'is anxiety a disease or an affliction? perhaps it is something of both. partly... because you can't help it, and partly because for some reason, dark reason, you choose not to help it. you torment yourself with detailed visions of the worst thing that could possibly happen.' - frederick buechner
most of what we worry about doesn't happen. we worry about things that are out of our control.
'you will keep in perfect peace, him whose mind is steadfast, because He trusts in you.' - isaiah 26:3
'do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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
but, it's not that easy... you say?
there are real concerns. true. over 19 million americans are diagnosed with clinical anxiety disorder. women are twice as likely. lucky us. let's take a look at the definition of worry...
worry--the condition of being drawn mentally in different directions. distraction of the mind. painful agitation in the presence of anticipation/danger. uneasiness of the mind, usually over an impending or anticipated ill often marked by self-doubt of being able to cope with it. dread.
sound familiar? :)
worry=fear. there are over 300 references to 'fear' in the Bible. (i.e. matthew 6.34) we clearly have two choices--to fear or to trust. when we worry, we take our eyes off the Lord and become fixed on the problem.
'worry causes us to regret the past and fear the future--what bondage! worry robs the present of our Presence.' - jerusha clark
lie: 'if only...'
truth: i can trust God with my past, present, and future. (isaiah 43.18-19)
no matter what decision i make, God makes a way. He's always doing a new thing. (luke 18.27, jeremiah 32.17) we can choose to remember God's faithfulness, or we can choose to worry.
lie: 'what if...'
truth: greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. there is a hope for our future.
though we are vulnerable and sometimes life is out of control, we are not powerless! in fact, we have the greatest Power within us. the Spirit cannot be controlled and we are called to submit to His move. (john 16.33, hebrews 6.18-19) God cannot lie! (psalm 103.10, isaiah 54.10) our minds need to be just as active, alive, and consious to worry as they are to excerise faith. think about that.
lie: 'if i don't control my circumstances, no one will.'
truth: only God has the power to bring things, all things, under His control. (phillipians 3.21, 1 timothy 6.15)
when we poke holes in the truth of God's sovereignty, we dangerously undermine His character. God refers to Himself as the 'sovereign Lord' 303 times in the Bible! 'the Fear' is a hebrew name for God. fear of God banishes the terror that shrinks from His presence. fear of God=drives out worry. (genesis 32.22-31)
most worry is about ourselves. it is selfish. when we focus our minds on the needs of others, we no longer have an unhealthy focus on ourselves.
what can i do?
admit that worry accomplishes nothing. seek the presence of the Lord. in His presence there is peace and understanding. lean on others. verbalizing our worry helps us to tame it. don't be discouraged when fear arises. fear diminshes our memories of God's faithfulness and love for us.
pray. pray. pray.
seek Truth.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
my attempt at the tough question...'why?'
when we ask the question, 'why?'--we claim that we are, in fact, intellectual enough to understand the answer and indeed worthy enough of the knowledge. what we don't realize is that it's not always about us--the reason could be for someone else, for something else--big picture or smaller, yet significant detail. we are instruments. sometimes used for praised solos, and other times for harmony--in accord with those of better or lesser quality--yet all together, is perfect.
perfection. doesn't mean everything is flawless. perfect means that a particular something is just the way it was meant to be. when we reach our full 'potential', or our full glory--it is then that we are perfected. when we are as true as we can possibly be, we are perfected--a verb, not an adjective. we are not made in the likeness of a certain model human being who defines the way we look, act, think. we are defined by our own perception (tainted or not), the perception of others, and the perception of God. we are made in the 'likeness' of an omniscient spiritual being who is Creator of all the universe. when we assume worthiness to know 'why this?' and 'why that?'--it's really a lack of understanding which, in turn, makes us less able to perceive the reasons in life for why things happen, begin, end, change, or stay the same.
when we focus on the 'ifs', we lose focus on what really 'is'. in that moment and in that second, we are constantly living ahead of or behind ourselves. when we look too far forward into our future, we are assuming we possess control--total control. the tension and the insecurity of the unknown or what is to come is in fact, good for us. it keeps us from becoming lazy. it keeps us from not needing anyone but ourselves. it keeps us from thinking we don't need God. or anyone else, for that matter. humans weren't made to be alone. we are created as relational beings--it's what drives us.
so your problem does not lie in tomorrow?--okay. choosing to live so far behind yourself that you forget your own reality is just as dangerous. how you act and what you know today may not be the same as yesterday or the day before. if you don't realize your growth as a person, and accept it and encourage it, you'll eventually lose touch of your own self and become a faint object of everyone's past.
you were given today.
breath in the morning, purpose for the day, and rest at night.
we don't hold tomorrow, and we will never be able to tell the future... but when it's given to us by the One with a divine plan, we are called to it and we are responsible to make every bit of it count.
everyday doesn't have to be remarkable, or historical, or overly busy. but it need be worth something to you...
and when you live a meaningful life,
it's an abundant one.
seek Truth.
perfection. doesn't mean everything is flawless. perfect means that a particular something is just the way it was meant to be. when we reach our full 'potential', or our full glory--it is then that we are perfected. when we are as true as we can possibly be, we are perfected--a verb, not an adjective. we are not made in the likeness of a certain model human being who defines the way we look, act, think. we are defined by our own perception (tainted or not), the perception of others, and the perception of God. we are made in the 'likeness' of an omniscient spiritual being who is Creator of all the universe. when we assume worthiness to know 'why this?' and 'why that?'--it's really a lack of understanding which, in turn, makes us less able to perceive the reasons in life for why things happen, begin, end, change, or stay the same.
when we focus on the 'ifs', we lose focus on what really 'is'. in that moment and in that second, we are constantly living ahead of or behind ourselves. when we look too far forward into our future, we are assuming we possess control--total control. the tension and the insecurity of the unknown or what is to come is in fact, good for us. it keeps us from becoming lazy. it keeps us from not needing anyone but ourselves. it keeps us from thinking we don't need God. or anyone else, for that matter. humans weren't made to be alone. we are created as relational beings--it's what drives us.
so your problem does not lie in tomorrow?--okay. choosing to live so far behind yourself that you forget your own reality is just as dangerous. how you act and what you know today may not be the same as yesterday or the day before. if you don't realize your growth as a person, and accept it and encourage it, you'll eventually lose touch of your own self and become a faint object of everyone's past.
you were given today.
breath in the morning, purpose for the day, and rest at night.
we don't hold tomorrow, and we will never be able to tell the future... but when it's given to us by the One with a divine plan, we are called to it and we are responsible to make every bit of it count.
everyday doesn't have to be remarkable, or historical, or overly busy. but it need be worth something to you...
and when you live a meaningful life,
it's an abundant one.
seek Truth.
favorite verse
'do you not know? have you not heard?
the LORD is the everlasting God,
the creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary;
and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary,
and increases the power of the weak.
even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
shall renew their strength.
they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not faint.' - isaiah 40.28-31
the LORD is the everlasting God,
the creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary;
and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary,
and increases the power of the weak.
even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
shall renew their strength.
they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not faint.' - isaiah 40.28-31
inspiration
'the one who has love, courage, and wisdom moves the world.' - ammon henacy
'there's hope. it doesn't cost a thing to smile. you don't have to pay to laugh. you better thank God for that.' - india arie
'emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but you can free your mind.' - william white
'better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed, than to share plunder with the proud.' - proverbs 16.19
'she is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. she speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.' - proverbs 31.25-26
'the one who looks outside, dreams. the one who looks inside, awakens.' - carl jung
'therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares on Him because He cares for you.' - 1 peter 5.6-7
'there's hope. it doesn't cost a thing to smile. you don't have to pay to laugh. you better thank God for that.' - india arie
'emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but you can free your mind.' - william white
'better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed, than to share plunder with the proud.' - proverbs 16.19
'she is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. she speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.' - proverbs 31.25-26
'the one who looks outside, dreams. the one who looks inside, awakens.' - carl jung
'therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares on Him because He cares for you.' - 1 peter 5.6-7
why i am now a "blogger"
i've always loved to journal and write. i've been inspired to take my writing to the "modern" age of technology hoping it will increase my effectiveness of expressiveness. :) "the act of writing is discovering what one believes." just said, writing is discovering. writing is theraputic. writing is an art form. i guess i should start inserting the term "blogging" in place of "writing" now. anyways, my first few blogs on here are just some things i've written over the years to sort of lay the foundation to my thoughts now. hope someone somewhere gets something out of some of this. :)
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