Know my Anxieties

 

 

    

Ps 139:23

 

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;  (NKJV)

 

I was in a situation one time,  where I said something, tongue-in-cheek, for comedic effect.  Later, however, I became concerned that the person may not understand that I was only joking and may be offended with me.  I called them to apologize.  I was immediately assured that they were not offended in the least.  Their response was reassuring, as they said, "We know your heart."  I was grateful that they did not think my heart to be mean-spirited or unkind.

 

There have been other instances in my life where I felt like I knew my own heart in a situation, only to find out that my motives were not pure in the least.  Sometimes I was shocked to find areas of my heart that I locked the Lord out of, keeping them for me alone.  Who can really know our heart, but the Lord alone?

 

God knows my heart, He senses my anxieties, He knows what makes me tick- and yet He still loves me and extends mercy to me.  Sometimes I need Him to shine the spotlight of the Holy Spirit in my heart and show me the contents- whether they are pleasing or displeasing in his sight.  Sometimes I am not even aware of the anxieties that I am entertaining and the negative impact that has on my heart.

 

 

Dear Lord, take control of my heart and mind.  Drive out the thoughts that displease you and breed anxiety.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Sherri

The Consolation Prize

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.”  Psalm 94:19

 

I am not going to lie to you.  Today I had some moments when “anxiety was great within me.”  I had some life problems that were bigger than me and any ability that I had to fix them.  Hopeless, really…if I did not have Jesus.  But thank the Lord, he is right beside me to bring consolation and joy to my soul.

Yesterday as I posted my blog about believing and then again this morning when I felt led to post a verse on facebook about the same topic, I was feeling pretty good about life and hoped those thoughts and verses would help someone going through a trial, then boom!  I realized that perhaps they were for me as well.  Before I had reason to be anxious, the Lord was offering me his consolation.

I don’t know if you are the trusting sort, or if you are like me, and have a hard time struggling with worry.  But either way, we all face things that are bigger than us.  When that happens, we often feel the need to “do” something, even if the only thing we can “do” is worry and fret.  Today I resolved to just trust him at his word.  Within an hour of that decision, God very clearly came through for me in another area with a long-awaited answer to prayer.  And then it hit me.  He would be just as faithful over the other situation as he was over the one that I already had an answer to.  As a child of God, his joy and consolation are available to you.  Refocus your anxious thoughts instead to thoughts of his faithfulness, love and power.  Before long, you will find hope and joy spring alive within your heart!

Dear Lord, help me to quit worrying.  It is a hard habit to overcome, I need you to show me how.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri