Key to not being anxious

Exodus 36; Proverbs 12; John 15; Ephesians 5

Yesterday I started feeling anxious about this virus thing, not for myself but for the thousands of people who are dying, and for their families and the losses that accompany loss of life. The stress was not from the latest statistics, as bad as they are, but the projections for the future weeks and months. Two things came this morning that helped me.

The first was a gracious letter from my sister’s pastor. He wrote from the heart and included Scripture that reminds me of God’s goodness. He said he was blessed to know her and will always remember her and later added that death is not the end, that Christ has defeated the enemy and we will be reunited with those who have gone on before.

Then I read this: “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” (Proverbs 12:25) How true! That letter untied some of the knots and helped me move eagerly to John 15 and Ephesians 5. Both passages are filled with those ‘good words’ that make the heart glad.

I love the imagery in John 15 where Jesus illustrates the importance of abiding in Him. “Abide” simply means “to continue” or “to remain in the same place” or “to stay put” — telling me that I’ve enjoyed the promises of God and believing in Jesus — don’t move away from trusting Him because if I do, there are consequences. One of them is that I cannot bear fruit.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4–5)

While He could mean more, the first ‘fruit’ I think of is the fruit of the Spirit. It is described clearly as attitudes. Also, not each one is a fruit alone but all of them together are the ‘fruit’ of the Spirit. That is, if I abide in Christ, all will be present.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)

If one of them is missing, such as peace being replaced by anxiety, then all of them are missing. In other words, I cannot love others, experience joy, be kind and patient and so on if I am worried about anything! He also says: “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:10–11)

Another good word is that when I am abiding, I have this amazing experience of answered prayer!

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:7–8)

In the past few weeks, my answered prayer list has been amazing. Some are personal (like solutions to problems) and others are huge (like changed attitudes in those who need Jesus, and changes in social situations). Prayer is more complex than abiding in Christ yet not abiding is a sure way to miss out on seeing God answer prayer.

God chose me so I would bear this fruit and thus ask and receive answers. He also commands abiding because I cannot love others without resting in Him. This is vital to obedience and to living as a Christian.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” (John 15:16–17)

APPLY: The words of Ephesians 5 spell it out. I’m to be an “imitator of God” and “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” This means being careful how I walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Don’t be foolish or anxious but understand God’s will and be filled with the Spirit, giving thanks always for everything, caring for others because I worship and obey Christ. (Ephesians 5:1-2; 15-18; 20–21)

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

Yesterday’s thoughts about ‘considering’ myself dead to sin are being tested again. This time when my mind was attacked with sinful suggestions, I found myself saying that I am dead to sin. This helps with resisting temptation, but this time I was surprised at feeling grief. What is that about?

It seemed the wrong way to think, but maybe it isn’t so bad. I might wish I was not ‘dead to sin’ at least this grief indicates I believe that I am. This particular temptation has always had a strong pull on me but I realize that each time I repeat this response it will have less of an impact. Eventually truth will win and life in Christ will reign.

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:9–11)

In these verses, death is not necessarily physical. It can mean ‘separation’ such as ‘dead in sin’ means separated from God. Dead to sin does not eliminate temptation but thinking it helps resist whatever is trying to lure me into sin. Thinking I am dead to sin is not a natural way to think!

Why is it that after so many years of being a Christian, this has taken me so long to consciously practice this thinking? I know much mind-changing happens without any effort on my part. When Christ came in, He brought many new attitudes. However, there are deeply-rooted weaknesses in every person. The temptation that hit me this morning has been on-going since childhood, a real part of my old nature and produced some deeply entrenched habits. This has distracted me on and off for years. Now is the time to be pro-active, to apply the truth of God to a lie about one of my reactions to life’s challenges.

Tozer says it well: “Christ makes the difference between death and life, always and everywhere. He is the Prince of Life, and whatever He touches lives. The fabled (King) Midas had a magic power which made everything he touched turn to gold. It is not fable, but wondrously true and real, that the power to give life belongs to Christ. Nothing He touches can ever die, and whatever is dead has only to be touched by Him and it lives again forever.”

I’m not lost when I lose a battle with sin in my life, but each battle won makes me stronger in prayer, more alive in Christ and more effective in living for Him. As the Bible says, if the Spirit of Christ is in me, I have life. Without Him, I cannot do anything.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4–5)

Lord Jesus, I am thankful to be a branch, even a little twig, because I am attached to You! Thank You for my position in the vine, and for the Spirit who makes fruit-bearing possible. Also, thank You for helping me realize my deadness to sin and for the sure hope that all grief will pass and I will eternally rejoice without any shadows messing with the new life You have given me.

Worry is a robber

Our Wednesday morning ladies Bible study will discuss today what it means to keep the Sabbath. The book we are reading brings out the biblical truth that Sabbath is far more than taking a day off from work. While that might be part of it, this ‘rest’ commanded by God is also about ceasing in other ways. What preoccupies my time, my mind? What keeps me from a simple time of totally enjoying the Lord and resting in His love and presence?

When I read today’s devotional, it occurs to me that worry is a huge problem for many people. My mom was a worrier. It seemed this was her way of trying to control that which she could not control, so it was a fruitless and futile exercise. Worrying never accomplishes anything. I worried this week about something that didn’t happen last week. I worry today about an event I am going to next week. I worry about what a particular person might do or say the next time I see her. All of this is pointless.

Not only that, worry is sinful because it is a God-playing activity. It reveals that I am not trusting God about all of the above. Anxiety and worry are the biggest symptoms of not trusting His wisdom and plans for me. It is also the biggest symptom of being discontent with what He is doing. It reveals my pride, that I think I know better ways to run my life. Putting it that way, worry is a very black mark in my spiritual life.

Worry can also stem from looking at others and wanting what they have. When someone in the crowd asked Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” He replied, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:13–15) This man did not trust God to give him what he needed or take care of his needs.

Worry can also come from fear; fear of the future, fear of consequences, fear of the unknown. However, God is not the author of fear. He gives us power, love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7) These thing drive out fear and are His answer to worry over a host of things.

Today’s devotional addresses anxiety over daily needs. Jesus told His disciples not to worry, why they should not worry, and what they should focus on instead.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” (Luke 12:22–31)

From many years of following this amazing advice, I can say that worrying about the ‘stuff’ of life is no match for concentrating on being His child and letting Him take care of what I need. He does amazing things, putting my worries about those things out of mind and bringing in great peace.

“Do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7)

^^^^^^^

Jesus, I realize that I do worry at times. I’ve been ranting this week about a few things that are out of my control — but they are not out of Your control, so I am being foolish and faithless over them. Forgive me and fill me with Your Spirit so my heart will be totally trusting You for anything that is nagging at me. Thank You for Your grace and power, not only to save me from sin, but for including worry in the list — so my heart can be in Sabbath mode — at rest every hour of every day!