AWAY WITH ANGST!
Dear fellow travelers,
This morning I awoke with no DT in mind, so I busied
myself for awhile but still zilch. Decided to utilize the time to review
history to see where I’ve grown and add recent steps to my record for future reference
in accountability to God, self, and you. as happens the effort became much more
involved than thought it would be. Please feel free to comment or question.
Edwin Bennett Bullock 4th 10/25/17
I’ve been asked
to share personal testimony on my developing and continuing release from worry
to peace. The following are the main event and action points. They are not in
any particular order so far as original edifying conviction and application,
nor are they an in-order check-off list as God continues the work in my daily
sojourn. Please understand that a basic belief I hold to is God’s Word is
authentically His and has complete instruction on how to live eternally and
presently while remaining this side of heaven. I am responsible to learn and
implement His written direction. God will not force me to do so nor will Satan
and company force me not to do so.
·
I accomplished nothing on my own by personal
strength, fortitude, or intelligence. I had to accept the truth that I am weak!
The mix included wise experienced people, His Holy Spirit, studying God’s Word.
Matthew 26:41 “Stay awake, and pray that you won't be tempted [Greek: Tested by
adversity.]. You want to do what's right, but you're weak." (Mk.14:38) 2Corinthians
12:9 But he told me: "My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest
when you are weak." So I will brag even more about my weaknesses in order
that Christ's power will live in me.
·
Relinquishing my anti-authority attitude is
necessary. (One constant reminder is my life verses, Ps.32:8-9) Luke 11:2 Jesus
told them, "When you pray, say this: Father, let your name be kept holy.
Let your kingdom come. (Mt.6:10) God’s will be done!
·
Knowing that I am not going to always agree with
God, but must accept that He is ultimately infinitely Omni Sovereign and that of
myself I am definitely finitely human. Isaiah 55:8-9 "My thoughts are not
your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways," declares the LORD.
"Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than
your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts."
·
I changed my thinking about true worship. I realized that worship isn’t just a church
thing. Worship is a life of “Not me, Him!” When I would worry and be stressed
it was all centered in me, not God, plus a whole lot of not others. I wanted
everything to run the way I thought it should. This was and easily could be
again a matter of pride. Stress and worry meant I was worshipping Edwin Bennett
Bullock 4th, not God. When my focus began shifting (and continues as
a daily work) my burden lightened and I enjoy freedom and peace. Romans 12:1-3 Brothers
and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God's compassion, I
encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and
pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you. Don't become like
the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will
always be able to determine what God really wants-what is good, pleasing, and
perfect. Because of the kindness that God has shown me, I ask you not to think
of yourselves more highly than you should. Instead, your thoughts should lead
you to use good judgment based on what God has given each of you as believers.
·
I accepted responsibility for my detrimental
thought habits and changed my thinking to realign with
godly guidance laid out in Philippians 4:4-8 Always
be joyful in the Lord! I'll say it again: Be joyful!
Let
everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near. Never worry about
anything. But in
every
situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving
thanks. Then God's
peace,
which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and
emotions through
Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters,
keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves
praise:
things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.
·
I was informed by a trusted experienced fellow
that “Worry is a matter of pride!”
Romans 12:3
This is
something I must often be reminded of.
·
I learned that stress and worry very much
involves taking on more responsibility than God intends for me. 1Corinthians
10:12-13 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and
he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he
will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
·
I discovered Biblical self-acceptance is not
anything like self-esteem; they’re in conflict.
Satan
hates humans because we are made in the image of God. Genesis 1:26-27 Then God
said,
"Let
us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over
the fish of the
sea and
over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and
over every
creeping
thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in his own image, in
the image of God
he created
him; male and female he created them.
·
I was gifted with a copy of BOUNDARIES; When to
Say YES; When to Say NO by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend. I read it
carefully and thoughtfully and began applying the truth therein having to do
with boundaries or lack thereof spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically.
·
A main precept shift for me was accepting His
ownership in broad life terms beyond list of dos and don’ts. Psalm 118:24 This
is the day the LORD has made. Let's rejoice and be glad today! 1Corinthians
6:20 You were bought for a price. So bring glory to God in the way you use your
body.
·
When I sense onus, shift the load asap. 1Peter
5:7 Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you.
·
To continue changing the way I think so I can
best determine the right thing to do. Romans 12:1-3; 1Peter 5:8 Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your
opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for
someone to devour.
·
Understanding I’m not by any means the special
target that I thought I was.1Peter 5:9
Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers
throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering.
·
Standing firm is my responsibility. Hebrews
3:6 Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if
indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. 1Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the
proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he
cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful.
·
Knowing the truth and living freely without
guilt and fear. John 8:31-32, 36 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed
him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will
know the truth, and the truth will set you free." ... So if the Son sets
you free, you will be free indeed. Psalm 139:23-24 Examine me, O God, and know
my mind. Test me, and know my thoughts. See whether I am on an evil path. Then
lead me on the everlasting path. 2Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see
whether you are still in the Christian faith. Test yourselves! Don't you
recognize that you are people in whom Jesus Christ lives? Could it be that
you're failing the test?
·
Living a confessional life without guilt and
fear. 1John 1:8-9 If we say, "We aren't sinful" we are deceiving
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. God is faithful and reliable. If we
confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we've done
wrong.
·
Understanding the truth about patience and
working to apply it in every situation. Romans 12:12-18 Rejoice in hope, be
patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the
saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and
do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the
lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give
thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it
depends on you, live peaceably with all. Galatians 6:9 ... let us not grow
weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So
then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to
those who are of the household of faith.
·
Understanding and accepting that His peace and
world’s peace is very different and in opposition. John 14:27;16:32-33 [Jesus explained] Peace I leave with you; my
peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your
hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. ... Behold, the hour is coming,
indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will
leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said
these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have
tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
·
Understanding and accepting that joy is far
above and beyond happenings. 1Peter 1:6-9 In this you rejoice, though now for a
little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that
the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes
though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and
honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love
him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that
is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith,
the salvation of your souls.
·
Stay away from brush fires. 2Timothy 2:4 No
soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one
who enlisted him.
·
I’m God’s priestly ambassador and am to
confidently act accordingly. 1Peter 2:9-12 ... you are a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may
proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once
you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge
you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which
wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so
that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and
glorify God on the day of visitation. 2Corinthians 5:16-20 From now on,
therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once
regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed
away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ
reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is,
in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their
trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We
implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
·
Radiate morality. 2Peter 1:2-9 May grace and
peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His
divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by
which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that
through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from
the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very
reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with
knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with
steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly
affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours
and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so
nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his
former sins.
·
Live enthusiastically by faith. Nehemiah 8:10b
... do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. 2Corinthians
5:6-7 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in
the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.1Thessalonians
5:16 Rejoice always
·
Strive for orderliness. (Am still striving.) 1Corinthians
14:40 But all things should be done decently and in order.
·
Continue seeking. Matthew 7:7-10 "Ask, and
it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened
to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the
one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for
bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a
serpent? (Lk.11:9-13)
EBB4
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