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Appreciating scripture and writings about anxiety and JOY, 17NOV
I thank the Lord that I wrote these pure pep talks over a year ago – really I have found that I have gotten even more busy as time goes – and these pertain even more – but I also find that I am less stressed because I try to listen and discern the Lord’s plans because they are much much better than mine!!!
Today I was thinking at physical therapy that my shoulder recovery made it to only about number 5 on the list of major things going on in my life right now – I figured that God even threw in my car dying and new used car shopping into the mix right now because why not?!!! Might as well process and change up EVERYTHING at once – in this good window of time before Christmas – then girl scout cookie season and then VBS… Fall is actually my “slow time” HA!!!!! God is a tinkerer of time…
Even though there is much more on my plate – I know that the Lord helps me control how I deal with it – and when – and everything i moderation – and I sample the complexities of life and really it is a picnic in His kingdom with Him telling me that I can handle – and He reminds me of the blessings of life – today one of my physical therapists and his wife had their baby – and yesterday a friend and I talked about His daughter’s improved health – yeah – whew – there are so many good things happening all around us…. My subaru – seems so minimal an issue – and honestly I think God held it together just long enough until my finances opened up some more breathing room this exact week – yeah the timing is crazy God’s hands all over it…
I am eating out of His hands – LOL – funny to think that way – but true – God keeps me tried and true – He is amazing… “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” – and trust me – i have a LOT of JOY right now and try not to say that boastfully – but in truth I have A LOT of JOY following HIM!!!!!
SMILES
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https://debbieupper.wordpress.com/2017/06/09/removing-anxiety-with-christ-23aug-426/
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Removing Anxiety with Christ, 23Aug2016
Convergent scriptures God placed in my sight, about being anxious – about learning to be content in all circumstances – and letting God lift us to JOY… Accepting that God has a plan for each of us means we have to work that plan WITH God in mind.
God tells us NOT to be anxious, that’s a tough one… Just as tough as God telling us NOT to be jealous, well that’s really tough if not impossible, because we are human… Yet we are to strive to remove jealousy and anxiousness…
Two sets of scriptures – telling of how our devotion to God relieves anxiety. . .
Paul letter to Philippians 4:5-7:
“The Lord is near. 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.”
God doubled back HIS reminder to me with the Psalm 94:19:17-19 scripture… Praises from David, the shepherd who became king:
“Unless the Lord had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.”
David saw his anxiety lifted not just to PEACE but ultimately to JOY…
God is not JUST saving us away from death and despair – BUT He wants to lift us even higher than that – to JOY.
Paul acknowledges and teaches in his letter to the Philippians (verse 2) that our devotion to Christ is to actually be found within us! Imitating Christ IS the path for us to follow, the LIGHT to find in our LIFE… we are to emulate Christ’s obedience by taking on the role of the servant – He calls for us to humble ourselves – for us to do everything without grumbling – to serve – to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill HIS good purpose.”
And Paul acknowledged that he also was STILL WORKING ON THIS!!!
In Philippians 3:12 – “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”….
In Philippians 4:9 – “not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ— the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
Paul was imprisoned and struggled – and yet Paul was still able to encourage others with his letters: Philippians 1:29-30 ” For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”
Paul suffered and acknowledges that we all suffer too, but Paul focuses on Jesus’s GIFT of salvation and urges us to as well. The scriptures give the “How” for moving forward and removing anxiety – IT’S CHRIST WORKING IN US: “13 I can do all this through HIM who gives me strength”.
This is NOT easy, it’s not instant, but it is God’s GIFT to us – We are to look to HIM and draw upon HIS strength within us. HIS strength is not external but internal. We are to focus- looking forward, be moved by the HOLY SPIRIT and look for the JOY that comes from devotion.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)
AMEN
Philippians 4 (NIV) – (Paul writing to the Philippians)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Thanks for Their Gifts
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 3:
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Following Paul’s Example
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Philippians 2 (NIV)
Imitating Christ’s Humility
2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Do Everything Without Grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.;
Philippians 1 (NIV)
Life Worthy of the Gospel
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Psalm 94 (NIV) from David
1 The Lord is a God who avenges.
O God who avenges, shine forth.
2 Rise up, Judge of the earth;
pay back to the proud what they deserve.
3 How long, Lord, will the wicked,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?
4 They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.
5 They crush your people, Lord;
they oppress your inheritance.
6 They slay the widow and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.
7 They say, “The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob takes no notice.”
8 Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
9 Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
11 The Lord knows all human plans;
he knows that they are futile.
12 Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,
the one you teach from your law;
13 you grant them relief from days of trouble,
till a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not reject his people;
he will never forsake his inheritance.
15 Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
17 Unless the Lord had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
19 When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.
20 Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—
a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?
21 The wicked band together against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the Lord has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
23 He will repay them for their sins
and destroy them for their wickedness;
the Lord our God will destroy them.
Debbie Upper 