Don't Be Anxious . . .

Yeah. Right. I seem to get overwhelmed on this one very easily on a regular basis. It seems at some level that my ability to think has become a curse in analyzing all the potential problems that can pop up . . . Or, in focusing on the problems in front of me without taking God into consideration.

Life is hard - thank you Grandfather Adam. Life is certainly not fair - thank you Adam, again. If Life was about Fairness then Jesus would not have had to die on the cross to save me, to save you, to save the world... Or, how about the story of Job - he was tested merely because God was proud of him. What would that be like? How would that feel? To have God be proud of you, be proud of who you are?

You know that we have the privilege of calling God our Abba, paraphrased our Daddy. We as parents didn't know how big our hearts were, or how deep our emotions could run, until He entrusted us with little ones. Do you think there is an application there?

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God
Psalm 94:19 When anxiety was great within me, your [God's] consolation brought joy to my soul.
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Proverbs 12:25 An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Those are just a few of the verses that I run and consider when I am feeling anxious or worried about what will happen in the future.

I thank God that He is loving, gracious, patient, and merciful... Because if He wasn't, I'd be a hopeless wreck with no clue. When things seem to be dark, or getting darker, it is very difficult to climb out of those circumstances and attempt to have a godly, biblical, or spiritual perspective on things.

If you are facing anything difficult or trying in your life right now, I would encourage you to place that burden upon the broad shoulders of Jesus - our mediator before God. Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit speaks on our behalf, that He intercedes and communicates in our stead for us. So, don't worry about what you're saying or how you're saying it - the Holy Spirit will make sure that it's said right.

Just focus right now on the loving reality of the provision of God's grace and mercy in your life and seek His face. Verbally, emotionally, perhaps in a physically symbolic way - take the burdens that you have and specifically place them in His care. This is not to say that we passively approach our days and tasks and fail to act. It is proactively seeking to not focus on what is wrong and then to "give it to God." Then go and do what must be done.

Beyond space and before the beginning of Time, God intended me and he intended you. He has fore-ordained the course of our lives. Yet, we need to understand that, juxtaposed with the fact that He has given us Free Will - the ability to choose. Which means at some level, that while God has forknowledge of our lives, He may not eradicate or minimize the consequences of bad decisions or prevent us from doing stupid things.

In seeking knowledge and wisdom which begins with the Fear of the Lord (Proverbs chapters 1 & 2), we begin the journey to a place of reliance in, on, and through Him.
This too shall pass...
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength...
Don't Worry. Pray. Focus on Him.
Jehovah-Jireh. Jehovah Nissi. Lord Jesus - take my burdens, my thoughts, and my cares. Help me not to take them back when I am reminded of them. Thank you for the intercession of your Son, Jesus on my behalf. Thank you for the interpretation of your Holy Spirit on my behalf.

Thank you Abba Father for being my spiritual Daddy.