Are we quenching our anxieties by taking the road that leads to false peace?
This is how you know… when you have a temporary relief that comes up again with the same circumstance versus turning to the word of God and doing what He says in the midst of that anxiety. Once you take a step in God’s direction and not your own, you will feel that going away. That super natural peace will arise in the midst of the external chaos. His peace is what you are now grabbing. The Holy Spirit that lives inside of you is what is leading.
Here is an example:
I have a story where I was sitting on a plane and I immediately had fear rise up.
(To give you some context, I actually am not usually afraid of flying. BUT the last time I was on a plane, it was on the way to Africa. At that point, I was probably flying for what felt like a week. I am hundred percent sure that didn’t help my case. The last flight to the destination was short but half way there heavy turbulence hit and there was an unexpected drop. I was scared out of my mind!! Needless to say, my flights back to the USA were smooth and I was fine. Case in point, the last thing I expected was to be afraid of a 3 hour flight the following year! )
I knew at that moment that I had to pray. I immediately opened up my phone and went right to the bible app and put on worship music. I started praying in the spirit to get my focus on the Lord. Most of our moments have nothing to do with feeling. Leaning on the Word of God is the ultimate goal and even when feelings go awry, we still stand on His word above all and act on it. So that is what I did. I didn’t by any means FEEL peace but I took an action step, knowing that my God would supply all my needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus. A few minutes into praying in the spirit, those feelings of fear and anxiety vanished. My focus was back on Jesus and His truths. I was filled with His joy and His peace. Warmth filled my inside and there it was. Breakthrough. The external feeling of fear vanished even though nothing about my circumstance had changed. I was still sitting on that plane. We were still flying. The difference?
My focus
.
Oh yea, and that scripture I so conveniently opened up to right before the breakthrough?
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
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