This Week’s Questions

How are you doing with this week’s questions from the sermon on Sunday?  Really, how are you doing with them? 

For me, I’ve been thinking about them, but I’ve not reached out to process them with anyone or filled out a connect card.  I was thinking if I’m not doing this, is anyone?  And why not?  I think I know the answer to that – it’s hard.  It’s hard to ask for help.  It’s hard to be transparent.  And it is super hard to be vulnerable.  Well, here I am picking my “hard” to let you in on my thoughts and pray that you get something out of this…

  1. What causes me the most anxiety? 

That’s a hard one to answer.  Really it is more of how do I pick one thing and then is that the “one thing” that really causes the most anxiety?  To be honest this question causes anxiety.  I can be all over the place when it comes to anxiety… riding in the car with Mr. Dingle, Charles staying out late, flying on an airplane, being in a crowd of people, the thought of moving (away from my parents), public speaking, and crazy as it sounds – washing my hair.  See all over the place!  What I know about my anxiety is that it relates to control – I’m not in control of the majority of things I listed.  If I was to say that not being in control is what causes me the most anxiety that makes sense. (Hey, thanks for letting me work that out…)

  1.  Do you want to trust Jesus to handle that situation better than you?

Well, now that I realize lack of control causes me the most anxiety… Of course, I want to trust Jesus to handle this better than me – obviously, I’m not doing well in my own strength and I know He would be much better.    

  1.  How am I going to submit to God’s Holy Spirit?

And now here we are at question #3… how am I going to submit to God’s Holy Spirit in trusting that Jesus can handle my control issues better than me?  I’m going to have to stay in constant communication with Him!  I’m going to have to lay it all down at His feet every single time, in every situation, and trust that He will take care of me.  Pray.  Pray.  Pray.  Pray.  And pray some more!  Praise God – tomorrow is Fast and Pray!

We meet at 7pm for prayer in the sanctuary – come pray with us or let us know how we can pray for you.    

Lastly, I want to share these scriptures that I meditate on when I feel anxious:

2 Timothy 1:7:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-discipline.
 

Philippians 4:4-9:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Your Sister In Christ, 

Naomi