July 2018

This is the Site of a Great Victory

Genesis 35:1; 1Chronicles 21:18; Joshua 4:3

Even if you are a Bible verse expert, the preceding verses probably don’t sound familiar. They’re not very quotable. However, taken together, they show a pattern that is extremely helpful to anyone who suffers with anxiety. Each verse is a command by God to build a monument in remembrance. God commanded the building of monuments because he knows how easily humans forget his power and faithfulness. We easily get consumed and overwhelmed with the immediate situation. In fact, one of my previous blogs, describes how Elijah, one of the most important Bible prophets, forgot God’s power and faithfulness. If it can happen to Elijah, it will definitely happen to us. Therefore, when God delivers us from a problem or situation, we need to memorialize that victory.

God cured me from anxiety over 10 years ago, but every now and then, I can sense those old, anxious thoughts trying to creep back into mind my. The last time it happened was April 2017. I had presentation in front my peers from all over the country. When I was first assigned the presentation, I was calm. However, by the time of the presentation, I had some anxious thoughts. Nevertheless, just like always, God delivered me. Building a monument wasn’t exactly feasible, so instead, I said to myself, “This is the sight of great victory.”

I think written documentation would be even better. That way, the next we find ourselves anxious, we can look at a list of victories that God has given us. And that would be powerful tool against anxiety.

I’m ending all my posts with an invitation to accept Jesus. If you would like to accept Jesus, simply pray the following prayer or one like it: “Dear Lord, I’m a sinner. I acknowledge that You sent Your son, Jesus, to die for my sins. I humbly accept Your son, Jesus, and I now further acknowledge that I am forgiven of my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins.” If you prayed that simple prayer, you are saved. Now, you need to follow Jesus. Start reading your Bible. I would suggest starting with Matthew, reading all of the New Testament, then reading the Old Testament. Also, find a good church. Christianity was never meant to be done alone. You need to be in community with other believers.

 

Rest in the Shadow…when anxious

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)

Some scholars attribute Psalm 91 to David, and David had every reason to be anxious. After he slays Goliath, David becomes a great warrior in King Saul’s army. However, Saul becomes extremely jealous of David and chases David throughout the kingdom trying to kill him, even though David had been loyal to Saul. No doubt, David had some anxious days. With the king trying to kill him, I’m sure rest was scarce. However, David knew rest was anti-anxiety medicine, especially “rest in the shadow of the Almighty”.

Think about it. To rest in an object’s shadow, we must be close to it. Likewise, we need to be close to God (or have a close relationship with God) in order to rest in his shadow. Additionally, to rest in an object’s shadow, the object must be big. Likewise, God is plenty big enough to cast a large shadow. Consequently, Psalm 91:1 gives me a powerful view over my anxiety. For instance, I see any anxiety being in my shadow. It’s in my shadow because the specific things that make me anxious, apply only to me. In other words, the specific things that make me anxious don’t make other people anxious. Hence, my anxiety is in my shadow. Now I see God casting his shadow over me, and his shadow completely “overshadows” my anxiety. If we put everything in a row, I see a big God, a big shadow, a small me, and a teeny, tiny anxiety.  And it’s very powerful to see my anxiety as something small and insignificant compared to God.

I’m ending all my posts with an invitation to accept Jesus. If you would like to accept Jesus, simply pray the following prayer or one like it: “Dear Lord, I’m a sinner. I acknowledge that You sent Your son, Jesus, to die for my sins. I humbly accept Your son, Jesus, and I now further acknowledge that I am forgiven of my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins.” If you prayed that simple prayer, you are saved. Now, you need to follow Jesus. Start reading your Bible. I would suggest starting with Matthew, reading all of the New Testament, then reading the Old Testament. Also, find a good church. Christianity was never meant to be done alone. You need to be in community with other believers.