Living in the promises of Christ against fear

1 John 4: 18 “Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that His love has not been perfected in us.”

Knowing that fear does not come from God is such an amazing promise. The love of Christ expels all fear in your lives. When we do fear we know that it is showing an area where we are not trusting Christ. It is a place that Christ has not changed yet; a dirty spot in our heart with cobwebs. Ask Christ to come in and change it. He will give you faith.

I have come to know that He does not always give it immediately (although sometimes He does!), but He is always faithful…even when I am far from it (well, actually I am almost never really faithful). Just as we talked about in church on sunday:

1 Corinthians 1:20, “For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.”

Christian service, environmental science, and a burp that wouldn’t burp part 1.

 Part 1. A Burp that wouldn’t burp

The last two weeks of my life have really sucked and yet…well, they have been awesome at the same time. It seems like life is usually like that. We get the ups and we get the downs, but somehow the ups seem to be connected more with their downs than with other ups and the downs seem to be one the causes of the ups rather than the absence of ups. Got that?

I have had really good times with the Lord this week though, and the reason is because I have been brought to my knees. I have always struggled with anxiety you see, and these past two weeks have been a real knock down brawl street fight biting scratching spiting thing.

It started out with something I tried the Monday before last that kicked my butt. I woke up at like 3:00 in the morning the next day worrying like crazy. It didn’t even make sense type of worry. It was totally irrational. I talked to several people and they were like, “Dude that totally doesn’t make any sense.” Ok, maybe they didn’t say dude in real life, but they do in my memory. I knew it didn’t, but I couldn’t convince myself to let it go. It was there always…like a burp that wont burp. It just stays in your chest. Making you feel motion sick.

After a few days of feeling like total crap my roommate, Chris, pointed out to me in 2 Corinthians the difference between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. My sorrow fell completely under the description of worldly sorrow. Then, I was able to talk to my college pastor about it. He actually struggled to understand what I was saying. I bet he has heard like 500 whiny college students explain their struggles. He has known me since 2001, and he still struggled to understand me. What does that tell you?

I guess that is how it is when you struggle with anxiety. It is yours and no one else’s. You own it. You selfishly take it and nurture it until it is a full blown anxiety. My college pastor did figure it out (Actually I already knew all about it, but I needed somebody I trusted to say the same thing before I explained it), and he pointed out the parts that were legitimate fears that I could take to Christ and the parts that had gotten jumbled in with the rest. He pointed out that the enemy likes to keep things jumbled, general, and fear filled whereas Christ brings clarity, specificity, and hope.

That night I prayed before I went to bed that Christ would protect me from my daily ritual of waking up at 3:00 AM and sitting in bed worrying for 3 hours until it was time for school. Well, I still woke up, but I immediately opened up my bible and started having my quiet time with the Lord. He then took me to this passage. Check it out.

Tremble, and do not sin;

Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.

Selah. 

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,

And trust in the LORD.

Many are saying, “Who will show us good?”

Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD! 

You have put gladness in my heart,

More than when their grain and new wine abound. 

In peace I will both lie down and sleep,

For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.

Psalm 4: 4-8

Wow, that had to be one of the most obvious answers to prayer I have ever experienced! I mean seriously…tremble…but don’t sin. I was trembling. Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Where do you think I was sitting? In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. For the rest of this week I have gotten up early to have my time with the Lord. I still struggle with anxietal residue, but I am learning that I need the Lord every single day. He gives peace freely. Just ask.

Part 2, “Serving Others” coming soon.

Stop for a second…listen to Christ

The semester is starting off. Things are starting to role. Every semester about this time my mind goes immediately to all the stuff I have to do. What will my workload be like? When are my classes? What bible studies will I go to? Now, I have the added, what needs to be done on my research projects? It is difficult now to stop and just listen to Christ.

Before I went to Syria I really did a poor job of just stopping and spending time in meditation and prayer. As a result I had a lot of stuff on my “spiritual resume” as it is called. You know…lead this bible study, did this ministry, handed out such and such tracts, but I really had very little depth in faith. When real struggle came the real me showed.

College is such an easy time in life. Brothers and sisters, spend time with Christ this semester in private. Satan wants to convince you that this time could be better spent.

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and

pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who

sees in secret will reward you.”

                             Matthew 6:6                                              

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! Have a wonderful day with your family. Remember the reason we celebrate Christmas. Jesus came to the world and was born in a humble place to save sinners. Glorify Him today!