I just have to share one of the most humbling and amazing things that happened to me this
morning. I was sitting in my talk to God chair and just kinda talking to God and all of a sudden
I heard "Happy Valentine's Day Jo Ann". I almost fell out of my chair. Can you imagine what
went through my head when I heard this tender voice wishing me a Happy Valentine's day? You know me--I had to ask "would you mind repeating that? I want to make sure I heard that
right". Yes, I heard it again and then I realized I was standing in front of this beautiful, glorious
cross. I wish I had words to describe how beautiful it was. My Jesus was standing there beside
me and He told me this was His Valentine's gift to me. This was where He poured out all of His
love for me. I saw the cross in a new beautiful way. I don't know how to explain how I've seen
the cross in the past but today it became more beautiful than words can describe. I will never
receive a valentine that is more beautiful than the one He showed me today. I started thinking
about how I once was among those who felt so alone and had no one to give them a valentine and how I had missed seeing and knowing there was One who gave us the greatest valentine
gift of all. This is my prayer that all who feel unloved and alone on this day will be able to see
they have been given a beautiful Valentine's Day Gift.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Thoughts on Phil. 4:6-7
Here are some thoughts that Alison wrote that she wanted to share with you all...
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (TNIV)
This is a clear exhortation to me not to fret or be anxious about anything. But why is it so difficult to live out? Perhaps because I still rely inexcusably upon my own power and abilities, rather than the power of the Holy Spirit within me. Perhaps because the enemy likes to foster a niggling doubt that God truly does want the best for me and will work all things together for my good. This anxiety renders me ineffectual, not just in my daily life, but more importantly, for His Kingdom purposes. And that’s right where the enemy wants me. He doesn’t want me to recall the lesson that, over many years, I have come to learn—that tomorrow, things will look differently than today. Even in my most fearsome circumstances, things change in the light of a new day. God always has me covered because He is the Lord over all things.
These two verses in Philippians are packed with so many counter-cultural truths and revelations about anxiety. First, I am told to present specific requests to God, through not just prayer (communing with my Friend) and petition (imploring Him to act), but also with thanksgiving. I am to present my request out of a grateful heart—not out of fear, anxiety, or worry. Rather, out of a heart that pays homage to God’s present love and faithfulness to me in the past. A heart that humbly and thankfully acknowledges that God always comes through for me in every circumstance. A countenance that affirmatively believes that tomorrow, things will appear differently than today. I cannot let my anxiety blind me to His presence or His earnestness to hear my request. This posture of the heart requires me to lay down control of my life to the One who receives my supplications. I must be willing to entrust the petition to Him before I bring it.
Second, I am instructed to take every situation to God. These absolute terms leave no room for qualitative or quantitative weighing of whether a situation is appropriate to take to Him. His Word says every situation, which means that every circumstance I go through is worthy of the Lord’s attention, particularly if anxiety is accompanying it.
Third, if I will comply with these exhortations, the peace of God will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. The Amplified Bible says “garrison” the heart and mind, which calls to mind a fortress to ward off and keep out the spirit of anxiety and unrest. Peace is the antithesis of anxiety. And God’s peace is even better than what man can envision or experience with the senses. The Word promises that it transcends (goes far beyond) all understanding. That peace only comes if I am willing to leave my own limited understanding behind or, better yet, to surrender it to my Lord.
It is a cyclical process. If, rather than succumbing to anxiety, I approach the Father with a thankful heart, which requires a remembrance of His faithfulness and trust that He will come through again in this situation, I will find what I am seeking. A peace that transcends my understanding. A peace that will “garrison” my heart and mind from the battle being waged against them to accept anxiety over trust. What a beautiful promise from a loving Father, if I will only obey.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (TNIV)
This is a clear exhortation to me not to fret or be anxious about anything. But why is it so difficult to live out? Perhaps because I still rely inexcusably upon my own power and abilities, rather than the power of the Holy Spirit within me. Perhaps because the enemy likes to foster a niggling doubt that God truly does want the best for me and will work all things together for my good. This anxiety renders me ineffectual, not just in my daily life, but more importantly, for His Kingdom purposes. And that’s right where the enemy wants me. He doesn’t want me to recall the lesson that, over many years, I have come to learn—that tomorrow, things will look differently than today. Even in my most fearsome circumstances, things change in the light of a new day. God always has me covered because He is the Lord over all things.
These two verses in Philippians are packed with so many counter-cultural truths and revelations about anxiety. First, I am told to present specific requests to God, through not just prayer (communing with my Friend) and petition (imploring Him to act), but also with thanksgiving. I am to present my request out of a grateful heart—not out of fear, anxiety, or worry. Rather, out of a heart that pays homage to God’s present love and faithfulness to me in the past. A heart that humbly and thankfully acknowledges that God always comes through for me in every circumstance. A countenance that affirmatively believes that tomorrow, things will appear differently than today. I cannot let my anxiety blind me to His presence or His earnestness to hear my request. This posture of the heart requires me to lay down control of my life to the One who receives my supplications. I must be willing to entrust the petition to Him before I bring it.
Second, I am instructed to take every situation to God. These absolute terms leave no room for qualitative or quantitative weighing of whether a situation is appropriate to take to Him. His Word says every situation, which means that every circumstance I go through is worthy of the Lord’s attention, particularly if anxiety is accompanying it.
Third, if I will comply with these exhortations, the peace of God will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. The Amplified Bible says “garrison” the heart and mind, which calls to mind a fortress to ward off and keep out the spirit of anxiety and unrest. Peace is the antithesis of anxiety. And God’s peace is even better than what man can envision or experience with the senses. The Word promises that it transcends (goes far beyond) all understanding. That peace only comes if I am willing to leave my own limited understanding behind or, better yet, to surrender it to my Lord.
It is a cyclical process. If, rather than succumbing to anxiety, I approach the Father with a thankful heart, which requires a remembrance of His faithfulness and trust that He will come through again in this situation, I will find what I am seeking. A peace that transcends my understanding. A peace that will “garrison” my heart and mind from the battle being waged against them to accept anxiety over trust. What a beautiful promise from a loving Father, if I will only obey.
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