Why Worry? Verse Mapping Psalm 139:5

I LOVE Psalm 139:5!!!  When I read what the verse of the week was for our OBS Week 7, I got super excited!  Each translation of this verse reveals so much about the wonderful ways God gives us to rid ourselves of worry.

The NLT version of Psalm 139:5 reads: "You go before me and follow me.  You place Your hand of blessing on my head."  This made me think of how soothing it feels to have someone place their hands on your head, especially if they are rubbing your scalp or stroking your hair.  Getting my hair cut is one of my favorite things to do simply for the washing and conditioning of the hair - the scalp rub is the best part!  It is also very relaxing as the stylist brushes and styles your hair.  Whenever I am blessed with the time to get a massage, I request that they spend a fair amount of time massaging my scalp.

There is something very calming and pacifying about hands on the head, and the fact that God places His hand of blessing on our heads is incredibly soothing!  We have access to this calmness and reassurance at all times - we just have to seek Him.  It also amazes me to think of how blessed we are that our wonderful and incredible God would take the time to remember us and to comfort us - not only by placing His hand on us, but by giving us blessings as well!

The NIV translation of Psalm 139:5 reads: "You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me."  "Hemmed in" - this sounds just like getting tucked in a nice warm, comfortable, and safe bed by God.  When we are aware of His presence, we can have that feeling of safe warmth all throughout our day!  Usually I am very claustrophobic (sleeping bags are NOT an option for me!), but the thought of being hemmed in by God sounds wonderful - being trapped in by God's blessings and security actually frees us from worry, fear, anxiety, shame, and other negative emotions, which leaves us free to enjoy His many blessings.  We have no need to worry when He is always with us, keeping us hemmed in with Him!



Psalm 139:50 in The Message reads:  "I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too - your reassuring presence, coming and going."  God is behind us in everything we do; and He is also ahead of us, preparing the way for our future!  Jeremiah 29:11 also reminds us that He is preparing the way for us: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'" (NIV)

The Message version also makes me think of this Prayer of St. Patrick:

As I arise today, 

may the strength of God pilot me,

the power of God uphold me,

the wisdom of God guide me.

May the eye of God look before me, 

the ear of God hear me,

The word of God speak for me.

May the hand of God protect me,

the way of God lie before me,

the shield of God defend me,

the host of God save me.

May Christ shield me today. 

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, 

Christ on my right, Christ on my left, 

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I stand, 

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, 

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

Amen.  

I love this prayer, and I love the idea of God and Christ surrounding us, protecting us, and reassuring us.  When we consciously focus on seeking God throughout the day, he will calm our fears and anxieties.  We have no need or room for worry when we make God the sole focus of our lives - He is surrounding us to protect and bless us, and is preparing our future for us too!  I pray you are able to seek Him throughout all your days, and that you are able to experience His blessings and peace.  God bless! :)

Fear and Doubt - Verse Mapping Luke 24:38

For Week 3 of our OBS, I chose to dive into our scripture for the week - Luke 24:38: "'Why are you frightened?' he asked.  'Why are your hearts filled with doubt?'" (NLT) 

Frightened is defined by Google as "afraid or anxious."  Luke 24:38 details the disciple's reaction after Christ was resurrected from the dead.  Even after all the miracles that Jesus performed prior to the crucifixion, the disciples still did not believe that he was truly standing there - they were not believing the miracle of the resurrection!  Not only did they not believe, they were anxious and afraid.  Two other translations of Luke 24:38 read: 

• "And he said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?'"  (NIV).
• "He continued with them, 'Don't be upset, and don't let all these doubting questions take over.'" (MSG)  

God does not want us to be troubled, anxious, or afraid; and he especially does not want doubts taking over our lives.  How many of us are consumed with worry, anxiety, doubts for our lives?  Most of us are, but the good news is that we do not have to be filled with these any longer!  Jesus taught the disciples multiple times during his journey to not be troubled, anxious, or afraid (Luke 12:22-28, Matthew 6:25-34), yet they still were anxious and doubtful.  As disciples of Christ, we must learn to turn our concerns, worries, fears, anxieties, and doubts over to God.  Not only does He ask that we do so, he wants us to do so!  He desires for us to talk to him, and to turn everything over to him.  How incredible is it that we have such a loving God, who wants us to live free of anxiety and doubts?!?  All we have to do is believe, and trust in Him.  

Doubt is a word I use on almost a daily basis.  If I do not say it out loud (i.e. "I doubt we can make that work...I doubt I will have time for that"), then I say it internally (i.e. "I doubt I can do that...I doubt that he/she will do what they are supposed to").  Merriam-Webster defines doubt as "To be uncertain about (something); to believe that (something) may not be true or is unlikely; to have no confidence in (someone or something)."  

WOW!  That completely changes the way I think of using "doubt!"  When I say something such as "I doubt that we can make that work," I am saying "I do not believe that we can do this."  Not only does that mean I do not believe in myself, but that I do not believe in others - which is not true!  I have decided to become intentional about restructuring my thoughts, so that I can restructure the words I say!  I will begin thinking better thoughts (i.e. "I will do my best to accomplish this...I believe that they will do their job well"), so that I can say better statements (i.e. "We will do our best to make this work...If there is time, we will take care of that").  What a change that could be for my own life, and for the lives of those around me!  

By turning over our doubts to Him, we are removing all our dis-belief from our lives, which allows us to believe in ourselves and in others.  This is life-changing!  Imagine living your life believing that you can accomplish everything you need to and want to, and believing that those around you can live up to their full potential as well.  This brings glory and honor to God, and it also makes our lives so much more enjoyable!  While it is not always easy to turn everything over to God, we will find true peace and joy once we are able to fully surrender to Him.  

I pray you are able to turn your doubts over, find freedom, joy, peace, and blessings in Christ, and begin #movingforward!  God bless :)  

When I Can't, Then He Can!

For our OBS this week (which I HIGHLY recommend - this is another GREAT study), I chose to write some of my own "when-then" statements.  When we feel any negative emotions such as emptiness or uncertainty, we can use these statements to help us turn our focus back to Jesus.  These are my "when-then" statements, accompanied by scriptures that help me to remember them:   

• When I can't figure out what to do in regards to a tough relationship, then I will seek God's guidance and thank Him for giving me wisdom to guide my steps and actions.  
• Proverbs 3:5-6 
• James 1:5 
• When I feel as though I will never be able to make payments on my student loans, then I will thank God for always providing, and remember that all things are possible with Him.  
• Luke 18:27 
• Philippians 4:19
• Matthew 7:11
• Psalm 91:15 
• When I feel lonely, and as though I will be alone forever, then I will thank God for always being with me, and for never leaving me.
• Deuteronomy 31:6 
• Isaiah 41:10 
• When I feel as though I'll never have control over my eating habits, then I will thank God that he is transforming me, and that I can do all things through His strength.
• 2 Corinthians 3:18 
• Philippians 4:13 
• When work becomes overwhelming and I want to quit, then I will thank God for allowing me to have a job to work for Him, and for his peace and strength.  
• John 16:33 
• 1 Chronicles 28:20 
• Colossians 3:2-4,22-24 
• When I feel unsuccessful by the world's standards, then I will thank God for all the things He has helped me accomplished, for the blessed life He has given me, and for His grace that determines my real value in Him.  
• Romans 12:2 
• Luke 16:10-11 
• When I am worried that I have made a wrong decision or feel fearful for the future, then I will thank God for His will and for guiding me. 

• Jeremiah 29:11
• Proverbs 3:6 
• Philippians 4:6-7 

Statements Renee Swope included in her book A Confident Heart: 

• When I start to measure my value by how well I am doing as a _____ (employee, citizen, friend, daughter, sister, woman, etc), then I will thank God for the gift of my roles and for the gift of His unconditional love that determines my worth. 
• When I feel insecure about my position at work, church, or somewhere else, then I will thank God for the high or low position I have on earth and for my position on Christ that secures my significance forever.  
• When I feel an aching emptiness that I'm tempted to fill with food, television, or anything other than God, then I will thank God for being the strength of my heart and my portion forever - and remember that He is the One who satisfies the hunger and thirst of my soul.  

I hope some of these bless you as well!  If you have any "when-then" statements, please post them in the comments - I would love to read them!!!  Thank you for reading, and God bless!  :)