Personal Reflection Part Six

When we were little, my dad would sometimes tease us by saying: "I've got bad news and I've got good news...which do you want to hear first?" In this case, the "bad" news is that this is the final post of the Personal Reflection by David Powlison. However, the good news is that this concluding portion contains recommendations from Dr. Powlison of Scriptures, articles, and books for further study in the areas of anger, anxiety, and escapism.

And the very good news is that God has blessed Dr. Powlison with an abundance of biblical wisdom which is available in many other articles and books. We hope, that like us, you too have become big David Powlison fans (if you weren't already). And we want to vigorously encourage you to take advantage of the resources available by him, and the other godly folks at the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation.

We want to mention just a few before offering the conclusion to the Personal Reflection.

1. The Journal of Biblical Counseling, edited by David Powlison -- we've mentioned it before on this blog, but if you haven't yet subscribed to THE Journal (that's what we call it around our house), do it now! Better yet, consider it as a truly life-changing Christmas gift for friends and family.

2.  Seeing with New Eyes -- this excellent book by David Powlison includes many of his best articles from the Journal, including several recommended below.

3. Speaking Truth in Love: Counsel in Community -- Dr. Powlison's new book, due out this month!

Personal Reflection, cont.
by David Powlison

For Further Study

Anxiety:
•    1 Peter 5:7 offers a particularly condensed version of themes we have been discussing: “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.”  A specific promise from God meets us in the variety of our cares.  As you really hear this promise and call, anxiety must yield to faith.  The parable of the sower has a pointed challenge to the corrosive power of anxiety (Matt. 13:22, Mark 4:19, Luke 8:14).

•    “Peace, be Still:  Learning Psalm 131 by Heart” (Journal of Biblical Counseling, 18:2 and in Seeing with New Eyes, P&R, 2003).  This psalm is the finest example of how restless souls learn peacefulness!

•    “Don’t Worry” (Journal of Biblical Counseling, 21:2 and in Seeing with New Eyes, P&R, 2003)

Anger:
•    Galatians 5:6, 5:13-6:10.  Notice how the sins related to anger comprise 8 of the 15 works of the flesh that Paul samples in 5:19-21, as well as his introductory and concluding examples (5:15 and 5:25).  Notice how it addresses both motives (lusts/cravings of the flesh as voices that contend with the voice and desires of the Holy Spirit) and lifestyle (works of the flesh, the behaviors and emotions that contend with the fruit of the Spirit).  Notice how repeatedly, specifically, and variously God reveals himself in order to produce faith working through love.

•    3 articles on anger by David Powlison (Journal of Biblical Counseling, 14:1, 14:2, 16:1)

Escapism/addiction:
•    Consider the dozens of psalms of refuge.  Each calls us to the opposite of sinful escapism in the midst of the pressures of life.  Psalm 55 is particularly vivid on the impulse to escape troubles, rightly directed.

•    Galatians 5:13-6:10 (see above).  Notice that the first three and last two works of the flesh are escapist sins.  See also Romans 13:12-14.  Here the first of four examples are in the escapist family of sins (and the last two are anger-family sins).  Notice how horizontal sins are addressed in relation to heart issues (when desires of the flesh rule--deeds of the darkness; when faith puts on the Lord Jesus Christ--daylight lifestyle)

•    Ed Welch, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave (P&R, 2001)

Trials:
•    “Suffering and Psalm 119” (Journal of Biblical Counseling, 22:4, Speaking Truth in Love, 2005) God has much bigger goals than just solving our personal problems. He wants us to KNOW Him—and along the way that changes us, too. Psalm 119 is an example of the interpersonal/conversational nature of living, talking faith.