NO Fretting Allowed!

NO FRETTING

Fretting, worrying, complaining, striving, agonizing over—they all imply the same thing. And left to ourselves, every single one of us will engage in these undesirable attributes.  Not only do they sap our strength and make us feel terrible, they are in direct opposition to what God desires for us.  He wants us to trust Him and rest in His peace.  He wants us to commit all of our ways to Him and to wait patiently for His response.  When we commit our way to the Lord, He supernaturally imparts His peace to our troubled souls.  And yes, that is something we so desperately need.

I have been a Christian for quite some time now, but yet all too often I find myself slipping back into those old habits of fretting.  I commonly disguise this term by saying, “I’m not worrying, I’m just concerned over this matter.”  As if in some way being “concerned” sounds more pious and holy!  I mean, after all, I should know better. The Holy Spirit has recently given me direct revelation that all the “concerns” that I fret over are sinful and grieve Him.  It implies that I don’t fully trust God concerning my circumstances, and therefore, must fret over them.  Nothing could be farther from the truth! Not only is God sovereign over the entire universe, He is quite sovereign over every little detail of my life too!  Why would I ever doubt that?  I guess, in my frail human condition, I periodically need to be reminded. 

Once again, I was led to the Scriptures…specifically the promises contained therein that the Lord will never leave me nor forsake me, that He is my Rock, my Refuge, my shelter in the storm. That He loves me unconditionally and forgives me continuously. I praise God for His many unconditional and conditional promises because they truly bring me hope and deep peace. They allow me to rest in Him knowing that He will always be victorious.  When my focus is inward and not upward, I easily become overwhelmed.  When I am overwhelmed, I become consumed with myself, and when I am consumed with myself, I fail to see God’s hand working in my life.  Maybe just maybe He allows some of those difficulties to draw me closer to Himself.  To seek after Him more fervently while down in the valley. To experience His presence even in the trials and hardships of life. He truly is the Only answer to all of life and everything that concerns me.  I guess I just need reminders now and again. 

Even so, I am thankful that God so graciously grabs my attention, especially when I become fretful, because I have learned that in my own strength I will always falter.  When life becomes chaotic and my own strength wanes, it is then that I am always, always reminded to go back to the Source; the Living Water; the Bread of Life—Jesus.   Ahhh, and when I do, He always delivers.  I envision Him reaching out His loving hand for me to take ahold of, as He gently binds up my wounds with His heavenly salve.  He does not desire for me to be weary and heavy-laden.  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28). As I come to Him unloading all my burdens, I am reminded that He alone is the great Burden-bearer.  Only His shoulders are strong enough to carry all that concerns me.  Under the crushing weight of my own cross, I only stumble and fall.  But when Jesus walks alongside me, helping me to carry my cross, my burdens become lighter. I am reminded of the One who walks with me, carrying me, comforting me, guiding me, and ministering to my weary soul.  I am filled with new strength and vigor for the journey ahead.

If we fret and place all of our focus inwardly, we will lose out on the joy of the journey. We became saddled with confusion and doubt as to any future outcome.  But the secret things belong to the Lord. And the future is the “secret” things.  If we could just learn to walk with the Lord, step by step, day by day, not being so concerned about what has not yet even occurred, what peace would invade our souls!  Why, we don’t even know if we will be here to witness all of our deepest fears and concerns!  Jesus reminds us that we are but a mist that is here for a little while and then is gone.  Why do we waste such precious time fretting and worrying about something that may not even happen? Why do we become so consumed with ourselves?  When we do, we are not able to help advance the kingdom of God.  I cannot help but think that the Lord is grieved when all of our focus becomes inward.  After all, as Christians, the ultimate goal of our existence is to bring glory to God.  How much glory can we bring to God when we doubt, fret, and are overcome with concern only for ourselves? Now, I am not implying that we don’t have legitimate cares and burdens that we carry.  It is what we do with those burdens that matters.  Do we complain and grumble and run to the phone?  Or, do we take all of our burdens to the throne?  “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life” (Philippians 2:14-16).

Jesus told us we would have troubles in this world but we are to take heart for He has overcome the world.  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). I believe one of the best things we can do after we pour out our hearts to God and lay all of our worries at His feet, is to leave them there.  That’s right.  Once we give them to God, leave them there and don’t pick them up again.  When the urge to fret comes again, and believe me, it will—immediately talk to God, reminding Him you believe that He is sovereign over your circumstances, and thanking Him in advance for working all things out for your good.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).  By continually rehearsing the same prayers over and over again, we sound like a broken record. Worst of all, our attitude indicates that we don’t believe God heard us the first time around.  Instead of repeating the same requests continuously, can we start to praise God for the answers we know are already on the way?  We may not see them with our physical eyes yet, but that doesn’t mean God isn’t working.  In fact, He is always working behind the scenes.  We just don’t “see” because we are looking for tangible evidence.  But God often works in very intangible ways.  We can’t see what is going on in our loved one’s hearts, but that doesn’t mean God isn’t at work.  We may not see the outcome we desire, but that doesn’t mean God isn’t working overtime to prepare others and us to receive His answer. Let us do what we can do—pray, trust, and believe, and leave the ultimate outcome with God.  He is not powerless, and nothing is too difficult for Him.  

Our responsibility is to stay closely connected to God, stop fretting, and start believing. Yes, even in the seemingly impossible circumstances. For truly nothing is impossible with God. “What is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). He longs to bless His children, to reveal His glory in and through our lives, and to answer our requests.  We must never forget to trust Him, commit our ways to Him, and delight ourselves in the Lord.  And when we can do that with abandoned hearts, guess what?  He will give us the desires of our heart.  And maybe that desire is nothing more than a peace that surpasses all understanding, and a willingness to carry our cross, our burdens, with the greatest Burden-bearer of all—Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:3-4

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27

Fear Not

There is no emotion known to man as debilitating as fear. Fear causes panic, dread, fright and apprehension and produces a stressful reaction to the body. It has a paralyzing effect as it renders one unable to think logically or act intelligently. It has a mind of its very own and can lead to a downward spiral very quickly. The opposite of fear is peace. Where fear causes trepidation and angst, peace offers a still calmness and tranquility.

True peace is a gift from God. It is total well-being and inner rest of spirit, no matter what your circumstances may be. Jesus’ peace is real and present and the only antidote to a troubled heart. Have you ever taken notice how many times in the Bible Jesus commands us not to be troubled or afraid? God knew that left to ourselves we would wallow in self-pity and be consumed by fear. Yet He also provided us with everything we need to overcome this fear—Faith. Our faith in Jesus’ ability to rescue us from the storms of life is what overcomes our fears.

Fear has been a part of mankind from the very beginning. Fear crept into humans after the serpent tempted Adam and Eve to sin. In Chapter 3 of Genesis when God was calling to Adam and Eve, Adam answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” In Deuteronomy 1 when the spies were sent out to look over the land that the Lord was giving the Israelites, God commanded them not to be afraid or discouraged. In Joshua 1:9 again God commanded the Israelites to be strong and courageous and not to be terrified or discouraged for He Himself would be with them wherever they went. In Matthew 8 when the disciples were in the boat with Jesus and the furious storm came upon them, they were filled with fear. After they awakened Jesus He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Later when they saw Jesus walking on the water they were again terrified and thought they saw a ghost. Jesus immediately told them to take courage and not to be afraid (Matthew 14:29). At another time when Jesus was speaking to a crowd, some men came from the house of Jairus, a synagogue ruler, and told him that his daughter was dead. Ignoring what they said, Jesus told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe!” (Mark 5:35-36)

I believe all these Biblical stories were preserved as examples to not allow fear to overtake and consume us. Psalm 56:3 confirms that in this world we will have fears. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. It does not say, if I am afraid, it says when I am afraid. In other words, we will have moments when we are afraid. Tom Holladay, a pastor of Saddleback Church says, "We may want a life of no fears, but that only happens in heaven. In this life we're all going to face fears of one kind or another." At this time in my life that is very reassuring to me as I have been facing my own fears about my impending surgery. I have come to learn that when we become fearful, we must immediately focus our eyes on Jesus and let Him fight our battles for us. Prayer is God’s prescription for our troubled and fearful hearts. When we pray it takes the focus off of us and onto God. The more we pray, the more we experience God’s peace. The ironic thing is that Jesus Himself said that in this world we will have troubles, but He also said that we are to take heart, for He has overcome the world. When we are worried and anxious, we must pray. When we find ourselves becoming angry or bitter, we must pray. When we are fearful, we must go to God in prayer. In fact, we should go to God in prayer over everything and often. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7.

When we cast our cares upon Jesus, something supernatural occurs. We become filled with a peace that truly surpasses all understanding. How wonderful to know that we are loved and tenderly taken care of by the God who created the Universe, and to know that we are His prized possessions, the apple of His eye. Anything that concerns us, concerns Him. Furthermore, He is the One who holds the entire Universe in His hands and can do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ever ask or imagine. He asks us to allow our faith in Him to overcome any fears that we have. I believe that coming to His throne room of grace in authentic worship and prayer is what moves God to act on our behalf. He delights in giving His children blessings and peace. "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him." Matthew 7:11

When you pray, don’t forget to add thanksgiving to your conversation with God. When you add thankfulness, especially during difficult times, you are praying a “by faith” prayer. By faith, you believe that God is who He says He is, that His Word is true, and that He will cause all things to work for good for those who love him. Thankfulness moves beyond what you may “feel” to acknowledge God’s behind-the-scenes work in the world and in your life regardless of what you may visibly see. Sometimes His work is apparent and visible; sometimes it is not. Thankfulness acknowledges that no matter what the outcome, you believe that He is able and that He is good—all of the time.

Next time fear begins to rear its ugly head, cast your burdens on the Lord and immediately lay them at the foot of the cross. Remember that overcoming fears may involve a process, and is not necessarily automatic, especially if you feel the fear coming back. The enemy of your soul, Satan, wants you to remain fearful and will try everything he can to keep you anxious, worried, and frightened. Remain steadfast and don't give up, but keep bringing your concerns and fears to the Lord through honest prayer and petition. Fill your mind with the perfect Word of God and then allow Yahweh Shalom, the Lord of Peace, to bestow on you His divine favor and fill you with His perfect peace. He will do it, for He who promised is faithful.

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:1-3

Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. John 14:27

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7

Are you a Worry-Wart?

Do you ever find yourself day-dreaming about your future, or maybe the state of the economy, or the spiritual decline of our nation and before you know it you become anxious and unsettled? Or maybe you find yourself obsessively thinking about your kids, what they are doing or watching, or the choices they are making, and you begin to worry about their health and well-being? I know that I am guilty of fretting over things that I have absolutely no control over. Furthermore, worrying quickly opens the door to yet another very destructive emotion—FEAR. So why do I worry? We all know what an inefficient use of time worrying is. In fact, over 90% of what we worry about never even comes to pass. Yet, many of us to choose to engage in it on a regular basis. It is important to note that there is a difference between worrying about something and being concerned about it. Whereas worrying immobilizes, genuine concern moves one to action.

Because worrying is so detrimental to one’s health and faith-life, Jesus strongly warns us not to worry. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

The bible gives us 7 reasons not to worry:

1. The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life.
2. Worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today.
3. Worrying is more harmful than helpful.
4. God does not ignore those who depend on Him.
5. Worry shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God.
6. There are real challenges God wants us to pursue, and worrying keeps us from them.
7. Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry.

When we chose to worry, we forfeit our peace. More importantly, worry reveals a lack of faith in God’s control. Psalm 37:5-7 says, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” When God tells us to “commit our way” to Him, he wants us to entrust everything to Him—our lives, our families, our jobs, our possessions, and our future. He wants us to loosen our grip and give Him control. Committing ourselves to God means trusting in Him. Trusting that He can take far better care of us and everything that concerns us and patiently waiting for him to work out what is best. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? The real test of faith is whether or not you can do that.

Now faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. Hebrews 11:1 I just love that verse. It is such divine truth. If we knew the outcome, if we could see it all, it simply would not be faith. We would be trusting in ourselves, not in God. True faith drops a letter in the mailbox and lets it go, trusting that a response is forthcoming. Worry and distrust holds onto a corner of it, and wonders why the answer never comes. Holding onto the corner doesn’t produce a response, does it? It will not accomplish a thing until we let it go out of our hands and trust the postman and the mail system to get the letter to its desired recipient. This is how it is with true faith. It hands over its case to God, and leaves it with Him, trusting that He will work it out.

Worrying is a very destructive emotion that reveals a lack of faith that God loves us and is in control over our lives. It is also a very “inward focus”. Next time you find yourself beginning to worry, take a “time out.” Find a place where you can commune with God, give Him all your worries, and ask for His peace to rain down on you. This will give you an “upward focus”, and not allow you to dwell inwardly on your problems or worries. If you focus your attention on God and His goodness, He promises you will find peace.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

God's Favorite Fruit

Anyone who knows me well knows just how much I love to EAT! In fact, I

love to eat all kinds of foods from all five food groups. I truly savor all sorts of foods with varying textures, smells, and tastes. But I do believe that some of my absolute favorite foods are fruits ripened and in season. Take a big, juicy strawberry, for instance. Or how how about fresh blackberries, peaches, nectarines, and exotic fruits such as kiwi and mangos? My mouth waters just thinking about how delicious they taste. How about you? What type of fruit do you savor and long for?

My mind turns to yet another type of fruit—heavenly fruit. It is the fruit that gets God’s full and undivided attention. It is not edible, of course. Yet it is a fruit that God honors and unequivocally savors. It is called the “fruit of the Spirit” and its effects last much longer than the edible kind.

As Christians growing in the Lord, God calls us to possess these qualities in increasing measure. Now, I have to be brutally honest. How is it possible to always be lovable, joyful, peaceful, patient, and kind? How can I always have goodness, gentleness, and faithfulness in my heart? Let us not forget self-control, which I believe is one of the most difficult character traits to possess.

Early in my walk with Christ I remember asking God specifically for these fruits of the Spirit. “Please Lord, give me love, give me joy, give my peace, give me patience, give me, give me, give me.” Now, please don’t misunderstand me. My heart was in the right place, but I was somewhat misinformed. I soon found out that there is no way my human sinful nature could display all of these wonderful virtues in my life day in and day out. I would try to be loving, patient, and kind and some days I did pretty well. Then the next day would roll around and for some reason I lacked patience and self-control. Of course, I’d blame it on hormonal imbalance or my kids. I quickly began a self-defeating, downward spiral believing that I would never be able to possess all of these wonderful character traits. Frustratingly, I concluded that I just didn’t have what it takes.

Fortunately, God loves me enough to clarify His Word to me. My eyes were opened and I found new hope as I began to understand that I would never be able to master the fruits of the Spirit in my own strength. I learned that the Holy Spirit is working spontaneously in me to produce these character traits and only as I fill myself with Him will I ever be able to exhibit these stellar qualities. Simply put, they are by-products of living under His control. God lovingly taught me that the more I submitted to His control, the easier it would be for me to be loving, joyful, or patient. I realized that the Holy Spirit is the one who possesses all of these qualities and I can’t obtain them in my own strength or get them without his help. In short, I can not bypass a relationship with Him. These qualities are the very nature of Jesus Christ and as I join my life with His and make my relationship with Him a priority, He will begin to produce these traits in me in increasing measure.

Will I still mess up and lack self-control or patience at times? I know I will. But through God’s forgiveness and grace He will enable me to begin again. Thank goodness, He doesn’t give up on me as easily as I do myself! Together, we’ll tackle these virtues that need to be perfected. I know he’ll lovingly teach and guide me because He’s invested a lot in me. And he thinks I’m worth it!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Gal 5:22.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lam 3:23