I have set You, LORD, always before me, because You are at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices. My flesh shall also rest in hope. Psalm 16:8-9
One of the greatest victims of anxiety is hope. Worry steals our hope and replaces it with fatalism. The worst will happen. It is inevitable. And here are all the variations of how bad it will look...
A life without hope will take us to dark places that will tear us down and can eventually numb us.
But all the dark places in the world cannot overcome a life that is filled with hope because of our trust in God.
In other words, Bobby McFerrin had it right. Don't worry, be happy.
Except God's version is no song refrain. It is a deep truth rooted in His love for us.
How does this passage make sense to you?
Monday, July 12, 2010
Anxiety 4
I have trusted also in You, LORD; therefore I shall not slide. Psalm 26:1
The slippery slope.
We use it as a justification for not doing things and for doing things. But it is rarely used in a positive sense.
It certainly is how sin seems to work. We don't jump headlong into the middle of some sinful behavior or lifestyle very often. The more common route is by taking small step after small step. Then we end up someplace we never dreamed we could be (see the story of Lot).
So to make a statement like "I shall not slide" is not a trite thing. It brings strong imagery to mind. Rock. Immovable. Unshakeable. It is huge. It is what we all want.
And it is promised to us when we make the conscious decision to hand over everything...EVERYTHING, including our worries and concerns to The Creator.
He and He alone will keep us from sliding.
How does that promise strike you?
The slippery slope.
We use it as a justification for not doing things and for doing things. But it is rarely used in a positive sense.
It certainly is how sin seems to work. We don't jump headlong into the middle of some sinful behavior or lifestyle very often. The more common route is by taking small step after small step. Then we end up someplace we never dreamed we could be (see the story of Lot).
So to make a statement like "I shall not slide" is not a trite thing. It brings strong imagery to mind. Rock. Immovable. Unshakeable. It is huge. It is what we all want.
And it is promised to us when we make the conscious decision to hand over everything...EVERYTHING, including our worries and concerns to The Creator.
He and He alone will keep us from sliding.
How does that promise strike you?
Apologies!
I was away from internet connections last week and the phone service was spotty. Was trying to do the blog through an intermittent phone connection and it wasn't working out too well. My apologies! We're back in business now.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Anxiety 3
Casting all my care upon You, for You care for me. 1 Peter 5:7
Letting go. That maybe one of the most difficult things in life to pull off.
It is easy to talk about; as a matter of fact, if we're not careful, our sayings about worry can almost come off as platitudes.
Let go and let God. Don't worry, be happy.
So it is important that we remember that when God asks us to cast our cares on Him, it is no small thing He asks of us. Letting go requires deep, deep trust. Deep trust.
But the payoff is something so great, yet so ellusive that we rarely experience it.
Peace.
What are your thoughts on this passage?
Letting go. That maybe one of the most difficult things in life to pull off.
It is easy to talk about; as a matter of fact, if we're not careful, our sayings about worry can almost come off as platitudes.
Let go and let God. Don't worry, be happy.
So it is important that we remember that when God asks us to cast our cares on Him, it is no small thing He asks of us. Letting go requires deep, deep trust. Deep trust.
But the payoff is something so great, yet so ellusive that we rarely experience it.
Peace.
What are your thoughts on this passage?
Friday, July 9, 2010
Anxiety 2
When I said, my foot slips, Your mercy, O LORD, held me up. Psalm 94:18
We all know someone who is an uber-rule-keeper. They have some inner sense that everything has to be perfect. That it CAN be perfect.
Truth is, we all have wrestled with that at times. Some of us are just worse than others. Maybe much worse.
The problem with the uber-rule-keeper personality is that it trumps mercy.
And having a strong sense of mercy is essential to properly handing our worries over to God.
Mercy and legalism cannot co-exist. And I choose mercy every time. At least I really want to.
How about you?
We all know someone who is an uber-rule-keeper. They have some inner sense that everything has to be perfect. That it CAN be perfect.
Truth is, we all have wrestled with that at times. Some of us are just worse than others. Maybe much worse.
The problem with the uber-rule-keeper personality is that it trumps mercy.
And having a strong sense of mercy is essential to properly handing our worries over to God.
Mercy and legalism cannot co-exist. And I choose mercy every time. At least I really want to.
How about you?
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Relying on God when struggling with anxiety
I have trusted also in You, LORD; therefore I shall not slide. Psalm 26:1
Trust.
One of the easiest concepts in life, but one of the toughest realities. How do you trust someone you don't know? Or how do you rebuild trust in someone who has betrayed you?
Here's the cold, hard fact: When dealing with the topic of worry, trust is foundational. You can't overcome anxiety without trust. Deep trust.
There are very few people on this planet that we will completely trust. And we do so with the understanding that, as much as we feel secure in that trust, it could still conceivably be broken.
Not so with God. And that is the first step in changing our lives regarding worry.
What is your reaction to this scripture?
Trust.
One of the easiest concepts in life, but one of the toughest realities. How do you trust someone you don't know? Or how do you rebuild trust in someone who has betrayed you?
Here's the cold, hard fact: When dealing with the topic of worry, trust is foundational. You can't overcome anxiety without trust. Deep trust.
There are very few people on this planet that we will completely trust. And we do so with the understanding that, as much as we feel secure in that trust, it could still conceivably be broken.
Not so with God. And that is the first step in changing our lives regarding worry.
What is your reaction to this scripture?
Anger 7
Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27
Grudges.
A fantastic way to kill relationships is to hold grudges. And grudges are exactly what Paul is talking about in this passage.
When we carry our anger overnight, overnight turns into days, days turn into months and months turn into years.
So a great way to avoid giving grudges a foothold is to handle anger in the day. Don't give Satan any opportunity to begin damaging or destroying relationships. God is honored when we protect the things money can't buy.
What is your reaction to this passage?
Grudges.
A fantastic way to kill relationships is to hold grudges. And grudges are exactly what Paul is talking about in this passage.
When we carry our anger overnight, overnight turns into days, days turn into months and months turn into years.
So a great way to avoid giving grudges a foothold is to handle anger in the day. Don't give Satan any opportunity to begin damaging or destroying relationships. God is honored when we protect the things money can't buy.
What is your reaction to this passage?
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