God has done wonderful things in my life recently. Things that I didn't know could happen, rather - things that I never let Him make happen before now.
I've always been an anxious person. It has controlled my life and put fear in it in areas that should have been joyful for me. But, He has changed me!
I never knew I could feel this way. But Satan has "picked" at me and last week he tried to defeat me for a short period of time. On my way to work (and I have a pretty good drive to Grove City), I turned the radio on to a station I don't usually listen to. I kind of stumbled onto it. The subject was on Heaven and the speaker laid it out similar to the book "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn with a Question & Answer format. After listening for a while my mind started wondering - I have been reading about Heaven, doing the Ladies Bible Study - Thinking Heavenward, and now this station. Was God trying to tell me something? Am I going to be there really soon and He is trying to prepare me?
Well, this was Satan because it "ate" at me all the way to work and my anxiety kicked in. Then just at my exit the scripture of the day from Jeremiah came to my mind ... "Ask and I will reveal wonderful things that you did not know." It hit me in the pit of my stomach and I remember thinking ... "Okay - I've gotcha" Sometimes I picture God shaking His head. laughing, and saying ... "What do you want from me Shelly? You asked and I'm revealing it to you and now you are worrying again! Work with me here."
Thank you God for being so patient, loving and kind! Shelly Denney
Shelly, I can relate so much to your comments about fear and anxiety. On my way to work in the mornings from Grove City I listen to Christian music like you and by the time I get there I've usually had a solid 1/2 hour of praise & worship alone in my car. (I'm sure some of the people I pass on the road think I'm crazy) Then I walk in the door and the music goes right out of my head and I begin to get "work-minded". Scrolling through my emails I am stopped in my tracks most days by Deb's daily lessons and I'm thankful for the reminder of who I am in Christ as I start my day. Sounds great, right? Except it doesn't take very long for the day to come crashing in and worry, stress, fear and doubt to take over. Not to mention pride and ambition. This bible study is teaching me and helping me to overcome that, at least in tiny baby steps. More and more I'm able to stop and remember to think Heavenward; to remember who I am and where I'm going. On my drive home, again the music and prayer but usually I find myself be ashamed of something I said or didn't say or do that day and the fear is there again...fear that I don't measure up and I'm doing it all wrong. Thank you Jesus that you died for me so that I don't have to measure up. I never will. And thank God that I have Heaven to look forward to despite my sin. I'm humbled at the very thought.
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