Call a Sin a Sin

Anxiety is obviously a sin:

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let you reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:4-7

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which or you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: the neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?...But seek first the kindgom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Anxiety is one of the sins with which I most struggle. It creeps into my heart and mind when I least suspect it, and suddenly I am beneath a dreadful weight of minor cares. So, I am both confessing my anxiety and dissecting it...

Why am I anxious usually?
First, and worst, I am not most satisfied in God and his righteousness. I am seeking earthly success or comfort (in my life this means good grades, health, reputation...). Secondly, I do not trust that God can meet my needs.

What does God say about anxiety?
As I mentioned earlier, it is a sin. I think that God cannot provide or sustain me. I am not treasuring God above all else or finding my satisfaction solely in Him.

Why should I not be anxious?
When Jesus talks about anxiety in Matthew (and in Luke's parallel), he says, "Therefore, ...do not be anxious." So, what preludes these therefores? In both gospels, he has talked about earthly riches and how I can not provided for myself or keep riches here on earth. I think from this I can safely say trying to have these things on earth will produce anxiety, and I should not be concerned with earthly riches.

What is the solution?
Seek first God and his righteousness and in prayer with thankfulness for God's gracious kindness present my requests (what I am concerned about) to God.

My prayer is that my anxiety about what I can find to wear or if I will be able to make the grade I want on the next test will be replaced by peace from God. However, I do not think that the solution is simply to stop worrying; I must find my happiness and joy in Christ and Christ alone.

I know this post is long, but I will end with this song:


Why so downcast, my soul, within me?
Why so downcast, my soul?
Your Father, God, He has redeemed thee.
Why so downcast, my soul?

Lord, You are my only hope,
The Bright and Morning Star.
You came to earth to set me free-
and shed your blood for me.

Father, my flesh it weighs upon me,
tears my heart from Thee.
Save me, Jesus, from myself,
And pour your grace on me.

Lord, You are my Only Hope,
The Bright and Morning Star.
You came to earth to set me free-
and shed your blood for met.