Anxiety

Put That Down, Atlas

/ Chris Courtney / Leave a comment

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. – Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. – Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

Confession time: I am a control freak.  I overthink everything.  I need to know what the outcome of any action will be so I can weigh the possible pitfalls and calamities before I decide to proceed.  I’d probably be a great risk analyst for some insurance company.

There is great wisdom in counting the cost before moving forward.  However, it is important to understand this: we are not in control.  None of us decides the outcome of any endeavor in our lives.  Indeed, the results of our very lives themselves are wholly and entirely in the hands of God.

You have probably seen the sculpture of Atlas, the Greek mythological titan.  There he stands, straining to carry the entire world upon his shoulders.  An apt illustration of those of us who strive for perfection, or feel it is our job to be in control of everything.

What egos we have…

The lesson here is simple, but not always easy to apply.  We make our plans.  We do what we feel we ought.  But, when it comes to the outcome, we need to not worry.  We are called to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness – His will and His ways.  We are not called to worry about the end results.

The simple fact of the matter is none of us is Atlas.  The world will crush us beneath it’s immense weight.  We are human.  We make mistakes.  Calamities and actions outside of our “control” happen all the time.  It is impossible to know the outcome of our actions.

The only assurance we have in this world is God and His Word.  We are called to have faith, to trust the Lord.  And, in that trust, we find our rest.  Go, do your best.  Commit your work as if unto the Lord.  But, don’t try to carry the world on your shoulders.  That is just way too much for our pay grade.

Run (or Location is Everything)

/ Chris Courtney / Leave a comment

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. – Psalm 46:1-3 (KJV)

I keep scanning the real estate ads for just the right spot to run to: “Secluded cave, 500 sq. ft., wooded surroundings.  Close to home yet far from civilization.  Electric, water, high speed Internet.  Ideal hiding place to escape all that stress!”

I have yet to find such a listing.

There are days I just want to run.  Run away from the stress.  Run away from the doubt and worry.  Run away from myself and everyone else.

The problem with problems is that they are an inescapable fact of life on this earth.  “In this world, you will have trouble,” or so Jesus warned us.  But He didn’t stop there: “Take heart!  Be happy! I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33).

When facing life’s obstacles, we are not supposed to run away from them.  The only running we are to do is to God.  In Him we find our shelter, our strength, our guidance – whatever equipping we need to face today and the challenges we face.

Paul, when hounded by “a messenger of Satan”, begged the Lord three times to rid him of this “thorn in my flesh”.  But Jesus did not remove the thorn.  He did not take away the problem.  “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV).

When we try to run from our problems and fears, all we do is make things worse.  We can take a vacation from them, perhaps.  But after a week on the beach, we return home to discover those problems are still there.  Perhaps the Lord is trying to tell us something.  Maybe, just maybe, He has a purpose for all those nagging troubles that keep plaguing us.

When you run, where are you going?  Are you trying to run away from the things that trouble you or cause you pain?  Or are you running to our Loving Heavenly Father for help?

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. – Psalm 121 (KJV)

Open

/ Chris Courtney / Leave a comment

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. – Psalms 119:18 (ESV)

God is a God of wonder.  Everything about Him gives cause for amazement.  His ways are far greater than ours, His creation is far beyond any human “invention”, His love for us is astounding beyond full comprehension.

If we are viewing our lives as bleak, or hopeless, or without meaning, perhaps we aren’t opening our eyes wide enough. Familiarity breeds contempt, and we can easily get lulled into a sense of complacency.  We are anesthetized by comforts (at least here in the western world), and believe we deserve all the good stuff we receive.

The truth is, if we begin to feel that spiritual numbing, we need to change our focus.  if something is drawing us away from God in all His wonder and awe, we need to earnestly seek Christ.

With open eyes.

With an open mind.

With an open heart.

When we do this, we find He is there waiting for us, with open arms.

What is keeping you from opening yourself wide and running to Jesus?  Is it guilt or sin?  Self loathing or doubt?  Too busy or worried or overwrought to give God a second thought?  Burned by religion?  Hurt by believers?  Afraid of what family or others might think?

Whatever it is, whatever is hurting or hindering you, I ask you to stop, find a few minutes, grab your Bible, and just talk with God.  Tell Him what’s going on.  Open your heart and mind to hear what He has to say.  Trust Him.  He is not a human being.  People will let you down.  God will not.

Cast off your anxiety.  Toss off your burdens.  Walk away from the past.  Ask the Lord for forgiveness.  Embrace His love, not the lies others have told you.  Don’t wait to feel loved.  Accept it on faith!  Know that God is with you, God is for you, God is far beyond any barriers or attempts to box Him in.

Be open with God.  Rest in His goodness.  Seek the Lord.  He is there for you, open and ready to love you, no matter what.  Open your eyes to see Him.  Open your heart to receive Him.

Romans 12 Resolution

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Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:2 (ESV)

Today we bid a fond farewell to 2014.  For some of us, “goodbye” seems not quite as fitting as “good riddance.”  However this past year went down for you, the New Year always springs forth with hope – a clean slate, a chance to afresh, a whole new year ahead, brimming with promise.

Many people will make New Year’s resolutions. Most will not keep them, either because they planned no follow through on setting their goals, or they’re waiting for a genie to pop out of a bottle and fulfill their wishes.  Perhaps we approach the idea of change all wrong.

We all have aspects of our lives and ourselves that we want – need – to change.  But before we change our behavioral patterns, we have to first change our thought patterns.  We have to change how we view the world around us, other people, ourselves.  (When the Bible says we are to love others as ourselves, it is not a prescription for self loathing.  The Lord is telling us to love others just as much!)

Romans 12 lays out a great set of parameters for a transformational New Year’s resolution: to truly live out what it means to follow Christ.  But, before we can do that, we have to change our thinking – “renew our minds” – and be transformed (literally metamorphosed) from conformity to the world’s ways of thinking and acting to God’s will and ways.

It isn’t easy.  Be ready to face opposition.  Be prepared to be tempted.  But be strong in the Lord.  Commit to Him and keep following His Word.  Trust in the Lord.  Stay in Scripture every day and, as Paul says, pray without ceasing.  Love others first.  Accept God’s grace.  Quit beating yourself up.  Stop trying to change everything by your own power then feeling defeated.

2015 is upon us.  Ring out the old, ring in the new!  Take some time to prayerfully read Romans 12 and make a commitment to change.  You are not the one doing the transforming.  God is.  But, we are called to be faithful in doing what the Lord calls each of us to do.  So keep on truckin’.  Keep following Jesus.  Trust Him, follow Him, seek Him, watch for Him.  Don’t worry about the results.  That’s God’s department.

Have a blessed and wonderful New Year!