As I finish up my study of Philippians 4:4-9, several of the
sentences from Max Lucado’s Anxious for
Nothing are worth exploring. I have another week or two before totally
leaving this study (before starting on 1 and 2 Samuel), and I may make further
comments as I come up with a summary of the lessons I’ve learned. However, for
now, these are my thoughts.
“Anxiety is not a sin; it is an emotion.” Emotions are
tricky things for me. I’ve spent most of my life thinking that feelings are to be
avoided at all costs. After years of therapy, I’m beginning to see the value of
the emotional aspects of our being – aspects God created us to have. Yet, I
struggle when it comes to “negative” emotions. Somehow I got it into my head
that feelings such as sadness, frustration, loneliness, guilt, anger,
depression, and yes, anxiety/fear are not good and we shouldn’t have them. This
quote reiterates what my therapists have been telling me all along. Emotions
are just information. They are not sins. God knew we would have these feelings
and thoughts. What we do with them, our behavior, determines whether we sin or
not.
“Have I yielded sovereignty to God?” I’ve known and
understood the concept that God is sovereign over everything: creation,
spiritual battles, weather, people, etc. Yet, I still tried to hold onto the
idea that I was self-determined and in control of my life. That it is up to me
to effectively manage my world in order to get outcomes that are positive.
Wrong! Everything is in God’s hands. I am sovereign (able to rule) over nothing
in this world. Yielding my self-sovereign ideas to God’s sovereignty makes life
so much easier and less stressful. When I truly believe that God is able and
willing to take care of everything, I can freely go about serving Him and trust
Him for the outcomes according to His plans. There’s peace in that. Outcomes
are not my responsibility.
“The mind cannot at the same time be full of God and full of
fear.” I’ve found that to be true. In the last year or so I’ve started everyday
with a focus on God. I’ve opened my day with five minutes of praise. I’ve
devoted myself to the study of Scripture. I’ve started a prayer journal again.
And, throughout the day, I revisit those activities as often as possible
(especially the praise). I’ve found my fear to cease as I reflect on God’s
power and might and love and mercy and compassion, etc. Fear comes back of
course, but I pause and praise and meditate on memorized Scripture, and calm
returns. Sometimes, I have to do this many times a day. I’ve found that the
more God there is in my thoughts, the less fear affects my attitudes and
behaviors. Ultimately, the more peace I have.
“Your anxiety decreases as your understanding of your Father
increases.” That goes right along with having a mind full of God. The best (and
only?) way I’ve found to truly increase my understanding of my Father is to
read, study, memorize, and meditate on His Word, the Bible. I can’t think
myself into understanding God. I can’t wish myself into understanding God. I
can’t really get an understanding of God by listening to other people’s
experiences with God. I need to spend intimate time with Him and His words in
order to get to know Him. I need to give Him at least as much time as I would
give a person I’m hoping to develop a friendship with. It does require quiet,
purposeful discussion and conversation. I can’t really hear God without knowing
His Word. Also, I don’t want to know what other people think about God. I want
to personally know Him. That means personal time with Him learning about Him
through His words.
Hopefully, these thoughts have given you some things to
think about. They’ve been great lessons for me, and great reminders of what can
happen when I apply Philippians 4:4-9 to my behavior and thoughts.
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