Busyness is getting to me, and I’m feeling anxious. Does this happen to only me? Probably not. I’m training a couple of new people at the Food Cupboard, which takes some extra in-depth time. Our church has finally changed denominations and is now seeking a new pastor, and there have been and now are meetings to attend – many meetings – more time. Thanksgiving just flew by, and Christmas is around the next corner. Oh my, oh my! I wonder why I’m feeling anxious.
Prayer is the answer for me. I find when all the ends are becoming unraveled that the only answer for me is to seek God’s will in my life and find out what Jesus is directing me to do. The one thing I know for sure is my God is always with me and He always says – be anxious in nothing! The exact quote from Paul to the Philippians is “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.”
Well, I can’t ask for more than the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, can I, and that is exactly what I am seeking – God’s peace. Isn’t it nice that the sentence doesn’t end there, but it says that peace will guard my heart and mind through Jesus. I love that my mind will be guarded by the One that loves me so. Some days it seems as if my mind will burst from busyness and concern that nothing will get done on time, and then I pray and find out that what is making me crazy isn’t really a big issue in Jesus’ book. I get it that some days I’m just more of a Martha than a Mary.
If we remember the story, Martha was the busy one feeding all the guests and Mary was the one eager to sit and learn from her Savior Jesus. Yes, Jesus said both things were good things, but He told Martha that Mary had chosen the better thing. So, I let Jesus tell me which of the many things that are making me crazy right now is the ”better thing.” It gives me a lot of relief to have Jesus’ directions and priorities, which make much more sense than mine, especially when my mind is spinning. Sure, people need to be fed at Christmas, but is that something to be concerned about two weeks ahead of the date? No, Jesus says put that away until next week and we’ll deal with it then. Ah, thank you!
And let me not forget the part about “with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Indeed. I must thank my Father for letting me be such an active part of His work on Earth, don’t I? I just cannot be moaning and groaning about the work to be done because if I am not doing my work with a joyful heart God would prefer I don’t bother doing it. My Father wants me to have His joy in my heart as I go about doing His will. The joy of the Lord! His words tell me that is how my heart should be and then He tells me how to trust Him and be calm as I do that work.
Now, I have prayed and asked direction and I am feeling mightily calmed down – so much so that He told me to take a break and let you know how I’ve been fretting and why it is totally unnecessary as we move into the Christmas celebrations.
And we all know, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” We celebrate Jesus’ birth this time of year, but Jesus was born to die for us. That was the plan since before the Earth was formed. Christmas truly is a time for celebration because our God so loved us that He died to reconcile us to Him – something we sinners can never accomplish on our own. Oh what joy it brings to my heart just to type those words and sense God’s grace and goodness to me.
So to those anxious thoughts I say goodbye. God’s grace has overwhelmed me with love and joy and gladness so that I will be anxious in nothing, I will let God’s peace reign over me, and I will be thankful that God still assigns me work to do, in His name, here on Eearth. I am greatly blessed by my Father and I am happy to say Jesus is still on the throne of my heart. Thank you my Lord.
