By George, I think she's getting it!

Recently, I've been reading a LOT of gospel centered material! Per my last post, it has been the most riveting time in my life! The Lord has opened my eyes to the fact that I am not only saved by his grace- but I am sanctified by that same grace. Too long I have lived in the mind set that it is up to me to change myself. This new shift in focus has been challenging to me as now I see that the true work is not going out and making myself better, it's working hard to remember who I am in Christ! Constantly trying to see how the gospel intersects my moment by moment living is challenging and exciting! The Lord has been faithful to little by little show me how to practically live out the gospel every day. Yesterday, I think it hit me. (Though, I still have a looooong way to go). I was listening to my new favorite preacher online, Tullian Tchividjian, and he said this:

"What areas in your life are you restless or anxious? It is in those areas that you have trusted in something smaller than Jesus."

He was preaching on Colossians 1: 15-17, which talks about the supremacy of Christ in all things. It was incredible, when I took the areas of my life in which I am quite anxious lately before this passage, immediately I saw things clearly! When you see how BIG Jesus is, everything else pails in comparison!

So I got to thinking...how would I have usually handled my anxiety? EASY! I would have quoted myself Philippians 4: 6 and 7. Which says:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

What's wrong with that? You might ask? That's a great practical verse! To which I would say, yes! You are right! The problem isn't in the verse. The problem lies in my focus of the verse. Here's how I would read this verse before:

"Be anxious for nothing...bla bla bla ..yada yada...bla bla bla." I would totally muddle over the most important parts of this verse! Which contains the very power to overcoming fear and anxiety!!!! I can no more stop being anxious by telling myself "Don't be anxious, don't be anxious, don't be anxious" than I can make myself NOT hungry for a cupcake by saying to myself "Don't desire a cupcake, don't desire a cupcake, don't desire a cupcake"

****BURP!!!!*****

See? The only way that I can use scripture to my benefit is by focusing on the gospel- on Jesus! So here's how I would work through the verse now:

"through Christ Jesus." The only way that I can have the power to not be anxious is through Jesus! He has paid the penalty for my anxiety! Even though I am sitting here freaking out on the inside, I have Jesus' spotless record! It's as if I've never been anxious! God is not further away from me right now because of my anxiety. In fact, Jesus is at the right hand of the father right now praying for me and advocating for me before the Lord. It is through this realization that I can have perfect peace that will surpass the understanding that I have right now. Jesus is enough! Jesus is all I need! It is because of Jesus that I can be at peace knowing that He's got this! I don't need to worry or fear! It is that peace that will allow me to pray with thanksgiving and take my anxieties to the Lord boldly, without guilt, and asking Him to help me! Then I will no longer be anxious! (at least, for the moment...till my sinful flesh creeps back up again- and it's back to Jesus I run!)

Do you see the difference? It is the difference of trying to force myself to not be anxious by my own power, and running to the gospel and seeking true power by God's grace! This is the gospel. This is true Christianity! I encourage my sweet readers to practice this in your bible reading and battles against the flesh! Do not think that by being a Christian, you are finished with the gospel! It is the gospel alone that will grow us in Christ! We need the gospel as much today as the day the Lord opened our eyes and made us a new creature in Him! Run to Jesus, focus on Jesus, and watch how He transforms your heart!