✝️ Stay in Your Lane

Good morning, my brothers! Charles Spurgeon said it best: “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.” I’m sure most of us can relate to his sentiment and not surprisingly God's Word offers the antidote to this paralyzing feeling. Today we’re going to unpack this together. Let’s go!

This week’s manly topics (5-min read):

🧠 MINDSET Anxious thoughts distract like an obnoxious backseat driver and can cause us to make erratic decisions that drive our lives all over the road. Allow me to share a process I discovered after a recent bout of anxious lane drifting.
📰  NEWS No one goes to the gym and asks a trainer, “What can I do about my face?” but they should because there is something you can do … and it doesn’t require a surgeon to pull your scalp down to your back.
🎁 REQUEST Will you prayerfully consider becoming a MTM Mighty man? This is your opportunity to get in on the ground floor of God’s movement in and through the men of our generation.

MINDSET
Stay in Your Lane

I have a confession to make: I’m not the best driver in the world. Although I haven’t had any accidents in 20 years and haven't received any recent tickets, I'm easily distracted behind the wheel. Just ask my wife and kids.

While driving, I catch myself looking at everything—signs, buildings, other cars—instead of the road ahead. Inevitably, I hear one of three sounds: the rumble strips warning me I'm drifting off the road, a “polite” horn from a driver in the lane I'm encroaching upon, or my wife gently reminding me to keep my eyes straight ahead (as her eyes close, probably praying for our safety).

I hear these sounds because I'm drifting outside my lane in the direction of my gaze. I’ve lost focus on the primary task—arriving safely—and veered toward potential danger.

The Anxiety Attack

In total transparency, these past few weeks have been tough. I believe Satan and his forces have come after me, perhaps because of what you and I are building through More The Man—a community of men pursuing Jesus and growing in Biblical manhood. Looking back, I see the reality of spiritual warfare, and the primary weapon the enemy has used is a debilitating feeling of anxiety.

Unfortunately, I’ve succumbed to these attacks too often. My sleep has suffered. My prayer and study time hasn't been as rich as I struggle to concentrate. During these few weeks, I've wrestled through the Psalms (focusing on Psalms 20 to 29), praying as I read, asking God to teach me what He wants me to learn.

A few days ago, the Lord provided clarity on what He wanted me to grasp: I often live like I drive—distracted, looking at challenging circumstances rather than focusing straight ahead...or straight up. I become consumed by the “what ifs” instead of the “Who is.”

Based on your emails, I know many of you face similar struggles. We get consumed by life’s pressures: financial difficulties, troubled marriages, unclear purpose, political turmoil. The list goes on.

The Peace Protocol: The Bible’s 6-Step Plan to Defeat Anxiety

God, in His grace, provides life's rumble strips, honking horns, and kind words to get us back on track. Our circumstances might not change, but He promises to lift our anxiety and give us peace amid challenges when we follow His six-step prescription:

1) Fix your eyes on Jesus

We must address challenges, yes, but not fixate on them. Instead, seek Him first (Matthew 6:33), focus on His promises, and remember our hope—the Holy Spirit within us and eternity with God - the joy set before us.

2) Surrender to the Spirit

Daily surrender yourself to the Holy Spirit’s leading and direction, allowing Him to govern your mind rather than the enemy's lies.

3) Give it to the Lord

Replace fixation on problems with prayer. The Psalms are filled with David crying out to God when in trouble. When anxiety wraps around you, stop negative thoughts and turn to Him instead. Cry out. Tell Him what you’re struggling with. Ask Him for peace.

4) Trust Him

Maintain confident trust that God is who He says He is, loves you as He says He does, and always has your best interest at heart. Trust that He will straighten your path in His perfect timing. Choose faith over fear.

5) Take the next step in faith

Anxiety can paralyze us, but God calls us to take the next step. Open your Bible, take a walk outside, call a friend, ask your wife to pray with you, do the hard thing—anything that demonstrates faith is stronger than circumstances. 

6) Repeat as needed

Brothers, if you’re struggling like I have been, know you’re not alone. You have a fraternity of men walking alongside you through life's challenges. More importantly, you have a God who loves you infinitely and has given you His Word as your playbook.

Jesus tells us we’ll have problems in this world but reminds us that He has overcome the world. He’s here to help us overcome anxiety's crippling effects, and He’s given us the steps to do it.

Trust Him and take the next step.

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THIS JUST IN
📣 NEWS FROM AROUND THE WEB 📣 

Training
“For physical training is of some value …” 1 Timothy 4:8

• This week we take a look at the part of your body you look at every day but about which you may not think much: your face. The loss of collagen and decrease in testosterone that accompanies aging can make your face look harsh and tired. The drop in testosterone causes a drop in your skin’s production of oil … oil that forms a barrier between your skin and the outside world. Reduced oil causes the skin on your face to dehydrate which, in part, causes the loss of elasticity and dryness. What to do? 1) Get a jar of coconut oil from your local nutrition store and 2) apply a light layer of oil on your face and neck in the morning (15 minutes or more before going outside) and then 3) a more generous amount before going to bed. Do this daily and see the radiance that Christ put in your heart begin to shine out of your face once again.

Nutrition
“… your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit ...” 1 Corinthians 6:19

• That uncomfortable feeling—like you inhaled a balloon with your meal—affects 1 in 4 men over 40. As we age, digestion slows and microbiome diversity decreases, leaving undigested food to ferment into gas. Ready to battle and banish the bloat? Make these habits: 1) Eat smaller, more frequent meals (4-5 daily), 2) Chew thoroughly and eat slowly, 3) Take a 10-minute walk after meals (cuts bloating 25%), 4) Sip water between, not during meals (⅔-gallon = 11 cup-sized serving daily), 5) Add yogurt to your diet and 6) practice 5 deep breaths before eating to lower stress (cortisol interferes with digestion)

Style
“… whatever you do, do it all for God’s glory.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

• If you look at pictures and paintings of people pre-1960s, you would have a hard time finding one where the men weren’t wearing hats. They were everywhere and in a wide range of styles: top hats, fedoras, bowlers, boaters, flat caps and so many more. Where did all those cool hats go … and should stylish MTM men be at the vanguard of their revival? Do you wear a hat (baseball hats and beanies not included)? Send Jeremy a note with a photo of you wearing your hat and we will share on the MTM X feed. Courtesy Real Men Real Style