Category: Yourself

Yourself

Mental Health, Yourself

Processing Anxiety

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“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19

This scripture acknowledges that we have times when anxious thoughts can flood us. It also acknowledges that these are times when God comforts us in such a way that we can be delighted. Too many times I have wallowed in anxious thoughts for far longer than needed. A big reason for this was too much of a self focus.

“You know better” is something that has gone through my mind many times regarding falling prey to anxiety. I am learning that there are many factors that can contribute to times of anxiousness. My way out of them really isn’t about me making myself bad.

Here are some tools I’m learning relative to processes those anxious feelings.

Bottom-up approach

For me often anxiety shows up as a bodily sensation more so than a specific pattern of conscious thinking. Certainly thoughts are involved on some level. For me the sensations often show up as what feels like a rush of adrenaline which feels like an urgent sense to move, a racing heart, dry mouth. These are all very real reactions of our body when the sympathetic response has been engaged. The sympathetic system is commonly known as our fight, flight, freeze response. Dr. Gentry defines stress as “painful past learning intruding into the perceptual system here in this present, causing us to perceive threat where there is little to no danger.” This causes our body to release energy. He also describes the flight or flight response in practical terms as us responding with acts of aggression or avoidance, which are breaches of our integrity.

We also have a parasympathetic system. This is known as our rest and digest system. Engaging our parasympathetic system often requires us to engage our body to address the body symptoms we are experiencing. Dr. J. Eric Gentry has some amazing videos on YouTube explaining these options. He is a an expert in Traumatic Stress and Compassion Fatigue. When we address our anxiety system from the body first, instead of the mind, is called bottom-up approach. Dr. J. Eric Gentry encourages us to learn to relax our body as a first step in creating space to process through our difficult emotions. Since learning these principles I have been paying more and more attention to my body and consciously releasing tense muscles several times a day.

Tools for Hope

Because I know how much you just want the sensations to stop when you are feeling anxious, I want to share some of the resources that I have come across that have been helpful to me, in the hopes that it leads more people to freedom in this area. Dr. Gentry shares most of these items in a video he has put out on youtube – called Tools for Hope.

  • Focus on your senses, not the thoughts around them. For example looking, listening, smelling etc. He illustrates that in general our senses will show that we are not in danger currently. The thoughts are based on painful past experiences. This contaminates the sanctuary of the present moment. It is a big deal that we realize that we are currently safe. Trauma survivors often don’t realize the difference between feeling safe and being safe. This is cognitive restructuring. This is very similar to a grounding technique that many people teach – where they recommend when you are overwhelmed with a flush of sensations or thoughts, instead of focusing on, engaging the thoughts focus on what you can see, hear, feel, taste, smell.
  • Relaxing muscles
  • Breathing
  • Connecting with body through touch – hand on heart etc.
Jesus, Yourself

Is that Bully in my head, God speaking to me?

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“Not again, this never works out for you.” “They don’t want to hear what you have to say.” “You should just give up.” “You’re such a disappointment.” Do any of these phrases, or similar ones, sound familiar? Do you ever wonder if they are the voice of God speaking to you? After all, if I, an imperfect human have higher expectations for myself, wouldn’t a perfect God expect even more?

Discerning the voice of God is one of the great invitations we Christians have to make our walk fruitful. Sadly many of us have viewed God and His voice as similar to a bully.

Here is a passage from Scripture which illustrates how God’s voice often differs from what we might expect.

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13

God asks questions

It is not the dramatic things like wind, earthquake or fire that was God speaking, but instead the still small voice was God’s. Also God asked Elijah a question. This is something God does often in scripture. God is not the accuser of the brethren – that is something the enemy is (see Revelation 12:10). So if the voice you are hearing is accusative, you can know it is not God. God can and does certainly convict. Conviction is different than accusing. Conviction invites us to repentance. Accusation invites us to shame and condemnation.

I find at times in my life when the voice is loud and demanding, it can overshadow the still small voice of God. But thankfully as I’ve walked with the Lord over the years, I also see him gently whisper his love for me, or his inviting questions.

I’ve heard it said that God never asks questions in order to learn something. Instead He asks questions to invite us to deeper intimacy with Him or to discover what is in our heart.

If you sense the Lord asking you a question today, I encourage you to reject the voice of the bully, and instead enter into the question with Your gentle, loving Father.

Mental Health, Mind, Yourself

10 Things Christians Can Do When They Feel Antsy

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I think we all have those times when we feel a bit unsettled, or a bit antsy. Many times, as Christians, we are given the impression that if only our faith was great enough, we would never feel anxious. In this post I want to provide some really practical things you can do when you feel anxious or unsettled, while still acknowledging that God is on the throne.

1 Feel the feeling

I can hear people arguing already. After all doesn’t the Bible tell us many times not to fear and to be anxious for nothing? It does, however H. Norman Wright’s writings on grief helped me to see the tone with which these admonitions were likely given with and that is one of strengthening and encouraging, rather than scolding. Think of how you might handle if your small child woke in the middle of a storm, the tone with which you might say, “awe, hon’ you don’t have to be afraid, I’m right here.”

When we are willing to feel our feelings, rather than trying to stuff them, we will often find that the feelings can process through and not get stuck or stuffed, only to re-surface another time.

2 Breath prayer

Once we have connected with the feeling(s), it can be very helpful to involve our parasympathetic nervous system. This is a physiological system that is involved in regulating us, calming us down. Slow rhythmic breathing is one such skill that can be engaged in to bring this system more online. Breath prayer incorporates the slow rhythmic breathing with praying. So we slowly inhale focusing on a truth, and slowly exhale focusing on a truth. Some of my favorites are (while inhaling) focus on “My God is here” (while exhaling) “I am at peace” – see how each phrase has 4 syllables, this helps it to stay rhythmic. I’ve since learned that extended exhales can be even more calming. So now I often have a shorter phrase for the inhale and a longer for the exhale. Example: (while inhaling) “My God is here.” (while exhaling) “I am loved and have a sound mind.” This gives me a count of 4 syllables on the inhale and 8 on the exhale. I generally will repeat these phrases/breaths at least 3 to 5 times. I highly recommend this as a very practical way of addressing the immediate sensations of anxiousness, but also as I pro-active practice throughout the day.

3 Grounding in the now

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

The only time we can do or feel anything is now. Very often when we are feeling antsy it has to do with our mind being in a different place than our body. Our mind may be focusing on the past or the future, while our body is here now. I’ve learned a few exercises over the years that can help to ground me in the now, where faith is. One of my favorites is all about utilizing our five senses to connect directly with what is happening right now. If you find your mind is all over the place in terms of racing thoughts, try looking for 5 things you can see right now, 4 things you can touch/feel right now, 3 things you can hear right now, 2 things you can smell and 1 thing you can taste. The 5 senses help ground us in now. This also is a great rescue tool, meaning it can be utilized right in the moments of panic.

4 Self compassion – through touch

Dr. Kristin Neff has written extensively on self-compassion. One of the things I learned from her was the value of offering ourselves compassion through physical touch. When we experience unsettling feelings, it can be very helpful to simply place our hand gently on our hearts. Combining this with breath prayer can be very powerful.

5 Reminders of prior successes

Sometimes when I am going through antsy feelings, I lose perspective and begin to think everything I do is failing. In order to bring more perspective to this, it can be very helpful to remind ourselves of prior successes. A truth I would offer you to embrace is that you have successfully gotten through every challenge you have faced thus far in your life. I don’t mean everything is resolved. I don’t mean you handled them all the way you would always want to. The reality is you have done the best you can up until now and that is worthy of appreciation.

6 Pen and paper

I know journaling can be something that a person tends to gravitate toward or against. I want to encourage you, if you are feeling agitated to give it a try. There is something about the tactile sensation of putting pen (or pencil) to paper. Additionally this can help get things out of our head and onto paper where sometimes we can see things from a new perspective. A few options if you don’t prefer to journal in full sentences include just jotting down words or phrases that are on your mind, or doodling. Both of these still accomplish much.

7 Move body

I have found often when I feel antsy, I feel a bit of an adrenaline rush. To process this, it can be very helpful to move our body. My favorite is to go for a walk in nature. Dr. Andrew Huberman, a Stanford Neurobiologist, shares that dogs tend to shake when they need to release stress and this is something we can benefit from as well. Additionally, he shares the value of broadening our visual focus in times of stress. Looking out a window can be very helpful.

8 Reach out

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

God designed us to live in connection to one another. He sent His son because He desired a larger family (Romans 8:29). Sometimes the best thing we can do is make a connection with another human being, not for them to replace God, but for them to remind us that we are each humans in need of our God.

9 Think eternally

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2

This may sound somewhat contradictory to item #3 above, which spoke about the only real time we can do anything is now. As I explain further, I hope it will become clear how both of these approaches can be helpful and are not actually adversarial in any way. Thinking eternally simply puts the now in perspective. I’m sure you have heard people share that when you are in a disagreement with someone you love, a good practice can be to think about if this issue will matter in 5 years. Similarly, it can be very helpful when we are in distress to remind ourselves that God has all of time figured out and that is something we can keep our trust in Him for.

10 Set up Rhythms of Grace

My last tip for those times that you feel antsy, is something I’ve been learning the value of more and more over the years. It is grounded in the idea that decision fatigue is a real thing. Sometimes we literally get tired just from all the decisions that are required of us on an ongoing basis. In order to minimize this type of stress, I like to incorporating things in my life that I call “Rhythms of Grace.” These are things I can and do practice on pretty much auto-pilot – no need for decisions each day. Brushing your teeth is likely one of these for most people. We just tend to get up, head to the bathroom and brush our teeth. This serves us well, but is not something we have to invest a lot of mental efforts into. During this last year, I have chosen some things that I have incorporated into my day in a similar way. Since it is very helpful to have these things anchored with things – the same way brushing your teeth is anchored with getting up in the morning – I have chosen 5 general times in the day that I have anchored “Rhythms of Grace.” For me that is 1) first thing in the morning 2) mid-morning 3) mid-afternoon 4) evening 5) when going to bed. I can share the specifics of mine, but the specifics of yours can and should, most likely look different. For me first thing in the morning, I begin with breath prayer right in bed … I love waking up taking a deep breath and thinking something like “It’s Christ in me” “I am enough” or “My God is here” “I am at peace” Mid-morning and mid-afternoon I have alarms in my phone to remind myself to be present. I have scriptures I read and breath deeply at these times. In the evening I move my body in someway – most often taking a walk outside. When going to bed – I try to end each night with prayers of gratitude and taking time to honor successes. For me this means that I try to reflect on things that I considered “wins” from the day. They can be big or small. As you can see my rhythms don’t take a ton of time, but they are conscious ways to incorporate many of the things I listed in the above tips.

I pray some of these things can help you in moments of panic or stress and some can help to minimize the amount of stress you experience. Please feel free to reach out in the comments if you need prayer.

Jesus, Yourself

Beyond Gifts to Benefits

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This post is sort of a bonus content to go along with my prior writings about Gifts God Gives.

Just to recap here are links to each of my God’s gifts related posts:

The two biggest things God showed me as I did the study of His gifts were

  1. God is a giver – it is His very nature to give.
  2. We have a part to play in being willing to receive. My hesitancy to receive God’s gifts is not a good thing. My trying to earn something He desires to give is not a good thing.

As I’ve reflected on this gifts series, God reminded me of a Psalm that I used to have the first 6 verses memorized in, which I’ve personalized below.

Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget any of His benefits. Who pardons all my guilt, who heals all my diseases; who redeems my life from the pit, who crowns me with favor and compassion; who satisfies my years with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle. The Lord performs righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:1-6 personalized

If you’ve worked for an employer who provides benefits, I imagine there are some benefits that you have that you may not become aware of them until you have need of them. For example, I think my employer provided short term disability, but thankfully I have not had need of that benefit, so I really don’t even know how it works and what it provides. This scripture tells us that God does not want us to treat his benefits in that way. “Do not forget any of His benefits.”

Is there a benefit listed here that you are not experiencing in your life. Do you have unresolved guilt? Is there dis-ease at work in your body? Do you feel defeated? Are you experiencing God’s goodness? Are your years filled with good things? How about your youth, is it being renewed? I think much like the gifts that we explored previously, these benefits are things that God provides, but sometimes we have to contend for them.

What I mean by contend is to fight the good fight of faith. It starts with realizing these benefits are available to us, and then sometimes there are steps to receiving them. Those steps can include forgiveness of others, repentance by us if we know we are violating God’s ways, asking God in faith – trusting His Word as true. For me, a key in my contending in this area has been consciously choosing to plant and dwell on the truth of this scripture. Very practically I do this by:

  • Writing out these scriptures where I can see them often.
  • Meditating on these scriptures – this simply means that I go over and over these scriptures in my mind on a regular basis. Every time I am telling myself truths, I am not investing in a lie.
  • Incorporate this scripture in my wake up routine. When I first wake up, I often have a scripture passage that is my focus for a time. It starts my day in a Godly way.

Do you have other suggestions for ways to contend for the benefits God wants us to have?

Jesus, Yourself

Gifts God Gives – Spiritual Gifts

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“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—”  Romans 1:11

Perhaps spiritual gifts are something you instinctively knew was something God gives. Perhaps it is something you would understand as not being earned. Or is it? Have you ever looked at other Christians who seem to be more victorious than you and thought God gave them better gifts than you? This post will hope to point out some of the spiritual gifts and perhaps also point out some of the ways that we can engage with them.

“Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.”  1 Timothy 4:14

This verse stands out to me as something very relatable. Have you ever given a gift that you just know the person has not made use of? I certainly have. This is basically what God is trying to get us not to do – don’t neglect the gift that is in you. Once you’ve received the gift from God, he wants you to make use of it.

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:”  1 Corinthians 12:1

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”  1 Corinthians 12:4 

“to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,”  1 Corinthians 12:9

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”  1 Corinthians 14:1

“Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.”  1 Corinthians 14:12

The above verses let us know that there are varying spiritual gifts, so we don’t have to compare ourselves with others. The final two verses also put it all in context, we want greater gifts in order to express God’s love.

May I encourage us all to receive our spiritual gifts and then to steward them well so that church will be built up.

Jesus, Yourself

Gifts God Gives – Salvation

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In this post I’m going to write about the most important gift you can receive from God! That gift is salvation. I am going to include several scriptures, because it is important to me that you know this is what God says in the Bible, not just a concept I came up with. If after you read this, you have any questions please feel free to comment.

Gift of Salvation – 

“But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.  And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.  For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.”  Romans 5:15-18

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”  Ephesians 2:8

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”  Ephesians 4:7

Like I have mentioned in my previous posts, just because God has a gift available for us does not mean we automatically receive it and the benefits of it. A gift requires a receiver. So if you’d like to receive the gift of salvation in can be as simple as praying something like …

God, I know that I have done things against your will and don’t deserve salvation. But I see in these verses that Jesus paid the price to give me salvation. So I ask you to forgive my sins, I choose to make Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, I believe that he died for my sins and that you rose him from the grave. So I receive the gift of salvation that I may have eternal life.

if you prayed that prayer and have any questions, please reach out. In the meantime, I highly encourage you to find a local church and speak with someone about this prayer. Begin reading the Bible and continue praying to God as he cares for you.

Jesus, Yourself

Even More Gifts God Gives

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I am continuing to write about gifts God gives. In my first post on this subject I explained where good gifts come from. Once we know that good gifts come from God. I think there can be two categories of responses.

  1. We begin to realize that God has gifts that He desires to give us and we begin to realize that He is inviting us to receive from Him and so these gifts actually lead to deepening of our relationship.
  2. We begin to realize that God has gifts that He desires to give us and we begin to grasp for the these “things” rather than enjoying our experience with Him. This is sometimes described as seeking the gift instead of the giver. This actually hurts our relationship.

As you can see, both of these responses impact the relationship – one for the better and one for the worse. Can’t we relate to this in our own lives? I know as a parent I have experienced both of these approaches from my kids. Can you remember a time when you were a child and became over-focused on the gift and really didn’t care about the giver? Can you remember a time when a gift was given that deepened your understanding of the giver’s love for you? I certainly can.

Another possible response, and sadly I think this has been my more common response in recent years, is to refuse the gift and insist on earning it on your own. That response also impacts the relationship. So as we continue to see gifts that God gives as stated in the Bible, I want to encourage you to examine yourself and see how often you have tried to earn these things rather than accepting them as gifts from your loving heavenly Father.

Things God gives – Peace, Perseverance, Encouragement

“Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.”  John 14:27

“Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus,”  Romans 15:5

“The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one;”  John 17:22

Things God gives – all things

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32

Things God gives – the victory

“but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Corinthians 15:57

Things God gives – wisdom

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.”  Ephesians 1:17

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”  James 1:5

Things God gives – understanding

“Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”  2 Timothy 2:7

Things God gives – not fear, but power, love, sound mind

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Things God gives – love

“See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.”  1 John 3:1

Wow, that was a whole lot of scripture about things God gives or has given. Were there any that surprised you? Let me recap with a quick list:

  • Peace, Perseverance, Encouragement
  • All Things
  • The Victory
  • Wisdom
  • Understanding
  • Power, Love, Sound Mind (not fear)
  • Love

May I encourage you in the days ahead that you look at your own life and see which if these gifts seems to be the most lacking. Then don’t just go to God and ask for it/them, thereby making the gift the focus, but instead that you’d go to God and acknowledge that He has these gifts and repent of looking elsewhere for them. Then within that relationship ask and receive the gifts.

The prayer can be something like this:

Heavenly Father, You are a good Father and I am so thankful to be your child. I see in your Word that you desire to give me peace, perseverance, and encouragement. I am so sorry I have looked to others for these things. I willingly receive the peace, perseverance, and encouragement you are offering as a gift to me and I thank you for them. In Jesus’ name.

For more writings on Gifts God Gives, see the following posts:

Jesus, Yourself

More Gifts God Gifts

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In this post I discussed where good gifts come from. It is so important to understand the source of things. Think about the last time you wanted something, who did you go to? Was it your parents, your spouse, your boss? It certainly isn’t wrong to ask people for things that we want or need, but when I realized that every good and perfect gift comes from God, it has changed how I view where to go first.

In this post I started to list out some of the gifts God specifically speaks of in the Bible. I want to continue that listing, again based on scripture. I pray that this will inspire you to receive more of what God desires to give.

Things God gives – riches and wealth, along with the power to receive blessing from it

“As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 5:19

I think we all know people who have money, who are just not able to enjoy it. I’ve recently, based on this scripture, begun to ask God to help me to rejoice in my labors.

Things God gives – living water

“Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”” John 4:10

I just have to tell you this scripture, is so packed for me. The opening phrase that Jesus said, “If you knew …” has been so profound for me. How many times do we miss gifts God has for us, simply because it is not packaged the way we expected it to be.

Things God gives – grace

“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;”  Romans 12:6

“of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.”  Ephesians 3:7

The above scriptures help me to see that even the gifts that we receive come via grace, so this helps me to allow space for other people’s journeys.

“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”    2 Timothy 1:6

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”  1 Peter 4:10

The above two scriptures provoke me to press on and realize that the gift of grace is an empowering gift that helps me to do the things God calls me to.

“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.””  James 4:6

The above verse so me that there are ways that we can block the gifts God wants to give. Humility opens up the gift of grace from God.

Things God gives – Rest

““Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

This has been transformative for me. I think I used to see the above verse as ‘go to Jesus and he will make things better.’ But now I see that I can go to God when I am worn out and I can receive a gift of rest.

Things God gives – keys to the kingdom / authority

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.””  Matthew 16:19

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” Matthew 28:18

““So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”  Luke 11:9

Wow are the above verses both empowering and challenging. May we remember that the authority is God’s and we get to execute it through His gifting.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father has chosen to give you the kingdom.”  Luke 12:32

This verse is absolutely a new favorite for me. I literally have made it a confession during my daily walks recently. How good does it feel to know that God has chosen to give you the kingdom?

I will continue with more gifts God speaks of in scripture, but for now I want to encourage you to review these things and pray that God would help you to receive the gifts He desires to give. Please reach out if you need prayer, I am happy to pray for you.

Mental Health, Mind, Yourself

Feelings

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Today I heard a quote by Mel Robbins, which got me thinking.

“How you’re feeling right now, is a function of what you see in the future.” — Mel Robbins

While I think there is some truth in this quote, it certainly isn’t the full picture, so please know as you read this there is more to feelings than simply making future goals.

Path
Path of Life

Scripture tells us, that God will make known the way we should go. It also tells us where we can find joy.

“You will make known to me the path of life, in Your presence is fullness of joy in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 16:11

I really appreciate much of what Mel Robbins shares, because, first, she is extremely practical. And honestly I think sometimes we just need someone to tell us something we can do that will make a difference. Second, she has a great way of boiling things down that can feel overwhelming. I very much appreciate that!

Emotions can be influenced by physical, mental, and spiritual things.

Now I’d like to add to the conversation about where feelings come from. As Mel mentioned in the quote above, our outlook on the future certainly can influence how we are feeling. In addition to this, I believe our feelings also can be indicators of more immediate things. These can include physical, mental, and spiritual things. For example in this post, I wrote about the some physical things such as dehydration, low blood sugar etc that can impact anxiety. Certainly our sleep or lack thereof can influence how we feel emotionally.

I want to encourage you that addressing any one of these areas can be helpful to you. So don’t allow the idea that these three can be involved to add to your overwhelm. Instead I’d suggest starting with whatever feels most do-able, knowing anything you do in these areas with the intent to serve yourself is likely to make a difference.

Can you offer yourself what you would a friend or a child?

Perhaps thinking about it from the vantage point of serving a friend, or a child might help also. If you had a friend who was distressed, would you grab them a cool cup of water, or warm cup of tea? Can you do the same for yourself. If you had a friend or saw a young child distressed would you be willing to simply hold them and say comforting things like “I’m here for you.” “It’s going to be ok.” Can you offer yourself the same? A phrase I say to myself on a regular basis right now is, simply …

I will be kind to myself today.

As simple as that phrase is, it has been powerful for me. As most of us are aware when we think about how we speak to ourselves, the tone can be quite harsh. I have been blessed to have two children, and anyone with more than one child who is able to speak, probably knows the feeling of having to remind one or both siblings to be kind to the other. Well, I’ve found that I needed to be reminded (or told for the first time) to be kind to myself. Can you set this intention also today – to be kind to yourself? It doesn’t have to mean you love everything you do, or that you are not open to making needed corrections. It simply means that you are committed to dealing with those things with kindness.

Following Jesus’ Model

There actually is a scripture that very much aligns with the Mel Robins quote I started this post with.

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Jesus when he was going through the worst experience of his life, he focused on joy that was to come later. So give yourself permission to see good things in the future, if right now is especially hard. If you need prayer – please feel free to reach out.

Jesus, Yourself

Preparation

joyimpactus
Preparation

“The Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might perform them in the land where you are going over to possess it.”  Deuteronomy 4:14 

I read this verse in a devotional this morning and it really struck me – that this is showing me that God prepares us for where we are going. 

Backing up in this chapter, in order to read the context, I see it starts with the exact same them of preparation right in verse 1.

“Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.”  Deuteronomy 4:1

It goes on to tell them not to add or take away from what is commanded.  That may seem obvious, but is it.  I too often find myself adding to what God shows me – you know if he asks me to walk a mile, I can think well it’s a lovely day, maybe he really wants me to walk two.  Sadly, I also can rationalize doing less than he commands at times as well.  Like, I know you wanted me to go speak to that person, but they look busy. 

Verse 5 once gain seems to be saying what verse 1 and 14 said, relating the statues and judgments as preparation. 

“See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it.”  Deuteronomy 4:5

Verse 6 is so cool.  It basically says do what you are told.  And in doing so you will demonstrate something aka be a witness. 

“So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’” Deuteronomy 4:6

Wow I love this chapter.  Verse 9 encourages us to not forget and to share with generations. 

“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.”  Deuteronomy 4:9

Beginning in verse 15 this chapter then shifts and begins to focus on a temptation that will be there for them because of how they received the Word of God.  You see they received it by hearing a voice, but not by seeing anything or anyone of form. 

“So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire, so that you do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female.”  Deuteronomy 4:15-16

This really resonated with me as well.  Not necessarily forming traditional visible idols, but idols, nonetheless.  Our God is invisible, oh His works are very much visible (see Romans 1:19-20).  But because He is invisible the temptation can be there to look for and/or create substitutes that we are sometimes more comfortable with.  So this same caution can apply to us today. 

May we focus on hearing and doing the instructions from our Lord, that we may be the witnesses He has called us to be, and that we will be prepared to possess the land He desires to give us.