Read the Bible to Your Anxiety

Dr. John Piper takes on anxiety in this three-part video series. Click here.

Love this excerpt:

"Jesus assumes that truth — reasons, arguments, facts — affects or influences the emotions. Anxiety is an emotion. It is not a decision. We don’t decide to get anxious. It happens to us. Jesus attacks anxiety in Matthew 6 with truth, facts, promises, and reasons."

Store Up God's Word

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Ps. 119:11, ESV

Merriam Webster definition for stored: lay away; accumulate; to stack against a future time, to place or leave in a location for preservation or later use…a source from which things may be drawn as needed; a reserve fund; an abundance.

Stick some of that definition in the verse above and it might look like this: I have stocked up, accumulated, reserved an abundance of your word in my heart in order that I may draw from it as needed so that I won’t sin against you.

I’m thinking God wants His Word to be the spiritual weapon I use to nail my sinful nature to the cross.

Praise God, Exalt the Name of Jesus

No matter what is going on in your mind, heart, or life right now, praise God. Sing His praises and remember you belong to Christ. Keep Jesus exalted in your mind over every thing because no thing is greater than your Savior.  He chose you, called you, redeemed you, justified you. He will enable you to stand, and stand you will. God is faithful, no matter how it feels or looks right now. God is watching over you. Praising Him will strengthen you and encourage you, and help you get rid of "stinkin thinkin".

You are loved and precious to God. You can have fellowship with Jesus. Keep your eyes on the goal--complete union with Christ, following His example and His leading.  Remember what the Lord told Peter--"You follow me".  Let everyone else and everything else go, entrust them to God, and you follow Christ. He is your refuge and your strength. He is your life!

God Knows

Never believe the lie that God doesn't know what's going on in your life. He knows. He not only knows what's happening, He knows your every thought. (Ps. 139) The Lord proved to me this evening that He knows even things that we ponder out of curiosity. He is the ever-present Lord! Lean closer in to Him. Quiet yourself and allow Him to speak to your heart as you "pour out your heart like water before the Lord". You can trust Him with your thoughts, your hurts, disappointments, all your "stuff". Just tell Him all and then wait on Him. He is our Prince of Peace, our Counselor, our Everlasting Father. He is the God who forgives all your sins, heals all your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with love and compassion. He satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. I want that kind of renewal, and He wants that kind of renewal for me. It comes as we walk in close fellowship with Him. What better thing do you have going right now? For me, I don't have anything better. "For me it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge." (Ps. 73:28, NIV)

My Redeemer is Jesus Christ

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. Job19:25 NIV84 

Thankful this morning for all my Redeemer's done for me. More than I can ever repay. I know He lives, and I am so grateful for that deep-seated knowledge. It was worth going through all the panic and depression so that I could be brought to the point of desperation and finally let go of my fears, doubts and insecurities and let God take it all. I don't know why it took me so long to just give in and admit I couldn't fix myself. My Redeemer is a much better Fixer than me. He does better than fix...He restores and makes all things new. Praise to you, Lord. You are most worthy of all praise! 

Jesus Makes All Things New

It is fitting that we celebrate Jesus' birthday near the end of the year. As we review the past twelve months and remember the hurts, disappointments, and losses, we also remember Jesus--our Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.  Instead of placing our hopes in a new year, we can place them in Jesus, who makes all things new.

Hebrews 8 Sunday School Lesson

Gleanings from Hebrews 8: Because of Jesus, I can stop trying hard, trying harder, trying hardest to be good. When I give up trying to change myself by adhering to a set of rules and regulations and instead focus on my relationship to God through Jesus Christ, His Word becomes engraved in my heart and mind and His Spirit directs my actions. I'm freed up from working myself to death at being religious and I'm filled up with freedom that comes from knowing personally my Lord and Savior! This is part of the saving grace of the new covenant. Good news, indeed!