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By Barry Buzza [other pieces by Barry Buzza]
 As I understand it, we're born with only two fears-the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling. Often it's in our early years that we develop additional fears. Last week, I listed the ten top fears North Americans report that they have. The most prevalent three were of snakes, heights and public speaking.
My counsel to people who live with anxiety and phobias is usually two pronged. One is to read the Bible regularly. Knowing that God created me, has good plans for my life and that he's ultimately in charge, feeds my courage. I know that if I place my life in his hands, it's all going to be okay.
But the second prong of my prescription is equally important as reading the Bible regularly. It is to align my words to what God says about me. For example, the Bible says that every person has been given a unique and significant purpose in life. It also says that God loves each of us and has plans for our success.
If I, after knowing what the Bible says about me, say: "I'm a nobody. I'm a failure. Nobody loves me. I'll never succeed at anything. I can't get a job--nobody would ever want me." Then my words, rather than God's words shape my life and the world around me.
If you remember the cartoon about Little Jinx who always walked with a cloud over his head, you'll understand that what we say about ourselves affects not only our facial expressions, tone of voice and body language, but also the way people respond to us.
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Consider some of the Proverbs that Solomon wrote about the power of our words. These truths apply when I am speaking of myself or someone else.
'Kind words are like honey-enjoyable and healthy.'
'The words of the wise soothe and heal.'
'Gentle words cause life and health; griping brings discouragement.'
'Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise.'
'Gracious speech is like clover honey, good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body.'
Little Jinx believed that he walked under a cloud wherever he went, but the fact is, we create our own cloud, or we create our own sunshine. Research has shown that feel-good endorphins are actually produced in us when we speak positively, (like God does) about ourselves and others.
Often, when a person comes to me with a serious case of anxiety, I will give them a prescription. It's not for a pill, or a daily dose of some foul tasting medicine, but simply a list of positive truths that God says about that person. My counsel is that they go to bed at night with one of those thoughts in mind, such as: "I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. I want to give you a future and a hope."
I say to memorize this (or another) verse and repeat it to yourself as you're falling asleep and often throughout the day. Because it is rooted in truth, and not in fanciful daydreams, God's promise is that, like honey, it will taste good for your soul and give quick energy to your body.
Barry Buzza, a regular contributor to canadianchristianity.com, is a veteran pastor, and also the president of the The Foursquare Gospel Church of Canada. www.barrybuzza.com www.foursquare.ca
February 6/2008
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