07.02.2008

Psalm 94:18,19
When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

Philippians 1:6
… he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.


Hello!

I hope that you’ve had a good week. I’ve been continually learning and re-learning this week all the things I’ve talked about before regarding worry and control, myself, and let me tell you: it’s not easy.

Last time I wrote, I spoke about people in my life that had recently encouraged me. It’s been hard hanging onto what they’ve shared with me (or what I’ve observed from them) though. There are certain heart-issues at hand that need to be resolved within me – most of which deal with trying to control areas of my life that I really don’t have control over. The phrase, “Give it to Jesus,” is a lot easier said than tangibly done …but not impossible, for nothing is impossible with God. Those of you who have been in these shoes know what I’m talking about.

God is good and whatever realm that is in our hearts that nags at us, pulls us down, or discourages us is a realm that God wants to make right. We are not meant to be people fraught with anxiety. We’re not meant for a number of things that are contrary to God’s way – whatever that might be for you. Praise God that He has a merciful and compassionate spirit that works to change our ways towards His ways. I know that because God is in control I don’t have to be worried about anything; living this way is hard, harder than I think I’ve realized before… I keep ending up in the same place just when I think I’m doing pretty good. See, God doesn’t let me (or you) off the hook. Nope. He won’t leave us in the same place that He found us or in the place that we keep falling into. He brings reminders to our ears and eyes to not only bring us back on track but to also let us know that what His intentions for us are good. For example: this Sunday was about finding the peace of Christ by relinquishing control, then Psalm 94 came to my attention when my husband pointed something out in it, and then I heard a song today that reminded me about how God gives and takes (ultimately, that He is the one in control)… then that song brought me to another song paraphrasing Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” I can probably expect more to come.

How good it is for God to bring reminders into our lives and to be continually working on us.
Whatever your personal vice is (i.e. mine is evidently worry/anxiety), God is able to make it right; He will also send you notes now and again to let you know it is something that needs to change. How it can be given to Jesus is probably going to look different for each of us, though. I pray that we can learn to lay our burdens down before Jesus, that we can allow God to open up our wounds for healing, and that He would change our ways to match His ways.

In love and in Him,
Your sister,
Yvonne



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