Questions, concerns, and “what ifs” raced through my mind. They weaved themselves into an entanglement of anxiety, selfishness, and blame. It was hard to tell if it was anxiety or deep compassion, selfishness or genuine concern, and blame or approval. Until God brought my focus back to where it should be all along.
These brief five minutes of concerns were causing confusion with me, and tears began to well up, when a familiar song came on the radio. Michael W. Smith’s song, The Heart Of Worship (Live) – YouTube, came on at the perfect time. When I heard the words:
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
I felt in my heart that God was whispering to me, “Stephanie, focus on Me. It’s all about Me. I’ve got this. I’ve got you. Look to Me and worship with your whole heart.” God wasn’t being selfish, like I was feeling. He was being God. This song brought peace to my anxious heart. Instead of tears rolling down my face, which could have easily turned into tears of joy and gratefulness, a smile appeared on my face and in my heart.
When I got to church, with the right focus in mind, I’ll be if the sermon and Sunday school lessons didn’t hit home on my “way-to-church” feelings. God knew. God knew I needed to be reminded that I need to focus on Him and not try to solve all these problems on my own. He knew that worshipping Him is the best form of medicine that I needed for my weary soul. God knew that the words I was about to hear would be more meaningful if I personally experienced, even for a brief moment, a dependence on Him and not self.
Much like Peter, when he started walking on the water towards Christ, (Matthew 14:22-31 ERV – Jesus Walks on Water – Then Jesus made – Bible Gateway) I had taken my eyes off of The One who can. He can do all things. But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 Who am I to even think that all the struggles and worries in life are fixable by me? Reminder…He is God, I am not.
Friend, when you begin to have questions, concerns, and “what ifs” race through your mind that are causing you to feel a negative way, please take a breath and turn your focus to God. Cry out to Him to help you, to fill you with His peace that passes all understanding, and to lay each anxious thought at the feet of Jesus.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen. 1 Peter 5:6-11
Oh boy does the devil desire for you to attack you! So, stand firm and strong in faith in Jesus Christ. He will restore, support, and strengthen you. Amen and amen!
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie