anxiety

Keeping the Heart in the Midst of Distracting and Tormenting Fears, in Times of Great and Threatening Dangers

Leave a Comment / December 5, 2023

That is quite a title today, isn’t it? I tried to shorten it but nothing quite captured the meaning as the author’s original title of this section in his book. What book, you may ask? It is a book called “Keeping of the Heart”. The author is John Flavel, a Puritan pastor. Written in the 17th century, this little book is a vivid reminder that human trials and struggles do not change all that much through the centuries. The book was given to me as a gift and I am finally reading it (and learning a lot). The other day as I was reading I came across this section by the name of the title above and was greatly impacted. I knew I wanted to share it with you, my readers.

I think most of us, at some time or other, struggle with fear. Sometimes the fears are because we really are in danger. Other times, our fears are unfounded or imagined. Other times, we are just overwhelmed with a sense of anxiety because of the convergence of a different life circumstances. Our fears can arise from health issues, from financial concerns, from controversies with others– sometimes with our own family, and from many other things.

There is so much to be fearful and anxious about in this life. And that fear–sinful fear– can lock us in a prison from which we struggle to get out. I know because I’ve been there several times throughout my life. It’s not a place of joy and peace. It’s a place of darkness and doubt. And so I thought I’d share this for any of us who is living in fear now or who struggles with this sometimes. I hope it may be a post you can mark for later. A post that can be brought up over and over again, as needed, to remind us what we can do when we are feeling fearful.

I am unable to share the whole section written by Flavel so I will share his 14 main principles (his words are in italics) to consider as we fight our own fear and anxiety and then add just a bit of commentary to his main thoughts. I do recommend getting your own copy of this book as he expands on his points with lots of scripture and thoughtful insight. I’ll add the link for the book at the bottom of this post.

Now let us inquire how a Christian may keep his heart from distracting and tormenting fears in times of great and threatening dangers. There are several excellent rules for keeping the heart from sinful fear when imminent danger threatens us:

1. Look upon all creatures as in the hand of God, who manages them in all their motions, limiting, restraining, and determining them at his pleasure.

Oh, what a needed reminder when we are feeling fear! Not one person or event or dynamic is outside God’s Sovereignty. Nothing can happen to you unless it’s been allowed by God.

2. Remember that this God in whose hand are all creatures, is your Father, and is much more tender of you that you are, or can be, of yourself.

God cares for us more and way better than we could ever care for ourselves. If we are His, then He is with us, giving us grace and showering us with His tender mercies on any path we take. I think this is easy to forget, especially when we are walking in a deep, dark valley.

3. Urge upon your heart the express prohibitions of Christ in this case, and let your heart stand in awe of the violation of them. He hath charged you not to fear…If I let into my heart the slavish fear of man, I must let out the reverential awe and fear of God; and dare I cast off the fear of the Almighty for the frowns of a man?

Jesus Himself commanded us not to worry but to trust Him, reminding us that, if God cares for the birds and the flowers, how much more He cares for His own. Read Matthew 6:25-24 and be reminded of what Jesus has to say about the sin of worry.

4. Remember how much needless trouble your vain fears have brought upon you formerly…[when it doesn’t come to pass], you have wasted your spirit, disordered your soul, and weakened your head to no purpose.

This one struck me profoundly. Oh, the time and effort wasted as I nursed a fear that never happened. The peace of mind lost; the bright and happy times that never were because I was too upset and fearful to enjoy being with my family or others. Ungodly fear yields so much bad fruit.

5. Consider solemnly, that though the things you fear should really happen, yet there is more evil in your own fear than in the things feared.

And another profound thought. I never, ever even considered this. I can’t control what happens but I can control my response to what happens. Considering that unholy fear is a sin before God sheds such glaring light on this topic. In fact, our sin is more evil than what we fear. It doesn’t feel like that but if we stop and think about this from a biblical perspective, then we must admit this is true.

6. Consult the many precious promises which are written for your support and comfort in all dangers.

God’s Word is so powerful and full of promises. It’s best to hide His Word in our heart so that it is at the ready at all times. I was talking to someone about the benefit of scripture memorization just the other day. I can’t overestimate the role that memorized verses have played through the years in unlocking the prison of fear. God’s Word reminds us what is TRUE and helps us turn away from the lies.

7. Quiet your trembling heart by recording and consulting your past experiences of the care and faithfulness of God in former distresses. These experiences are food for your faith in a wilderness.

Reflecting on God’s great kindnesses and mercies in other situations of our lives will remind us of His awesome faithfulness and care. If we have been God’s redeemed child for even a short while, our lives will have these gems sprinkled throughout our years.

8. Be well satisfied that you are [in God’s will in your duties and life choices] and that will beget holy courage in times of danger.

If we have repented of all sin and are confident we are in God’s will for our lives, then we can take courage. God does not forsake those that seek Him (Psalm 9:9-10). We are safe if we are in His will. He will not forsake us but, instead, will provide all we need. He has promised.

9. Get your conscience sprinkled with the blood of Christ from all guilt, and that will set your heart above all fear.

Flavel writes further, “A guilty conscience is more terrified by imagined dangers, than a pure conscience is by real ones.” This principle reminds us that we must be regularly confessing all sin (including sinful fear) and to keep our heart clean before God. This will go a long way in bringing peace to our hearts in the midst of great trial.

10. Exercise holy trust in times of great distress. Make it your business to trust God with your life and comforts, and then you heart will be at rest about them.

When it all shakes down, this is the heart of it all. Do I trust God? If we are living in fear, the answer is most definitely no.

11. Consult the honor [of God] more and your personal safety less.

Oh, and again, how profound. And how convicting! This has always been one of my biggest issues–I am far too concerned about myself. But Flavel reminds us that we should care more about God and His plan than we do about our own lives. This is a challenging call to us all. We naturally worry about the things of this life and keep our eyes on the things of this world, rather than looking above and keeping our minds set on God’s eternal plan.

12. He that would secure his heart from fear, must first secure the eternal interest of his soul in the hands of Jesus Christ.

When we are assured that we will be safe and secure for all eternity, it gives us a different perspective on the temporal things of this life. I am often reminded of this short verse, written by Paul, in the book of Philippians — “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) Clearly, Paul had eternal perspective.

13. Learn to quench all slavish creature-fears in the reverential fear of God. This is a cure by diversion.

Sinful fear can’t stand in the face of reverential fear of God. If we understand Who God really is and know Him, through His Word, then sinful fear melts away in the reality of His omnipotence and sovereignty.

14. Pour out to God in prayer those fears which the devil and your own unbelief pour in upon you in times of danger.

We should never underestimate the power of prayer. For it is God who has the power to unlock that prison of fear we can sometimes find ourselves residing in. He, through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, can eradicate our unbelief and remove the turmoil from our hearts. We must call out to Him in our despair.

I hope this list has given you pause for thought and is useful to you the next time you are overwhelmed by fear, whether real or imagined.

There is no shortage of things to fear in this life but we have an all-powerful God that supersedes them all. If we are His own, saved by faith in Christ alone, then we are assured of His everlasting love for us and can rest, knowing that He cares for us very personally. Oh, to learn to trust Him!

You can purchase Keeping the Heart here. I receive nothing for sharing this link with you but simply share so that you, too, can benefit from this wonderful little book!

A Tale of Two Birds

2 Comments / August 22, 2023

Out on my back porch there are three hanging baskets. A few weeks ago, I noticed a little house finch hanging out by one of the ferns, just chattering angrily away at me whenever I’d sit out there. She’d hop up and down and try to scare me away. When I kept sitting there, she’d eventually fly to the tree close by to keep an eye on me.

And then just a few days ago, I noticed a big brown lump in another basket. What was that thing…? As I drew closer, I saw a brown bird— a dove, I believe— sitting quietly on the basket. No matter how close I got she just set her beady eye on me and wouldn’t move a muscle.

Wow. What a difference in birds. The one was all worked up and tried its best to scare me away from its babies and the other just trusted that I wasn’t going to do anything to hurt her or her babies.

I know that God has designed these two birds very differently, just as He has designed each of His creatures differently (so amazing, isn’t it?!?)

But I couldn’t help but consider the differences in light of our own responses when we encounter something that frightens us.

Do we become filled with angst, as the little house finch? Or do we sit quietly and wait, like the dove?

As believers, our response should be like the dove. Philippians 4:6-7 puts it like this—

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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We should be able to give our requests to God and then experience God’s peace, which will “guard our hearts and our minds”.

Unfortunately, I am too often like the little frustrated bird filled with anxiety. I desire to protect my family or my comfort or my stuff and I crazily hop around thinking I can actually accomplish something by my futile efforts. How silly of me!

I have been studying the first four Psalms this month and I have been struck over and over again by how often God has promised to be with those who yield themselves to His will and obey His laws (out of love, not out of duty or for a “ticket” to heaven).

If we are one of those people, then David says we can lie down in peace at night. We can trust that God will hear our cries for help. We can know that He has promised to shield and sustain us. This means that anything that comes our way is part of His loving plan for our lives (Romans 8:28-29) and not just some random thing.

That calm bird sitting so faithfully and quietly on her nest has convicted me. And I can’t help but think of another couple verses from Psalms—

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. (Psalm 46:10-11)

Be still and know that He is God. So much easier said than done— especially for some of us. I am someone who just wants to DO something. To fix situations. To change people or circumstances.

And sometimes we can do something. We can change our own attitude or have a conversation or work on our own sanctification. BUT…when we can’t do a thing…when, like that little bird, we feel threatened and helpless, then…

God says be still and trust in Him. He is the One—and the only One—who can do what we can’t. My hopping angrily up and down, chattering in frustration and fright will accomplish nothing. Absolutely nothing.

And so today, may we respond more like the dove than like the finch. Or at least recognize there may be a problem and ask the Lord help us to work on it… :)

The Little Foxes

3 Comments / July 1, 2023

This past week, I was blessed to spend a few days at the beach with two of my best friends. As we walked into the unfamiliar Air Bnb, we took a look around. It was a cute little condo right on the beach, albeit with a view of the dunes rather than the ocean, given its first floor location. But that didn’t bother us. We could still hear that lovely lull of the waves. Such wonderful medicine for the soul.

As we explored the small condo, we naturally looked outside to check out our view. Suddenly, one of my friends said, “and we have a fox…”

Quite honestly, that didn’t compute for a second. A fox? In Ocean City, Maryland? Foxes live in meadows and woods and forests. Not at the ocean. But, lo and behold, there stood a very sickly-looking fox staring at us. And not moving. It made us all a bit nervous. What was it doing here? And why wasn’t it running away when we opened the door to take its picture?

On the way to lunch that day, I called and left a message for wildlife control. Could they take care of the sick fox sitting right outside our patio?

But it was still there when we returned later on. So my friend called the police to see if they would do anything. They said no. Lo and behold, and totally unbeknownst to us, OC, MD has a fox problem. They wouldn’t be out to do anything unless he got aggressive or caused a problem.

He wasn’t causing any problems. He just sat there looking at us like he was waiting for something. Over the course of the next few days, two more foxes with totally different markings would show up in the morning and the evening. They would lay comfortably out in the sun or under the shrubby tree nearby as the sun set, their heads perking up hopefully when we’d open the sliding door. They seemed to be waiting for something…

At some point, it dawned on us that there must be someone on the lower floor of this building that was feeding them. They were coming around because they would sometimes get fed.

I had never seen a fox that close up before. Aside from that poor sickly one (which looked like it had mange and was on its way to a slow, torturous death), they were rather cute (see photos above). In fact, they reminded me very much of my dogs. Which, of course, makes sense since, in the purest sense of the word, they are dogs.

As I thought about these foxes, I realized that they are a little bit like the temptations we feed.

Just as those foxes thrive on those bits and pieces thrown out to them, so, too, do our temptations thrive on us caving to them. Just as those foxes come around with expectations, so, too, do our temptations to sin. If they would stop getting fed–the foxes and the temptations–they’d stop coming around so often.

It reminds me of when my kids were little and they’d pest each other. The glee of the “pester” came from the response of the “pestee”. When the “pestee” stopped responding, pesting lost all its fun.

I think temptation is a little like that. The more we cave to the temptation, the more often that temptation comes. When we can, with the Lord’s help, say no to that temptation, we experience a small victory. The more we can say no, the more power we have over that temptation. As we grow stronger, the temptation grows weaker.

So often, when we talk about temptation and sin, we think of these “giant” sins that we arrogantly declare we would never commit. But let’s consider some of those respectable sins that beleaguer those who consider themselves “above” those gross sins. Sins such as self-absorbtion, anxiety and worry, pride, envy, holding grudges, gluttony, immodesty, ungodly entertainment, angry outbursts… so many little foxes everywhere we turn.

I don’t know what particular sin you struggle with today. I do, however, know the struggles I have. I am greatly encouraged by this verse from I Corinthians 10:13–

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

We have the power through the Holy Spirit to keep those little foxes from coming around all the time. God is faithful and He has made a way of escape. Our duty is to choose that way of escape.

As always, this is easier said than done. But God’s Word tells us it is not impossible.

So let’s keep fighting the battle to keep those “little foxes” far, far away from our hearts and minds. We may not be able to eliminate them completely, but we can lessen them greatly!

Eating and Exercising God’s Way

2 Comments / April 19, 2022

From the moment my daughter announced her wedding date, my mind started turning. Surely, this would be just the incentive I needed to spur on my weight loss. I grew excited by the prospect of having a really great reason to lose weight.

But week after week after week passed by and I could never go more than two or three days of “eating right” before I’d just cave. I’ve never been skinny but these past few years have really been a struggle, as my age, the craziness of the past two years, and my thorough enjoyment of food are a really really bad combination.

A month or so before the wedding, my goal of being a thin and attractive mother-of-the-bride started to fade from the realm of possible and became the impossible. I told myself all kinds of things, such as: “The day isn’t about me, anyway,” and “so many women my age have this problem” but it didn’t really help with the deep disappointment that reverberated in my soul every time I looked in a mirror that day. And when the photos came–well, as is often the case–they looked even worse than the mirror.

This was just not how I had hoped to look on my daughter’s wedding day.

But, you know, I’ve been thinking about this whole subject for a long, long time. As I’ve traveled along in this world beside both slender and heavy people; athletic-looking and comfy-plump looking; overweight, just-right, and too-skinny people, I’ve come to understand something important in this discussion on eating and exercising–

You cannot tell a person’s relationship with food and exercise by their weight.

We’ve all run into those people who can eat junk food all they want and never gain a pound. Are they more godly because of this? We’ve also run into those people who seem to gain two pounds for each fry they splurge on (you may even feel like that’s you!). Do those few extra pounds indicate disobedience to scripture? What about the people that put fitness ahead of God and their families? Is this good or right? I hope the answers to these questions is obvious.

So this brings us to the fact that we must understand that this question of eating and exercising goes so much deeper than how someone looks. SO. MUCH. DEEPER.

Perhaps some reflection on the questions below would be helpful for all of us–no matter what our weight. There are some things we should all think about when it comes to food and fitness.

I’ve been working through this for what seems like my whole adult life. I have struggled so to find peace. And this has led me to ask myself some really important questions:

What is my motive to lose weight/be healthy?

How does it look to please God with eating and exercising?

 

I don’t actually have the answers to this yet but I have learned a few things (or, at least, am in the process of learning these things)–

In regards to the first question: What is my motive? —

• If I want to be thin for my own pride’s sake (to impress, to draw attention, to look better than others), that’s not the right reason.

• If I want to be healthy, that could be the right reason–if I want to be healthy for the right reason.

• If I want to be healthy in order to please and serve the Lord and those He has put in my life–then this is the right reason.

 

I’ve also learned some answers regarding the second question: How do I please God in this area of my life?

• There aren’t good foods and bad foods.

• It’s more about moderation and wisdom than it is about avoidance of certain foods or entire food groups or spending hours on a treadmill or at the gym.

• Consistent self-control and intentionality regarding eating and exercising–day by day, step by step– is so key. The latest fad diet or running a marathon might work…but these extremes rarely yield lasting results that keep us focused on the real reason we want to be as healthy as we are able to be.

 

God doesn’t say a whole about weight in His Word but we can gather a few things about this area of our lives from the following verses (this list is by no means exhaustive)–

Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit. (Proverbs 25:16)

We learn from this verse that there is nothing wrong with eating sweets– just don’t overdo it!

Do not mix with winebibbers,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.  (Proverbs 23:20-21)

So we learn here that we must avoid gluttony (excessive eating or drinking). Some self-examination is probably helpful in determining what excess eating looks like for us personally.

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (I Corinthians 10:14)

This verse reminds us not to give eating and exercising a wrong priority in our lives. (Paul reminds us in I Corinthians 9:24-27 that a physical runner receives a perishable crown, but the race we run as believers yields an imperishable crown. How important to remember that we must keep our spiritual race the priority!)

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits[a] of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

It is important that we discern truth from error as health and fitness movements sweep over our cultures. Is this practice, routine, fitness philosophy, song I’m exercising to–are these things compatible with being a Christian? It’s too much to get into here, but it is safe to say that much occultism has swept into the homes of Christians through this area of fitness and even in how we eat (see here for an example of how it’s influenced fitness and here for a way it is seeping into how we eat.)

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

We know that instead of eating when we are anxious we should, instead, turn to prayer. The answer for anxiety isn’t in food, it’s in keeping our mind stayed on God (Isaiah 26:3). How funny that some of us (me, for example) turn to food when we are anxious–as if that will help at all. Emotional eating is a result of not trusting God fully for the present life we live and the days that lie ahead. It’s a lifelong journey putting this into practice for those of us that struggle with this–but we must keep working at it for it is a command: Do not be anxious about anything. That’s what it says. And so we must learn to trust and pray instead of eat.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (I Corinthians 3:16-17)

Here we see that we are the temple of God. We should treat our bodies as such, eating in moderation and with self-control and keeping ourselves as healthy as is possible. Of course, ultimately, this is in the Lord’s hands so we never want to believe that we can avoid disease and death by doing certain things. While this may certainly help we mustn’t count on this. We all know the healthy runner who has a heart attack or the health nut who gets cancer. These things are in God’s sovereignty and, ultimately, we must surrender our health to the Lord.

 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

and this one, too–

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)

From these verses we women (in particular) learn perhaps the most important lesson of all when it comes to this topic of weight: We don’t want to be consumed with what we look like. If we are known for anything, may it be that we fear the Lord. May it be for our service to Him. Our top priority should always be seeking the Lord.

The world tells us what we should look like. But the Lord obviously doesn’t agree or there would be a verse like this in the Bible about it–such as “Thou shalt be thin all the days of your life” or “May there not be found an overweight brother or sister among you.”

Please don’t hear me saying it’s okay to be an unhealthy weight. The Bible teaches us to take care of our bodies. But, in doing so, it is so important that we have a biblical perspective on this: It’s about balance and pleasing the Lord. It’s not about what others think of us or our obsession with being the best-looking 30, 50, or 70 year old around.

So, yeah…

I obviously struggle in this area of my life. I am still such a work “in progress” and most times I don’t feel like there is much progress. Honestly, this is probably one of the most challenging areas of my life.

I hesitated to share this here…

I know assumptions are made when I share something so personal. Sometimes condescension or ridicule are in the thoughts of those reading, even if they are never spoken. This is a risk I take with this kind of post.

I have chosen to take this risk because I wonder if there is someone else out there like me? Someone who is working through the eating and exercising question. Perhaps today you just need to know that you are not alone. I am right there with you–looking to please the Lord in this area of food and fitness and trying to discern just what that looks like from God’s Holy Word.

 

 

What Really Matters When Life Falls Apart?

Leave a Comment / March 1, 2022

This world is full of so much suffering. The latest we’ve been hearing about (or experiencing, depending where we find ourselves in the world at this time) is the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. There are many different stories, accounts, and reports making their rounds and, as has become the norm for us, we wonder who we should believe. There are so many lies. So much false information.

This is why hearing from reliable, first-hand sources becomes important in these situations. What is really going on? While there is much we can’t know, there is also so much we do know.

We know, with certainty, that the lives of millions of people have been thrown into utter turmoil in just a few hours. Sleep, food, water, gas have all become so much more precious as the Ukrainians strive to survive in the midst of an invasion by a neighboring country. They are sleeping in bomb shelters or corridors in order to protect their lives. Can’t imagine any of them are getting much sleep in that situation, can you? The shelves at the stores are becoming empty and they are starting to wonder how they will get food. If they want to escape the city, they find they can hardly move as they fight their way through all of the chaos and confusion. If you can even get gas, which has become scarce. Overnight, apartment buildings of peaceful citizens have been bombed in several cities, leaving innocent victims without homes in the middle of the winter. If they even survived the bombing…

Some of these struggling people are our Christian brothers and sisters. There is a thriving church in that country. Years ago, I was in Ukraine for a couple of weeks and one of my fondest memories is worshiping with the Christians there. I can remember singing in English while they were singing Ukrainian and feeling our bond in Christ. If we are believers, then we have family in Ukraine. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. And they are really struggling right now.

Last week, my daughter, Jess, sent a couple text messages that are the heart of today’s post. She said something that really made me reflect on what really matters when your life falls apart. Such as what is happening to our Ukrainian siblings right now. At this moment.

Basically, her thought was if your Christianity can’t sustain you through these times, then it probably isn’t genuine. If it doesn’t work for Ukrainians in bomb shelters, Chinese imprisoned for their faith, or Nigerians and Indians under death threats from extremists, is it even real? Or is it, rather, some made-up ridiculousness that has absolutely no value when life grows ugly?

Do you think our Ukrainian Christian brothers and sisters are talking about their dreams or self-fulfillment? Are they sitting around and discussing the feminist agenda or social justice? Do you think getting wealthy is even on their list of priorities?

When life falls apart, none of these things matter. Not even a bit.

What matters are God’s promises to sustain us. To be our shield. To protect and shelter us. To give us peace and joy and comfort. The kind of peace and joy that goes far beyond “happily ever after” because, let’s face it: We all know life doesn’t work like that. It is not happily ever after (at least not in this world) and Christians do die in explosions. They get cancer and heart attacks at the most inopportune times. They lose their businesses and their savings. They get viciously killed by those who oppose them.

Christians are not guaranteed a happy life without problems. There is nothing in the Bible to suggest we are. Christians are not to fight for social justice (a Marxist term, never a Christian one) or to fix the world. We aren’t to be focused on our own selfish agendas or to use God like a genie in the sky to get what we want.

If anything can show us that these types of “Christianity” are false, it is what is happening right now.

What exactly does the Bible teach us about the Christian life? What does it say we can expect?

Yes, we can expect trials and troubles. Rather than avoiding them, the Bible says God will use them to grow us (Romans 8:28-29; James 1:2-4).

Yes, we can expect to be hated by the world, because our own Lord was hated. But we know that this is proof that we are Christ’s own and that the Holy Spirit will help us endure…even unto death (John 15).

So, contrary to much that is taught from “Christian” pulpits today, we cannot avoid these things. There is no magic prayer or sum of money we can give to a {fake} apostle that is going to miraculously make our life wonderful.

But, while we know these things will come (and may already be upon us), we also have the rich and abundant promises of our Heavenly Father to carry us through–

He will never, ever forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

The peace He gives is not like the world; it surpasses understanding (John 14:27; Philippians 4:6-7).

He will walk with us through the “valley of the shadow of death” so that we need not fear evil (Psalm 23).

When we fall, we shall not be utterly cast down for the Father upholds us with His hand (Psalm 37:23-24)

Of course, as we read of God’s promises, we also find in scripture that there is an attitude we must have in order to experience these promises of God to the fullest–

We must keep our mind stayed on God (Isaiah 26:3)

We must trust in the Lord (Psalm 112:7)

We must choose not to worry or to be anxious (Matthew 6:34; Philippians 4:6-7)

We must cast our burden on the Lord (Psalm 55:22)

We must draw near to Him in truth (Psalm 145:18)

We must forsake the world and purify our lives (James 4:1-10)

And, then, after all of this, there is one important thing to remember that helps us to keep all of this in biblical perspective: The true believer knows that their best life isn’t now. It is the one to come!

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:1-4)

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)

 

The verses I’ve shared above are just a small sampling of the promises, the hope, and even the instruction that we find in God’s Word for those who have repented and trusted in Christ alone for their salvation. We can experience peace in the midst of the greatest storm. It has been a great joy reading of Ukrainian Christians testifying to this very thing!

I don’t think there are any Ukrainians turning to God’s Word to find out how they can be rich this morning. They are trusting in God to see them through the next day, the next hour…perhaps just the next few minutes.

What kind of Christianity are you hearing about on Sunday mornings? What is your preacher preaching? Is he pointing you to God’s Word as the final authority for the Christian life? Is he interpreting the Bible historically, grammatically, and literally, rather than allegorizing great chunks of it and casting doubts on its authenticity?

These are important questions we need to ask ourselves as the world grows darker. If we aren’t being fed true, biblical Christianity we are at much risk for having shallow roots that will not hold in life’s storms, much less in the chaos and confusion that threatens to consume us in the days ahead. We must be in the Word, both personally and in our churches. If our church is not preaching biblical Christianity, then we should not stay.

I don’t know how I ended up on challenging you all on your churches, but I believe that it is probably a challenge that we all need to hear. So many sit under and are influenced by ungodly preaching these days. May we not be numbered among them.

 

 

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