i saw it in the book store and bought it to take on a trip a while back. and then i didn't read it. and i kept not reading it. but it kept staring me in the face. so i dabbled in it and decided that it didn't really apply to me. i don't really have anger issues. and it seemed to be talking about anger issues mostly. or so i thought...
then lysa really made me mad (see, no anger issues here) because she used MY BIBLE PASSAGES that God had given to ME to describe the way she had learned to have an emergency plan to deal with situations of raw emotions. she used 2 chronicles 20, the battle of jehoshaphat. a little lesson that i like to read over and over and over again because God gave it to ME ME ME. nope, nary an anger issue in my life.
and to further indicate that i might need to do more than dabble in this book. i then proceeded to have a couple of incidents (and by a couple i mean a half a dozen. or 2 dozen emotional outbursts.) not anger issues per se. but emotional crumbling moments. God really wanted me to realize that i DID need this book. i DID need an emotional emergency plan. because i kept having all these emotional emergencies. which is a nice way to say i was having frantic fanatical freak outs. multiple messy melt downs. terrible tumultuous temper tantrums. even using alliteration can't make them look pretty. but they were profitable because i finally realized that i might need an emotional emergency plan. based on MY VERY OWN BIBLE PASSAGES... 2 chronicles 20.
the plan all starts with jehoshaphat hearing that an HUGE army is approaching. and that lean mean fighting machine of an army have one thing on their minds... total destruction of jehoshaphat and all of judah. so what does jehoshaphat do...
2 chronicles 20:3 (the message)
Shaken, Jehoshaphat prayed. He went to God for help...
oh, that the same words could be said about me... "shaken, lea prayed." not "shaken, lea freaked out with a meltdown of Biblical proportions." i guess a meltdown of Biblical proportions would be one that turned to the God of the Bible...
and next part of the emergency plan is to let God be God and take care of the things He has promised to take care of. look toward God and His promises.
2 chronicles 20:12
"O dear God, won’t you take care of them? We’re helpless before this vandal horde ready to attack us. We don’t know what to do; we’re looking to you.”
then realize my job is obedience. God is in charge of the results. and He will be victorious (even when i fail over and over and over again.)
2 chronicles 20:14-17
Then Jahaziel was moved by the Spirit of God to speak from the midst of the congregation. (Jahaziel was the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah the Levite of the Asaph clan.) He said, “Attention everyone—all of you from out of town, all you from Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat— God’s word: Don’t be afraid; don’t pay any mind to this vandal horde. This is God’s war, not yours. Tomorrow you’ll go after them; see, they’re already on their way up the slopes of Ziz; you’ll meet them at the end of the ravine near the wilderness of Jeruel. You won’t have to lift a hand in this battle; just stand firm, Judah and Jerusalem, and watch God’s saving work for you take shape. Don’t be afraid, don’t waver. March out boldly tomorrow—God is with you.”and finally to praise Him for His certain victory. even when i haven't seen it yet.
2 chronicles 20:21-23
After talking it over with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed a choir for God; dressed in holy robes, they were to march ahead of the troops, singing,
Give thanks to God, His love never quits.
As soon as they started shouting and praising, God set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir as they were attacking Judah, and they all ended up dead. The Ammonites and Moabites mistakenly attacked those from Mount Seir and massacred them. Then, further confused, they went at each other, and all ended up killed.
so now i have an emergency plan...
1) shaken, lea prays. i go to God for help...
2) let God take care of His part. look at Him. not at the enemy.
3) my job is obedience. the battle is the Lord's.
4) praise and worship Him. walk by faith in His promises not by sight.
so it seems that God wasn't finished with 2 chronicles 20 and its application to my life. and i might just forgive lisa terkeurst for using MY BIBLE PASSAGE.
i am so tired of worrying. of the emotional energy that is depleted by worry. and here is what ann voskamp says about worry...
No one knows what the next minute holds — but you let ourselves be moved into it anyways.
Because somewhere inside of you, you know Someone holds it...
It could be like this: I could go with the wind. I can accept not knowing where I am going because I’m accepted.
Embrace the unknown, because I am embraced.
The days could look like this: I can practice just loving the unknown simply because I am known.
Because only when you are blown to the unknown heights, do you unfurl your wings and begin your flight.
It’s not the knowing where you’re headed that matters — but that you are known and He has your hand. You don’t have to know where you are flying to — only Who you are flying into.
The miracle that matters is the unfurling of wings.
You may not know the way through the storm, but if you just open wide your wings to the wind —- there is always grace enough to carry you Home. What are you afraid of?
The miracle that matters is the unfurling of your wings.
There is nothing to be afraid of.
from ann voskamp @ aholyexperience.com when you are tired of worrying