Ponder This: What would happen if I spent more time remembering God’s faithfulness than stirring in my fears?
Scripture To Consider: I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.I will be glad and rejoice in you;I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.-Psalm 9:1-2
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Karen's Response: The enemy loves for me to sit in my fears and anxiety, and I often allow him to do it. He knows that when those things have a grip on me, I miss out on the full life I am called to live through Jesus. Jesus speaks this truth in John 10:10 when He says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”If I spent more time remembering God’s faithfulness instead of stirring in my fears, I believe my life would be full of the very things that fear and anxiety rob from me. I would live a life full of joy and peace, and always be aware of God’s goodness around me. This is the life I crave, and I know it is the life that Jesus came to give me. David’s formula in Psalm 9:1-2 shows me how to direct my heart and mind toward God. And I know that my fear shrinks as I remember just how BIG God is. So, I will give thanks; I will tell; I will be glad; I will rejoice; and I will sing praise to my faithful God.
Tom's Response: In theory, remembering God's faithfulness should strengthen trust and lessen anxiety. We have all been in situations where a complication pops up out of nowhere, and we react without all the information to solve the problem. Sometimes you need to react quickly out of fear, like if you run into a bear or a Mack truck swerves into your lane, but most of the time we react too quickly to stressful challenges. Too quickly to consider that God is already working on this situation or was working prior to it becoming a complication. Consider how many times in your life God has intervened through visible miracles and unseen moments. God's faithfulness is constant, consistent, merciful, and loving.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
2 Timothy 2:13 If we are not faithful, he will still be faithful. Christ cannot deny who he is.
The worldly view is that life is unpredictable and that luck is about being in the right place at the right time. No wonder there is so much fear and anxiety in the world today. Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Christians trust that God is sovereign and in control. So, why then do we fall into the fear-over-faithfulness trap? God gives us free will; we are imperfect, and Satan knows this. I believe the remedy is to talk to God about your situation and put faith in His promises.
