This Life So Often Scares Me

 

Growing up as a melancholy personality, I viewed life from an overly dramatic lens. Intense fluctuations in emotions warped my perception of events in my life.

Living with an overbearing and controlling father made me fear my own shadow. My mom enroll me in Girl Scouting, and even served as troop mom when necessary, to help me to develop self-esteem and confidence.

I still felt like a little mouse in a huge and frightening world. What I viewed as overwhelming difficulties hung like anchors around my neck. Trials devastated me.

As I aged, I viewed life and people suspiciously. I taught people to abuse me because of my insecurities; then, I followed my dad's behavior and used anger to protect myself.

Thankfully, God redeemed me at age 18. He started to sanctify me from one stage of glory to the next (2 Corinthians 3:18) and brought increasing healing to my soul 

( www.theophostic.com ).

I gradually realized that I am already dead, and my life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3-4). I have an everlasting refuge under His wings, which shelter me from life (Psalm 91).

He taught me not to depend on human might and reasoning to solve problems, but to wait on Him and to trust in Him (Matthew 28:20; Proverbs 3:5-6). He will successfully settle every issue for my eventual good (Romans 8:28).

Now, I embrace life's negative events with faith and serenity, knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ dwells within me with all the power of the triune Godhead (Colossians 1:27). 

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for teaching me the Serenity Principle: You give us healing, courage, wisdom and divine revelation to resolve issues, which arise in our life; or the opportunity to give them to You by leaving them in Your capable hands.

(http://www.lords-prayer-words.com/famous_prayers/god_grant_me_the_serenity.html )

Remind us to realize that You already prearranged for a solution for every problem, which would ever happen to us. Help us to realize that we are just fine in this moment of time, and You abide within us to help us in every trial. You know the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10), and You have a perfect plan for each and every life (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 2:10).

Thought for the Day:

God gives us a seed for a miracle with every trial He ever permits in our life; we just have to look for it. - Job 42:12

Many thanks to Matt Milligan for the use of his photo.

Freedom from Negative Thoughts and Emotions

 

Our behavior and emotions are fueled by our thoughts (Proverbs 23:7). We act out what our soul - our mind, will and emotions - is experiencing. However, once we spend time analyzing our thoughts, and coming to a complete understanding of what is really bothering us, then we can go to God for healing.

When negative emotions are controlling us, then we are not totally surrendered to the will of God in our life. Trusting God with our hurt and insecurities will insure that we will gain His perspective on them. He will reveal to us the lie, which Satan planted in our mind and His truth about the issue.    ( www.theophostic.com )

We fight Satan's deception by drawing near to God and then resisting the devil, so that He will have to flee from us (James 4:7). Too often we look at a person's outward behavior and detest them for it, or try to change it, but issues in their inner soul are causing their behavior. Once we denounce Satan's deceptive stronghold in our life, we are set free to see the problem from God's perspective.

Yet, at other times, our thoughts and emotions are based on real problems, such as abuse, neglect, deprivation or a myriad of other concerns. This is when we need to find help from law officers, counselors, our pastor or a caring friend. They will assist us in finding alternate living arrangements to protection us from the behavior, which is killing our soul and our body.

Prayer:

Father God, this evil world is so full of issues, which try our soul. When Satan's deception is added to the mix, our soul is often depressed and overwhelmed. You give us ideas to rearrange our life or our activities, which are fueling these negative thoughts and emotions. Enable our Born Again spirit to rise above these problems and to find our solace in You. Remind us that even if our physical or emotional conditions never change, we still have Christ in us, who is our eternal hope of glory, now in our inner being and also for eternity.

Thought for the Day:

When we sense the battle going on in our soul, we can surrender our thought, emotions and behavior to God's Spirit and He will conform our mind and transform our nature into the mind and divine nature of Christ. - 2 Peter 1:4; Romans 7:15-19, 12:2

The Unkown God

 

Paul found a statue on Mars Hill to the Unknown God. He gave a life-changing message that day. After listening to His eloquent exposition of the prophetic words of the Old Testament, many came to know and trust Christ as their Savior. Trusting in an unseen God with our whole heart and relinquishing our power is ludicrous to most people. That is why so few people ever come to the place of total surrender to God. We learn from childhood that life will dominate us if we do not rise up and subdue it.

We use our own efforts to make the wisest choices we can and to recover from our mistakes (Isaiah 64:6). The older we get, however, the more we realize that no matter how many management courses we take, life has a tendency to squeeze out of the mold we create for it. God is the only being capable of controlling life. Surrendering to His love and wisdom brings serenity to our life. God provides balance to our chaos, by leading us on His perfect path.

Relinquishing control of our will is the most monumental struggle any human being has to face. We start with repenting of our sin of unbelief and asking Jesus to save us (Romans 10:13; John 3:18). Then we pray without ceasing as we live out each day (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). God often requires that we walk to the edge of all the light we have and then take one giant step into the darkness. This requires a great deal of faith in God’s faithfulness. Only as we obey God’s direction we will see the reasons for His commands.

As we learn the Bible and follow the truths within each page, we will no longer stumble around in the dark. God’s Word provides a light for our path and a lamp for our feet (Psalm 119:105). God leads us in a level path because of our enemies (Psalm 27:11). God tries us and knows our ways (Psalm 139:23). The Word also searches our heart and reveals the hidden things we try to keep secret (Proverbs 20:27). As we relinquish each of our fears and sins to God, then His Spirit rises up within us and fills us with His fruit (Galatians 5:22-23).

God teaches us to live with confidence in Him as He leads us by His Spirit. We walk in perfect peace and fulfillment (Isaiah 30:15). We no longer need to worry about what we will eat or drink, where we will live or how we will pay our bills (Matthew 6:25-33). We take His yoke upon us and learn from Him (Matthew 11:28-30). His yoke helps us to carry our burdens and prevents us from wandering off in the wrong direction. We silence the foolishness of unbelievers by living a righteous life (1 Peter 2:15).

Prayer:

Father God, the secret of having faith is living in Your will. Faith is not some explosive power that we wield in order to lavish our self with worldly goods. Instead, it is the ability to obey Your desire for our life. Faith does not move Your hand, but it moves us to obey You. We live in gratitude as you reveal Your will to us moment by moment throughout the day (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Renew our thoughts. Remind us to trust in You with our whole heart, and to seek You before we even get out of bed in the morning (Romans 12:2: Proverbs 3:5-6). Faith indeed moves mountains; however, we must first make sure that You want it moved (Philippians 2:13).

Thought for the Day:

Regardless of where we work, where we live or how much income we make, we can all follow God’s Spirit moment by moment throughout the day.