Worries and Fear-The Enemies of Peace

Anxiety is a condition that has appeared in my life as a constant companion since I was very young.  I attribute it to genetics since I come from a family that tends to overreact and blow things out of proportion. In other words, I grew up worried.  It was just part of life.  Everything was a serious problem and a source of fear.  And nobody ever told me how to manage it.  It took for me to leave my country and my family behind in order to begin to take a look at myself and see I had a problem.  

Over the years, I've been able to realize that my anxiety derives from two main sources:

1. worries about the future: I tend to look ahead too much and see how little control I have over what might happen.  Even when I try to manipulate things and concoct remedies for situations I think will happen...I don't know if any of it will work out...so the vicious cycle of anxiety is re-enforced.  The more I think about the future, the more I know that I don't know anything and the more I worry.  The scenarios in my head are all dark and horrible.  So I lose it.

2. Fear of being alone: linked to my worries about the future are my fears of being alone.  I watched the movie The Notebook recently... again...boy do I hate that movie.  It makes me so sad.  Thinking about the loneliness of an illness like Alzheimer's and the absolute lack of control over it terrifies me.  Losing my loved ones in a future so uncertain is unthinkable.  Not having anyone to walk with me through the rough road of life is just devastating.

These two states of mind are enough to bring anyone down effortlessly.  Worries and fears are the greatest enemies of peace.  Fortunately, The Lord offers us His promises of abundant life (John 10: 10) and of a new life (2 Corinthians 5: 17) and of peace beyond our understanding (Philippian 4: 6). He knows how the human mind operates and how it can lead us through pathways that we have no business going through.  that's why Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6: 34).  That's why He reminds us how He is with us forever (Matthew 28:20b).  Because He knows those are the key elements that tend to unravel us. 

The only way to know that fear doesn't win, is by staying close to Him in His Word.  Therefore, finding Christian counselors and professionals who can guide us in the management of our anxiety from the perspective of Scripture is key.  I firmly believe that no amount of treatment will ever be as effective if it is not founded on the Solid Rock. 

I pray we can all find the peace that surpasses all understanding and that we can enjoy the abundant life here on earth as we walk hand in hand with Jesus, the Healer of every brokenness and the Comforter of every hurt.  In The Precious Name of the One Whose Name is Power: Jesus the Christ.  Amen! 

Thanksgiving

 The crisp air, the clear, blue sky, the bright sunshine and the brilliant turning leaves all speak of fall...and fall speaks of thanksgiving.  This morning I read a short devotional titled "Happy Thanksgiving" and even though it's not even November yet...I want to acknowledge the fact that every day should be a thanksgiving day.

A spirit of gratitude should be kindled and re-kindled in our hearts regardless of our circumstances.  Like the apostle Paul said in his letter to the Philippians,

In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6-7

How hard is this, though?

For worry-ridden people like me...VERY!

However, the more we have a tendency to immerse ourselves in the fear of our situation...the more we need to read and meditate on verses like this.  

To me, what Paul is saying revolves around the idea of thanksgiving as the glue that holds together our relationship with Christ.  Thanksgiving is the prerequisite...prayers and requests need to be presented "with thanksgiving" in order for the gift of peace to be released to guard our hearts and minds in Him who is Peace.  And that is exactly what we really want when we are in the midst of a hard moment: peace...the kind of peace that guards our hearts and minds.  We've probably all been there...at that point when our mind gets away from us and leads our heart to a dark place or vice versa. The antidote for a runaway mind or heart is peace...a peace that others see and go, "how is that possible?"  That's the peace that transcends all understanding and it's the peace that only Jesus can give.

How do we get that peace? 

The key, according to the inspired words of Paul is thanksgiving.  

There is a strong link between an attitude of gratitude and a soul overflowing with peace.  And gratitude is not just in the good times and for the gifts.  Thanksgiving is needed in every situation. It's not that we are thanking God for the horrible things that happen to us.  How can anyone thank God for a terrible crime or utter devastation? Impossible! I believe the attitude of thanksgiving comes from a knowledge and a certainty that in that unthinkable case, God is with us.  It is the attitude that allows us to recognize the unfathomable as an opportunity to trust Him and thank Him for His presence and for the closeness that ensues.  The Lord is, indeed, close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34: 18)...no doubt about it, and for that we give thanks. 

In those moments of hardship and suffering...may the Spirit of the Most High God grant us the ability to experience the gratitude that expresses our trust in His promise of peace and presence.  May we be assured that as we do this, You will guard our hearts and minds in the safety of your hand.  In the Precious Name of Jesus Our Prince of Peace.  Amen!

The King of Glory and of My Heart

Psalm 24 is a magnificent piece of Scripture that exalts the One and Only King of Glory! Like Jon Courson's commentary says: if "Psalm 22 deals with the cross and Psalm 23 with the crook... Psalm 24 will deal with the crown."

Absolutely, in a day when we seem so battered and beaten by a society that wages war against all things Christian...in a day when illnesses and decay seem to be running rampart all around...in a day when natural disasters and violence of all kind seem to be bent on destroying all things beautiful...in a day when politics seem to be corroding the core of our souls...in a day when hope may seem fragile...Psalm 24 reminds us who we belong to...whose we are, and in whose dominium we stand:

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.

Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?

The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.

They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior.

Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.

Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty— he is the King of glory.

We know who He is.  We know who this King of Glory is: Jesus, the One and Only.  That is the privilege we have above those who came before.  We know Jesus is the King of Glory.  We do not have to wonder.  We know.  May we rest on Psalm 24 today, knowing full well that the ancient doors will lift once again so Jesus, Our King of Glory may return.  In the meantime, we wait without losing hope.  In the meantime we remember and we praise Him...the LORD Almighty!  In Jesus' precious name.  Amen!

P. S.:  I hope you enjoy a time of worship with the embedded son above.  

May I Present Him My Willing Heart

 I don't know about you, but, I like my food to be flavorful.  I know, I know...I'm weird that way...but I tell you, bland is not my favorite.  I mean, think about ordering a delicious steak at a most excellent steak house (or whatever your preferred dish might be).  Oh the anticipation!! -We don't go out to eat much, so when we do, I'm all giddy inside!- Anyway, finally, after what seems like an eternity, your meal arrives at your table.  You look at it.  You turn your plate around to admire it from every angle. You take a picture of it.  You pick up your utensils with reverence.  You inhale its fragrance.  You close your eyes to enjoy a maximum experience of the expected explosion of taste in your mouth...and...and...you take that glorious first bite...

Then, those around you wonder what's wrong with you.  They've just witnessed your face going from "Christmas morning at age 7 and 1/2" to "Saturday, 8:00 a.m. advanced trigonometry final exam."  

The reason: the seemingly heavenly steak or whatever you ordered-meal is completely insipid.  You don't know whether to call the waitress to check if they gave you someone else's plate or to go to the nearest pharmacy to get a rapid Covid test.  You do neither, and instead, you reach for the salt and pepper...only to realize...there aren't any shakers at the table...nothing...no condiments at all.  What's even more strange is that you ask for salt, anything that could bring some flavor to this sorry excuse of a main course...but they don't even know what you're talking about.  Nobody has heard of salt...that is your food...and that is the world without Christians...without the "salt of the earth."

We are the salt...and as such, our mission is to provide what salt does...and to provide it to others.  Salt it's not salty for its own sake.  Salt exists to be poured out, pinched and tossed, and sprinkled around so others can have a flavorful experience when they dig into their sustenance.  The salt that remains out of reach, hidden underground...does not fulfill its purpose...just like the light that is under a bushel.  We have to give ourselves fully so our salt can do its thing...but, are we?  Am I?

Matthew 5: 13-16 has always been challenging to me.  We meditated on it on Sunday service and it shook me.  Today, I read in a devotional a series of questions that get to the core of my discomfort:

"The mirror is "the word of truth" from God (James 1:18). When we read the Scriptures, what do we see? Do we recognize ourselves when they describe love and humility? Do we see our own actions when we read what God commands us to do? When we look into our hearts and test our actions, Scripture can help us recognize if our actions are in line with what God desires for us or if we need to seek repentance and make a change." (Our Daily Bread, 10/3/22)

When presented with challenging Bible passages like Matthew 5: 13-16, the mirror of Scripture is placed directly in front of me and all these questions bombard my heart bringing an enormous amount of conviction since I know my answers will not represent a passing grade...

The good news is, in spite of our weakness and our failures, we need not be weighted down by the guilt of our shortcomings.  Guilt is a tool of the enemy to keep us crushed and ineffective.  Jesus is about forgiveness.  Mercy flows through the throne of God. 

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103: 8-12)

He knows we are going to stall often, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3: 23).  But, God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3: 17)  And  “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10: 13) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8: 1)

He makes all things new (Revelations 21: 5)...even us...even me...

I am weak.  My salt may be losing its saltiness.  I have been out of the reach of those who need me for too long. But He can still use me.  Even if I've been hiding for a long time, He can put me back on the table so whatever nutrients are still in me can be poured out and sprinkled around to flavor someone else's experience with the blessing of His Presence.  He can reach underneath the bushel, grab my light and put it on His stand so whatever light still remains in me can contribute to shine in the darkness of our days.  May I present to Him my willing heart.  In Christ's precious Name, I pray.  Amen!

Safe in His Presence

 As I look at the views of the devastation that the latest hurricane has brought to countries in the Caribbean, to Florida, and other regions, I can't help but think how I would react if I lived in one of these areas.  

I was born and raised in Panama, and you'd imagine I'm used to hurricanes and disasters like this.  Actually, because of its positioning, Panama rarely gets a direct hit from a hurricane.  I don't think it has ever happened.  We get tropical storms and hurricane tail ends...but nothing like what countries such as Cuba, Puerto Rico and other areas get.  We have been blessed with a privilege that is rarely acknowledged except in the midst of disasters like the current ones.

Therefore, I've never been in the eye of a storm of this magnitude.  And the prospect of experiencing something like that terrifies me.  The loss of property and life...the loss of hope...the loss of everything...the uncertainty about the future...none of those things I long to have to go through.  Nobody does, really...but regardless of all the precautions we take...regardless of all the planning and careful strategizing we may conduct...regardless of how we decide to live in areas that are seemingly/statistically/geographically/historically super safe from harm...the storm can always find us no matter what.

No amount of educated decision making that we think we are performing can ever keep us 100% safe from the winds and the waves.  The Only One Who can is the One to Whom they Listen and Obey.  Therefore, the safest place is under the shadow of His wings.  However, the promise is not that we will get to skip the storm...the promise is that when the storm comes, He will be right there with us...and that the future is held by His Hand, thus it must be released out of our mind and heart.  

So, when the tempest pounds on us with utmost fury, and we feel like we don't have what it takes to endure it, let us remember Isaiah 43: 2, 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

His dominium extends to all of His creation, from the nice and quiet summer evenings, colored by marvelous sunsets and the twinkling of fireflies, to the fury and uproar of the squall, gale, downpour, tornadoes or hurricanes.  Blessed Be His Name, Always.  Amen!