I don’t usually struggle with anxiety, but there it was.
Anxious thoughts bubbled just under the surface. Questions pelted like gravel.
Am I doing enough?
Should I be doing more?
Am I doing this right?
Those types of thoughts can hit any of us at any time — in a marriage or close relationship. Our job. A ministry position. Our faith. Maybe, even as we look in the mirror.
What do we do with them?
You see, when those things happen, we can keep on going, keep on doing, keep on worrying or spinning anxious thoughts. Or we can slow down and listen and see where it’s coming from. We can ask for help, or direction.
In today’s brief video teaching, I share where God took me.
The scripture I shared in this video teaching is Acts 17:28, rather than 18:28. Since I shared it wrong, here it is in all it’s simple beauty.
For in him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28a NIV)
What does it mean to live in him?
Living “in him” is a response to God’s Spirit in us.
I know that sounds deep, but it’s not. We live as if he is in us, for he is. We walk with him. We invite him into our doubts, our joys, our relationships, our fears, our victories. His Spirit is woven through every fibre of our being.
When we feel those anxious thoughts rising, we can rest in that truth.
God, you are the boss of this. This is not all on my shoulders. You aren’t grading me. You’re leading me. You are teaching me. You are showing me which step to take. And while there are things I can’t see, I trust that you do and all you ask is that I do my part.
Whoosh. . . .
The pressure to perform falls off. The pressure to fix, strive, or make things happen in our timing is eased.
We move in him.
Moving in him is moving in rhythm with God.
Last week I made it to church late. I saw a friend who hadn’t been in awhile. We hugged. We took communion together. We prayed. God was in that moment. I felt it. I knew it. That day wasn’t about whether I was on time or not, but knowing that this friend was on his heart and praying with her.
If you look at the last week, there’s a good chance you felt the Lord asking you to slow down, to notice, to encourage, to love, to forgive, to stop what you are doing and spend time with him.
[bctt tweet=”We find our true selves as we live, move, and just be in Him. #livingfreetogether #SpiritLedHeart #ComeWithMe https://wp.me/p4jbdw-4uZ” username=”suzanneeller”]
Maybe it wasn’t big, or the world didn’t notice, but God did as you moved in rhythm with him.
We have our being.
One commentary says this about Acts 17:28a — we live, are moved, and are.
We find ourselves as we live and move in him. We are. . . His. And we know it. We live as if it is true. We find our true selves, our God-led selves. I don’t know if you’ve been dealing with those anxious thoughts just under the surface. If so, don’t do more. Don’t try to fix anything, unless God is the one leading.
Let’s rest in him. Just be, and see if it leads away from those anxious thoughts.
Suzie
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Wow……just perfect words for me right now. Thank God and you xxx
This came across to me at 0315….I so needed this. Thank God for you and the calling over your life. Have a wonderful day Suzanne.
The hour of prayer! God knew just what you needed, and when. Praying you rested in His peace, Keshawnda.
Suzie….your words inspire me. What a blessing to start this day. I smile when I see a new post you have penned. Thank you .
Perfectly said! “We find ourselves as we live and move in Him.” Yes, we are His! Praise God! HE is in control and if He needs our help, He will lead us as to what needs to be done. Otherwise, just sit back and watch His hand move and orchestrate everything around you. I may want to try to fix everything, but it will only frustrate me. I am not in control. God is in control. He made the universe, the stars, the moon, the mountains, the seas, man, woman, animals, and everything else…without my help. In His time, He will fix what is making us anxious. I need to be reminded of this when I get anxious.
Thank you for letting God speak through you.
Thanks, Cindy. I love what you added to Suzie’s message. And thank you, as always, Suzie, for your wise words.
Thank you! I was looking for God’s direction, feeling worried and stressed. God bless you.
Father, I pray for Mai thoughts of worry and stress that surround her. Help her feel your presence of peace and love and direction. Thank you for walking Mai into Suzie’s blog post today. Amen
I needed this. Very stressful time for me. Too many worries some requiring my action. Not sure what to do. I pray God will provide answers soon. I will try to just be today. Be in him and pray. Thank you for your message. Bless you
Pam, Lifting you up this morning as you seek His guidance and peace today. Have a blessed day!
I agree. Prayers for you today. I could use prayers too.
Thank you for your encouraging words! Have a blessed day!
There have been more anxious thoughts coming at me than most days. Invisible forces keep attacking me, but the Lord has been teaching me more about His love and I’ve been growing more confident in Him. I’m needing to move and have been scared, because driving has been such a struggle with all these interferences and doing things on my own. I’ve been trying to understand where God wants me to be right now and it’s been difficult with all the racing thoughts going on. I’m learning that the best place to be is in Him though! Thank you for sharing this! Thank you for sharing that verse!
Thanks for that devotion. I really needed that. I am so anxious for my daughter. She is not employed now and I am helping her, but I have reached a point that I am not able to help her as much as her father and I were doing and just me since His death in December of 16. I do not have the income to keep helping her. She has debilitating migraines, she also has severe knee and foot problems due to circulation. She has firbromilga and bursitis. She has arthritis. She is only 45 and is a single parent. She was working at home and that job ended a year ago. It is impossible for her to work a regular job and she hasn’t been able to find a home job. I have prayed for the last year as she has for healing or to find another home job to support herself. She has not received healing or found a job. I as so stressed as she is and I don’t know what to do. She is depressed and overwhelmed and doesn’t know what to do. I am still praying and I try to leave it to God but before I know it we both fretting and worried. I want to just be. I want to live God each and every day but this keeps looming as to what to do. Please pray for my daughter and me.
Gail, reading your words stirs my heart. I am so sorry for the struggles you are living right now. This is hard. I imagine trying to figure out the next steps in how to help your daughter without your husband causes you to miss him even more. I am sorry your daughter is suffering so much too.
Gail, you made a step of bravery by asking for prayer. Thank you for trusting us to pray for you.
Dear Father, we lift Gail into your hands of love and care. She needs to feel you and know she is not walking this path alone. She is trying so hard to “be” but it is difficult when things seem to be spiraling all around her. Wrap your loving arms around her. Pour over your peace so she knows you are right next to her. We also pray for Gail’s daughter and her health. Illness is preventing her from working. We pray this request into your hands. Thank you for Gail. Thank you for her reaching out. Bless her, Lord. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
I am just now reading this but definitely needed it. Last week I had a skin cancer removed and don’t have the results of the biopsy yet. My mind is racing with thoughts of “what if.” I definitely need to live in Him. Thank you.