Personal Reflection Part Two

This Personal Reflection on anxiety is excellent application of the little paragraph that we read this morning.  I call this a “sit down and stay a while” kind of post.  I would encourage each of you to set aside some time to work through this material.  Don’t read it and quickly move on.  There isn’t one of us who can claim innocence when it comes to the sin of anxiety.  Dr. Powlison is both direct and gentle in his words as he leads us through a Scriptural perspective and a plan of action for change.  I am so grateful for this material as I daily fight my own battle against anxiety.

So have a seat, (at this point, I would also recommend getting your favorite snack), and ask the Lord to speak to you as you read.

Personal Reflection, cont.
by David Powlison

Anxiety

1. Ponder the following passage from Psalm 94.

“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, your consolations delight my soul” (Psalm 94:19).

Read it over 3-4 times.  Take it slowly.  Emphasize different words and phrases.  Where do you tend to misfire regarding worry, fear, uncertainty, obsession?  What most strikes you now as you think about how this voice of faith talks about his experience of both anxiety and the Lord?

2. Now work through our six questions.

Situation:  What circumstances tend to arouse your specific worries and preoccupations?

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Reaction:  How does anxiety typically show up in you?  (thought patterns, feelings, behaviors, inner obsession)

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Motive:  What erases God from your universe, hijacking the controls of your heart?  Get as specific as possible.  Our lusts and lies are evasive and deceitful, but to identify them is like publishing a picture of your enemy.

I want __________________________________________.
I fear (don’t want) _______________________________.
I believe ________________________________________.
If only ________________________, then everything would be fine.

Message:  What specific “consolations” bid to delight you and reclaim you?  Start to branch out from Psalm 94:19, working backwards and forwards into the surrounding sentences.  What brought this worried man delight?  You might also consider Psalm 103, Numbers 6:24-26, or Exodus 34:5-10 to prime your pump.

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Turn:  Bring the real you, in your real world, to your real Savior.  Weave together situation, reaction, motive, and message.  Pick one specific “consolation” to focus on.  Have an honest conversation with your Father about what matters--out loud, not just spinning words within the anxious chambers of your mind!  Honor Him. Give Him thanks.  Need Him.  Ask. Plead. Confess. Delight. Notice. Remember.

Respond:  What are you now called to do (and to not do)?  What specific actions will express how faith-working-through-love replaces idolatry-working-through-worry?  What exactly can and should you do right now?  Later today?  Tomorrow?

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3. Worship is the opposite of anxiety. 
What “consolations to delight your soul” do the hymns, ("Jesus, what a friend of sinners" & "How firm a foundation") offer, give, proclaim, embrace, hope in, delight in?