God, You got this…so why am I so anxious?
I woke up this morning and found a note on my nightstand and did not know how it got there. Upon further examination it was a note from God—to YOU. Do you want me to show it to you? Here it is:
Good morning, I’ll be taking care of ALL your problems today. I won’t need ANY help from YOU. So have a nice day…I love YOU. -God
If you are like me you truly love this little note. You also know in your heart that it is true. The big question though is do I really believe it and does my attitude and my life reflect that belief? For me, sadly too often than I would like to admit, the answer is no. The culprit—a dysfunctional perspective. This happens when I choose to see the world around me though my eyes instead of my Lord’s. There is a great theological word for this—STUPID!
Christian, look around. Even a casual understanding of God’s Word suggests that we are nearing the end of days. This is a very big deal, and the stakes are higher than they have ever been. A Godly perspective demands that we examine our priorities. First and foremost, are you daily bringing before the Lord, for His cleansing power, sin in your life that is preventing you from being fully used by God? If not, get serious.
Next, examine your relationships to make sure nothing on the order of past hurts or disappointments are getting in your way—remember God wants us to be reconciled before we come to Him in an attitude of worship (Matthew 5:23-24). If you have rifts in your family or close circle, understand how crazy that is considering the bigger picture. For some I know this is an issue but here again, get serious and settle this low hanging fruit now.
Another part of having God’s perspective is understanding that the world around us is ruled by the devil and he has blinded people to the point where they cannot accept the truth of the gospel. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says, But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
This is very important as it is another reminder that all of this is in His hands, not ours. Getting frustrated at people for their lack of discernment is counter-productive and usually ends in dysfunctional levels of anxiety for us. Be patient and keep your eyes on Him. If we are not able to do this, we can find ourselves entering battles we were never intended to enter.
In his book The Crucified Life, A.W Tozer says this about king David:
In Psalm 57:1, David says, In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpassed. Instead of going out to fight his own battles, David took refuge in God. How tempting it might have been for him to show the enemy his strength and might. To show his enemy that he was not somebody to be messed with must have been a great temptation for a man like David. Instead of engaging the enemy, however, David took refuge in the shadow of God's wings.
What a blessed truth to understand that, in the middle of all our difficulties and calamities, we have a refuge. Certainly, there is a time to go forth into battle and engage the enemy. But this should only be under the direct orders of the Captain of our salvation. Young David understood this as he faced Goliath.
If we can do these things, we will experience the promise that flows from
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 that says, We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed… This is not possible in the life of the believer unless they truly have God’s perspective. There is no doubt that the apostle Paul had that. You can have that too—commit today to spending more time with Him.
Marriage struggling? -FIX IT!
Porn habit? -STOP!
Broken relationships? -RECONCILE!
Watch this 2-minute video before you read further:
The enemy does not want you in the game. Yore going to have to FIGHT. You will never experience His presence in your life until you do. A Word from God for me a few years ago—
Vince, you will never have a greater understanding of My perspective until you first experience a greater awareness of My presence.
Dear one, please hear me—God does not want you to be anxious. He wants you to put all your cares into His capable hands and trust that He has this!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies and have put to shame those who hated us. In God we boast all day long and praise Your name forever.
Psalm 44:5-8
Lord, You are, and always have been, our deliverer—our hope. Help us to not focus on the advancement of the enemy but to be encouraged by the ultimate victory of our King.