am faced with a threatening or scary situation I can make the mistake of allowing fear to get a hold of me that I can’t even think of how to start off praying! But that is a grave mistake. We need to be Davids, which we will look at next.

Some points to meditate on:

1. What are some of your Goliaths? Hypochondria stems from a root cause. Remember, it’s when our minds want to rather focus on the ‘worst possible scenario’ i.e. our health. Is that root overwhelming stress, unconfessed sin, learned anxiety, working among sick patients, trauma, childhood abuse or a very difficult childhood? There could be a million different reasons – different for each person. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything to you that is causing you this inner turmoil. If he brings anything to mind, confess them to Him and ask Him to cleanse you, and release you from those chains.
2. Think about the situations and stressors that make you cower in fear in the valley. In what ways are you reacting the same way Israel did to Goliath?
   Try list the emotions those Goliaths are causing you and give them to the Lord. Tell Him that you are laying those fears at His feet and that you are asking Him to handle them for you.

Obtaining Perfect Peace

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” ~ Isaiah 26:3

Perfect peace is such a wonderful promise from the Lord! And not just peace, but perfect peace! Not only can we have this perfect peace but He will keep us in a place of perfect peace!
In Hebrew, the term perfect peace is shalom shalom. Repetition in Hebrew always communicates intensity. So it’s not just peace like the world knows it, but perfect peace! This is one repeated assurance that we can healthily go over and over in our heads as often as we like to; unlike torturously taking what a Doctor says and going over it and over it and analysing how incorrect he may have been.
God is reassuring us not once, but twice, that the peace is ours for the taking!

How do we take this peace? “Whose mind is stayed on You”.
Ahh…here we have the mind. The heart of the matter. The one thing causing havoc! We were created to think- BUT where we set our mind is what makes the difference. This is the key to our walk with the Lord.
The mind has to be… stayed
on what?… the LORD
The Hebrew word for stayed is ‘sawmak’ and means to “prop”, “lean on/lay on”, “uphold”, “rest self or set self”, “sustain”.
It is vital that we take cognisance of what we are leaning our minds on. What thoughts are you upholding? God’s promises, or what disease you may have? Are you resting yourself in the fact that you have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16) or are you worrying when the next anxious thought is coming? Or worrying how wrong the Doctor probably was because studying for close to a decade just wasn’t enough? 😉
John leaned (i.e. propped) his head on Jesus’ chest at the Last Supper. He did that just before what? It was just before Jesus disclosed the betrayal of Judas! Keep your mind on Jesus and lean on His truth and the more you do that the more you will come to see clearly the lies and deception the enemy brings you with hypochondria! It’s at that point that it becomes easy to let go of it.

You are not going to win this battle if you don’t set your focus purely on God. I can’t stress that enough. You have to make the conscious decision to just say “no!” If you make that one little choice to stay on what disease you might have, or if a panic attack will come etc. you will not get perfect peace. The absence of hypochondria is perfect peace. The presence of God’s Word is perfect peace.
I can give you 2 of my own examples. When I started getting into the healing process of hypochondria, I rested my mind on the fact that God would fight the battle for me. I was so young- I didn’t know what I know now. But the battle of Jehoshaphat impressed me so much, my faith latched onto it and wouldn’t let go. As each day passed, the pain in my body disappeared more and more. Now and then a hypo thought would come and I took the conscious decision to absolutely refuse to entertain it. I had had enough. I even rebuked the thought out loud in Jesus name!
Another example is that my daughter was born straight into NICU. She was in there for a month after having a huge op at 3 days old. It was scary. I kept focused on the Word – I ate it, drank it, slept it, spoke about it all day. One day I got a moment of weakness and the infamous “what if..” thought cropped up. Just as I was about to entertain it Jesus said very firmly, “No Caddie! Look at Me! Keep your eyes focused on ME!” Those were His words verbatim. Do you know that my husband put together all information on TOFS (what my daughter was born with) in a file for me to read and learn and to this day, almost 7 years later, I still refuse to open and read it! I did not care what the doctors and research said about it- my focus was on Jesus and how He was going to bring her through it to be a happy and fully healthy little girl today!
Don’t give Satan the freedom to get your mind away on anything but Jesus – it’s his most effective and favourite hobby!

So, in both cases I took the decision to completely trust Jesus.
We see in the verse “because he trusts in You.” Trust is another way of keeping our minds on Him. What you trust is what you focus on! What you focus on is your…idol!
Proverbs 3:5 kind of encompasses this whole issue – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” The root word for lean here is the same as ‘stayed’ as above! Whether you want to admit it or not, hypochondria is leaning on our own understanding – not even the Doctors if you think about it. Just our own. So, to lean on the Lord is to trust Him.

Again, trust starts in your mind. If you’re not at that point with the Lord, chat with Him and tell Him so and ask Him to work on your heart so that you fully trust Him. It’s His will so He will hear you and help you!

I’m still keeping you in prayer!

Some further reading:

‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ~ Matt 22:37

‘And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’ ~ Romans 12:2

“who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.’ ~ 1 Cor 2:16

‘whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.’ ~ Phil 3:19

‘Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.’ ~ Col 3:2