I'm a thinker. I think of what I need to do for the day. Think about things I didn't do yesterday. Think about how my weeds need pulled... how my basement needs reorganized... what should I blog about next. Just normal thoughts.
Then my brain will shift to a particular person. Maybe I'm suppose to pray for them. So I do. Then about my past or present with that person. Maybe I was hurt or neglected a bit by them. What did I do wrong? See where this going?
Anxiety. Hurt. Fear. Anger. Pain. Wounds.... a quick downward spiral.
Are you with me?
For me, I know those dark thoughts come from my lack of faith in God... plain and simple. It is fear. Not in God, but in things... myself... others.
Max Lucado says,
Fear, it seems, has taken a hundred-year lease on the building next-door and set up shop. Oversize and rude, fear is unwilling to share the heart with happiness. Happiness complies. Do you ever see the two together?... No. Fear is the big bully in the high school hallway: brash, loud and unproductive.
Fear never wrote a symphony or poem, negotiated a peace treaty, or cured a disease. Fear never pulled a family out of poverty or a country out of bigotry. Fear never saved a marriage or a business. Faith did that. People who refused to consult or cower to their timidities did that. But fear itself? Fear herds us into a prison and slams the doors.
Thankfully, the Holy Spirit dwells within me... so thankful! I am graciously reminded of this powerful verse written by Paul...
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
What do these adjectives really mean?
true: exact; accurate.
honorable: creditable; upright.
right: in accordance with what is right; correct in judgement and action.
pure: free from tainting or polluting matter.
lovely: delightful; highly pleasing.
admirable: excellent; first-rate.
I have to have a plan to avoid these troubling thoughts that arise... daily. Are they accurate? Are they pleasing and excellent? Am I making a correct judgement of these thoughts?
Jesus is questioning me in my storms, and asks, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" (Matt. 8:26)
I will cling to this verse for now...
Take courage. I am here!
Matthew 14:27 (NLT)
Are you fearful too? What things are blinding you to a greater faith in God? What is your plan to have more fear in God and less fear in life?
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