Anxiety, I fight back!

I feel anxiety knocking at my door today.  My mind can race and my heart can chase it with more beats and win!  How do I calm my anxious heart?  This morning I have nestled in with comforting Scripture and my creative side has gone crazy posting verses to instagram and facebook:



I have found comfort in a beautiful song, Psalm 91 by Sons of Korah, posted by Ann Voskamp this morning.  It reminded of a day long ago when I was unable to sleep at all because of fear.  The next morning I opened my Bible to Proverbs 3:21-26.  I didn't look up this passage, God truly opened it to the page!   It says in verse 24, "you can go to bed without fear;  you will lie down and sleep soundly."  Unbelievable!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvhWTWpNWL0

I've found Ann's #nofearnewyear words of encouragement so sweet to my soul this early 2015.  I few moments ago I looked up some dates in my journal about fear and victory.  When I read the following entry,  I knew I had to share it.  I am not going to change it.  This is what November 7, 2012 felt like to me.  I can still relate to that Julie and find great peace in God's answers to my fears.  Here is the post from 2 years ago, typos and all, may it comfort any of you who are anxious today:

·      11/7/12

I'm lost this morning.  Need to get a grip.  Posting verses on  facebook about TRUST, guess I SHOULD!  Now the vulnerable truth (and not just because of the election, just, well, you'll see...) 

Which worry should I cross off first?  The one about the bad rap lyrics?  The one about our country?  The one about needing GRACE for the tender hearts of the girls who will come here tonight?  The one about school board projects?  The one about how to make Christmas meaningful, and what it will look like financially, physically as we prepare to go to Haiti, emotionally, as it is the last one with Kristen living here as a high schooler?  The one that wonders, am I border-line depressed, or just normal right now?  The one that is guilty for being selfishly introspective?  The one about heartbreak from cancer?  The east coast in the cold and dark and another storm coming?  The grief and fears of those I love?  The "what-ifs?"  The darkness, coldness, wetness?  The FAFSA I need to fill out? 

HE comes, HE does, HE hears, HE cares, HE knows.  What about all my thankfuls?  More than I can count, God, family, friends, job, warmth, food, people to love and love shown to me!  More blessings than I can fathom, and most of all, eternity with Jesus!  See, HE Is working it out with me this morning.  HE is faithful.  "Faithful is HE that calls, HE also will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:24  This is truth.

Isaiah 40:10-14
"See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
    and his arm rules for him.
See, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?
13 Who has understood the mind of the Lord,
    or instructed him as his counselor?
14 Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge
    or showed him the path of understanding?"

All of this is meaningless, sinful fear!  MY "PLATFORM" IS DON'T FEAR!!!  That is because I have to fight fear!  2 Timothy 1:7!!  It can not win!!  That is why I write this morning, to work it out today.   That is why I can say, these are arrows from the enemy (Revelation 12:10-11)!  Either HE IS GOD or not!  HE IS!!  Come on Julie!  The mind of the Spirit, Romans 8, thoughts Philippians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Psalm 112:7-8, choices, Deut 30:19-20, protection, Psalm 91, 121, Isaiah 54:17, our children, Lamentations 2:19, Colossians 1:9-14, the power of THE WORD OF GOD, Hebrews 4:12, Proverbs 4:21-22, John 15:7-8, Jeremiah 23:39. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Garden and grief, a beautiful place to be real

Image
So I said in my last post that "I can't see the trees." It's true.  And you can't just snap your fingers and be teleported to the other side of grief.  I've only written a few times this year, but when I write, I don't hold back.  In my case, grief is about my brother taking his life at age of 47, and losing a dear friend to cancer a few months later.  Its true what's been said, you can't go around it, you must go through it.   But I have a Great Shepherd leading me through the desert.  This is not about pulling yourself of by your own boot straps, or faking joy, or mustering up the "right" feelings.  It's about truth transcending our feelings, and being OK with both, truth and feelings.  It's about being real. There is a movement in suicide awareness called Project Semicolon.  It is to signify to suicide survivors and those who are pressing on with mental illness to keep going.  Do not put a period on your story, ther...
Read more

Does your bag have a hole in it? That can be a good thing! Get free of baggage!!

Image
Miles in the bag? Yeah, that's good!  But it does not define me!  Measurements!  They can be so conflicting!  It is good to have goals, to move forward, to make progress, but to what end?  If you are like me, the bag that holds your miles has a big hole in it!  There's never enough!  By the grace of God, I've been on a life long journey learning that running with a hole in your bag can be a good thing!   Now I picture a wind sock instead of a bag.  Let those miles fall out the bottom!  Try that one on!   A banner trailing me that is empty .  My hope is that the empty banner  I carry is filled with the full wind of God!   If you struggle with measurements you can find peace here today. God actually discourages comparison by measurement when done for the wrong reasons. Paul had heard that people were talking about they way he did ministry and comparing him to others.  He explains the importa...
Read more

Monday

Image
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au3otElq6D4 I am They, King of Love The King of Love my Shepherd is Whose goodness faileth never I nothing lack if I am His  And He is mine forever And He is mine forever Where streams of living water flow My ransomed soul He leadeth And where the verdant pastures grow With food celestial feedeth Never failing, Ruler of my heart Everlasting, Lover of my soul On the mountain high or in the valley low The King of Love my Shepherd is The King of Love my Shepherd is Lost and foolish off I strayed But yet in love He sought me And on His shoulder gently laid And home rejoicing brought me In death’s dark veil I fear no ill With Thee, dear Lord, beside me Thy rod and staff my comfort still Thy cross before to guide me Never failing, Ruler of my heart Everlasting, Lover of my soul On the mountain high or in the valley low The King of Love my Shepherd is The King of Love my Shepherd is ...
Read more