Below is a videos from the presentation of “Overcoming Depression-Anxiety: A Personal Responsibility Paradigm.” For the various counseling options available from this material visit www.summitrdu.com/counseling.
The complementing studies “Overcoming Depression-Anxiety: A Suffering Paradigm” and “Towards a Christian Perspective of Mental Illness“ will also available in a video format after their presentation
NOTE: Many people have asked how they can get a copy of the seminar notebook referenced in this verbal presentation. You can request a copy from Summit’s admin over counseling at counseling@summitrdu.com (please note this is an administrative account; no individual or family counsel is provided through e-mail).
“Making Room for Peace and Hope in My Life”
RESTRUCTURE MY LIFE to rely on God’s grace and Word to transform my life.
Depression-Anxiety Responsibility Paradigm Step 6 from The Sam James Institute on Vimeo.
Memorize: Matthew 6:33-34 (ESV), “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” As you memorize this passage reflect upon these key points:
- “Seek first” – Is what you are seeking first producing peace, fear, or despair? We can judge a pursuit by its fruit.
- “All these things” – Don’t succumb to thinking that you have to constantly remind God of what you’re facing.
- “Do not be anxious” – Anxiety is “owning” responsibilities that belong to God or will only be yours in the future.
- “Tomorrow will” – Punishing yourself over things you must do but can’t touch is useless self-torture.
- “Sufficient for the day” – The only way to impact tomorrow positively is to live today well.
Teaching Notes
“There is no perfect way to climb out of a negative mindset or a toxic pit, but climbing you must (p. 58).” Leslie Vernick in Lord, I Just Want to Be Happy
“Act on the grace God gives you today, and wait confidently for the grace God will give you tomorrow (p. 20)…. Fear and anxiety always want more information. They think that knowledge is power. In response, your heavenly father confides in you [Scripture]… He is giving you what your fears and anxieties are asking for. He is giving you information about the future (p. 23).” Ed Welch in When I Am Afraid
“Freedom resolves the fear and anxiety associated with persecution and oppression, but it increases the fear of personal failure, which is one reason Soren Kierkegaard said that anxiety is the dizziness of freedom. With freedom comes more choices, which means more opportunities to get it wrong. Freedom or oppression – pick your poison. They both contribute to our fears and anxieties (p. 21).” Ed Welch in Running Scared
“Owners are the ones who do all the worrying; stewards simply listen to the owners desires and work to implement them. Owners are responsible for the outcome; stewards strive to be faithful (p. 133).” Ed Welch in Running Scared
“She must learn to handle the painful emotions that come with losses and disappointments in a different way, without falling into her habits of self-pity, resentment, or self-hatred (p. 24)…. For many of us busyness is an intentional way to avoid reality… Busyness always dulls awareness, which is why it’s one of Satan’s favorite ploys… One of the most important skills we must learn if we want to feel happier is how to take responsibility for our choices (p. 84).” Leslie Vernick in Lord, I Just Want to Be Happy
“The right kind of fear is a weapon powerful enough to overcome the wrong kinds of fear (p. 142).” Elyse Fitzpatrick and Laura Hendrickson in Will Medicine Stop the Pain?
“One problem with masks and walls is that, though their purpose is to protect you from hurt, they hurt you even more because they don’t allow relationships (p. 26).” Ed Welch in What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?
“When the thing we dread is upon us, we usually do well. Anticipation is the killer (p. 139).” Ed Welch in Running Scared