Pressure

It's in the crucible's of life that we find out who we really are. It's easy to appear pious and full of faith when things are rolling along well. It's another thing to walk displaying the fruit of the Spirit when the pressure is on, nothing is going right, and you're hard-pressed on every side.

But, there is good news-

Somewhere in that crucible, somewhere in the fire, silver and gold is refined. The impurities are removed from our lives. In the pressing of the grapes, a fine wine is made.

The Bible says,

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. From Chapter 1 of the book of James, ESV.

Let's count our trials joy today. And let's let steadfastness, or patience, have it's perfect work, that we may be perfect and complete.

Lacking in nothing.

Lazy Sunday

As I get more honest with myself, and learn to be aware of how I am feeling, I get to see some things in me that I don't really like. Things I never would have thought I struggled with or dealt with in my life are becoming more apparent. My supposed, "I don't really struggle with that" syndrome is wearing off, at least a little bit...

One thing I have learned is that I can be a very controlling, and I believe, therefore anxious person. Uptight, worry-full, stressed out to the MAX... whatever you want to call it.

The other day I spent time reading over some Scriptures directly related to worry, including this one:

...casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 ESV.

I was laden with fear and worry at the time over a specific thing, and the Scriptures helped me to hang on to another way of thinking. A more godly way of thinking. A heavenly way of thinking. Jesus' way of thinking.

All my fear and worry can cause me to be preoccupied and disconnected from the task at hand, especially when it comes to my family. Instead of giving them my full attention, they get leftovers, if there are any. My body is there, but my mind is elsewhere.

So why "Lazy Sunday"? Today was a wonderful day of anything but worry-full and anxious. I've had to work hard at it, fighting moment to moment sometimes to keep from giving in to the anxieties that can invade my mind. But there has been definite progress.

This picture of my daughter on our swing was a perfect snapshot of my heart today - carefree and peaceful. I was able to enjoy my family more, laugh more, and not be weighed down and preoccupied about "stuff." Stuff that didn't go away, mind you. The stuff still exists, but God is helping me to walk day by day without worry, even in the midst of the potential anxieties of life. God didn't promise that life wouldn't throw at us things that might cause us to worry, but He did say that He would be with us in the midst of it.

So praise God... for His Word and His love towards us. And how He empowers us to live with peace and joy in the midst of the chaos of life.

Be Anxious... For Nothing

The Bible says, do not be anxious about anything. I needed to hear that today. I was getting all tore up about life and as a result, was filled with anxiety. Then this verse came back to me. It goes on...

...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Let your requests... Which I would say, means ALL your requests or anxieties. In other words, cast everything on Him. All your anxieties. Don't hold anything back for yourself to get stressed about. Give it all to Him. And as the next verse says...

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

Deep sigh...

Yea. I needed that today. Maybe you did too.