Showing posts with label confidence. Show all posts

It's a new month and time for new screensaver art! This is the truth that I've been pausing on for a while.
"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ." (1Corinthians 2:14-16 ESV)
If we belong to Christ, we are no longer "natural" people. Bickering, resentment, and looking out for numero uno is natural. Selfless love, forgiveness, and humility are the work of the Spirit.

Anxiety, frenzied work, and a lack of self-control are natural. Peace, rest, and self-control are fruits of the Spirit at work.
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7 ESV)
In honest self-evaluation, I still live much like a natural woman, which, despite Aretha Franklin's classic anthem, for a Christian, is not our calling.

When I am in the grips of anxiety, a decision I have to make, or a situation of tension, God has been reminding me that I am not on my own. I am not a natural woman. I have the mind of Christ.

And that in itself, is a witness to God's great grace toward this still-fleshly woman.

To get the image, right click on the image below, save, and then set as your device's lock or home screen.

*I'm so happy for you to enjoy my coloring pages and printables for your personal (not commercial) use! Use for Bible studies, church groups or events, and Sunday school classes are all fine! If you're in doubt, I'm happy to answer any questions. All artwork and photos are copyright Marydean Draws. If you share this, you're awesome (!), and as a courtesy,  please link back to this post and not the PDF file. Thank you!!

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The Mind of Christ Screensaver

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"Love your Story" Printable Art Print


It's so good to be back after my month of rest! Even though my husband (who has recovered well) was stuck on the couch a good two weeks after his knee surgery, I found there's a soul rest that doesn't depend on the fullness of your days. My house is rarely quiet, but my soul needed to stop striving and live quietly for a while.

Over the break, I read three books in the Chronicles of Narnia series that I don't ever remember reading. If you haven't read this series by C.S. Lewis, I'm a bit jealous that you have the chance to read them for the first time, although they're good the second and third too!

I came across a theme in Lewis's The Horse and His Boy that has been marinating in my heart since I read it. One of the characters, a young girl named Aravis, runs away from an undesirable marriage and so unwittingly causes her former servant to be punished. Aravis asks Aslan about this girl's fate (Aslan is a lion, and the central character in the all the books. He is the Creator and ruler of Narnia).

Aslan responds, "Child . . . I am telling you your story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own."

Aslan's words remind me of Jesus's words to Peter in their first conversation after Peter denied Jesus three times and since Jesus's resurrection. Jesus has just reaffirmed Peter's calling to "Feed My sheep." But Peter's mind turns quickly to the future of Jesus's other disciple, John, who was, after all, "the disciple Jesus loved" (John 13:23)! Peter asks, "But Lord, what about this man?"

Jesus replies, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me" (John 21:21-22).

Just like Peter, I can be such a "but what about her?" kind of girl.  In our social age, we can get so lost in everyone else's story. We know how they feel about politics, the weather, their spouses, and various causes. We know what kind of food they're eating, how they decorate their homes, and how they spend their Saturdays and with whom.

I'm not arguing that this sharing is bad, but I think social media can create an environment that is unhealthy for unguarded hearts. Just as you are more likely to get malaria in the jungle than in New York City, although neither place is inherently good or bad, you're more likely to struggle with loving your own story in certain environments. And just as you're more likely to become sick if you have a compromised immune system, you're more likely to struggle in certain environments if your heart is vulnerable.  At the root, the problem is not the environment, but the heart.

My heart sure needs a boost of immunity. I struggle to love MY story, the story that my faithful God is writing.

I'm like Peter asking Jesus, "Well, what about her . . .
marriage,
ministry,
business,
energy level,
strengths,
children's behavior,
friendships,
hardships,
HER STORY?"

Like Jesus' gentle redirection of Peter's heart, He lovingly says to me (I imagine with my cheeks grasped between His hands in an attempt to get me to focus) "If I am doing that in her life, what is that to you? You, follow me."

So simple. You follow Me, my dear.

Maybe your story is messy.
Maybe your story is unhappy.
Maybe your story is confusing.
Maybe your story is incredibly ordinary.

But written all into the plot lines is God's great faithfulness to you. Written into your story is His great grace for you ensured at the cross by the Son. Written into your story is His conforming work that makes you more like Him..

So love your story because God is walking you through it, moment by moment. Joni Earickson Tada in her book, A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God's Sovereignty, relates her journey as a quadriplegic for more than 40 years. She explain how she is able to go on through the pain:
"I can go on . . . because God moves through time with me. . . . He knows time in a personal, experiential way. As the writer of Hebrews said, 'We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality' . . . When you find yourself in chronic agony, life gets reduced to hours rather than days--and sometimes minutes and seconds. When I am in physical distress in the night, unable to sleep, unable to move, and unwilling to awaken Ken (again) to turn me, I need to know that God's concern and care for me is literally breath by breath, heartbeat by heartbeat, moment by moment."
God is not a distracted and distant author. No, He is the God who is with us, the God who was one of us, the God who now dwells in those who trust in Him. Your story is personal to Him.

Love your story because the Author already sees the end of it--and it's beautiful if you'll trust Him.  It may not be beautiful now, but it's not finished.  
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6
If you trust in Him and His work on your behalf, your story ends with you face to face with all His brilliant glory. It ends with you fully knowing the Author of life, just as He has always known you. It ends with all your current heartache and pain, victories and accomplishments, fading in the light of His presence.
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12
"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." 2 Corinthians 4:17
There are a great many stories that God is writing, and I hope we'll take joy in sharing in those, especially via social media. But only you can live yours.

Jesus says, "YOU follow me."

To remind you of this truth, I made a print for you to print and frame or just clip on your refrigerator. You can download your 8x10 print HERE (usage below*). If you'd like a smaller size, cut your paper to the desired size (such as a 5x7), change your paper size in your printer settings, and then choose the "scale to paper" option. Enjoy!




*I'm so happy for you to enjoy my coloring pages and printables for your personal (not commercial) use! All artwork and photos are Ã£ Marydean Draws. Please share freely by posting a link back to this blog post. Please don't repost the actual file. If you share this, you're awesome (!), and as a courtesy,  please link back to this post and not the PDF file. Thank you!!

If you like this, you can get these posts in your inbox by signing up HERE! You'll also receive occasional news from my Etsy shop.

Loving your story + Printable Art Print

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For those of us who struggle with anxiety, the simplest situations send us into a tailspin of worry. For example, occasionally, I get a phone call or text on Sunday morning saying that someone is unable to serve with the children at church and we need to find a replacement. This used to make me very anxious, but God has been graciously working on my response to situations like these in the last few years. 

 I'm trying to read through John during my quiet time. Quiet time for me has been difficult to carve out for a long time. Right now, it's before bed since I'm a terrible morning person (and I figure God is happy to meet me any time).

 I read this account the other night:
 "After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, andwhen he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten." John 6:1-15
I love that Jesus knows exactly what He will do to feed to oncoming crowd, but He takes the opportunity to test Philip and the other disciples. He is always training them to trust Him and know Him better.

 The disciples have been walking with Jesus for some time now and have seen him change the water into wine, preach, and heal the sick, but there remains a disconnect between what they have witnessed and what they actively believe and act on in moments of "faith opportunities."

 They walk with the bread of life Himself, so simple physical bread should be a snap.
"Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." John 6:35
But instead of saying, "Jesus, I know you've got this covered. Tell us what to do," the disciples calculate. They think in terms of money and numbers. 

 They look at what's in front of them instead of WHO is with them.

 Instead of shaking his head at their slow-to-believe-hearts, Jesus graciously feeds the needy crowd so they can stick around and hear His teaching. 

 I too have walked with Jesus and seen him provide again and again, yet the simplest situation can throw me into a dizzying scramble for solutions. Calculations, figuring, planning. I forget that I walk with the Bread of life. I can talk with the Counselor. The Mighty God has my right hand.

 Our God comes through greater than we expect, greater than we even know to ask. Whatever situation--small or big--you face today, remember Him. Maybe it's as small as my Sunday morning phone call, or maybe it's a much bigger deal. 

 Let this be an opportunity to fall on God's faithfulness and exercise your trust in Him. Stop scrambling and instead tell Jesus, "I know you've got this covered. Tell me what to do."

 The answer may simply be, "Just watch."



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An opportunity to trust

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Isn't "help" such a simple, but beautiful word? It brings encouragement and relief. It says "You're not alone. I'm in this with you." This week my husband unexpectedly came home early from work one day and announced that he had taken the rest of the afternoon off. He would get the kids down for rest time and I was free to take a nap or do whatever else I needed to do. Truly, it was a beautiful thing for a napper like me, a gift full of grace and refreshment.

That is not a daily experience, but do you know what is? The help of my God.

I wonder--how do we picture God's response to us when we need help? Do we picture His annoyance? His aloofness? His coldness to our struggles? Get it together kid. We've got things to do. Why can't you be more like your sister so-and-so? 

I was illustrating through some Psalms recently and came across these verses about God and help:
"The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." Psalm 46:7 
"As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!" Psalm 40:17
 "For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you." Isaiah 41:13 
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16 
"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love;he will exult over you with loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17
"O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!" Psalm 71:12 
I noticed a couple of thing about these verses as they relate to how God feels about helping us:

He is our GOD. He makes Himself available to us. In fact, He chooses to dwell in us.

He is our help. He Himself. Not a messenger, not a servant. His help is personal. He is "in your midst." He "takes thought" for you. He takes hold of your right hand and speaks the words you need to hear.

He says to come to Him boldly! Come before the God who rejoices over you and delights in showing you steadfast love and mercy (Micah 7:18). His love for you is so extravagant, it's almost embarrassing (the kind of love the older brother in Luke 15 despised in his father).

He longs to help us. I'm no perfect parent, but I delight in helping my children. I have one child who completely loses it when she gets injured. She runs straight past my open arms and up to her room for the comfort of her special blankie. This reminds me of the words Jesus spoke about His longing to care for His people who remained resistant and even antagonistic to His love:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" Luke 13:34 
Just as a newborn baby grows in trust each time a parent responds to his cries, we learn increasing trust each time we cry out and God faithfully responds. This is the relationship God is calling us to throughout Scripture. Trust in me! Come to me! I do not fail!

I have experienced God's help over and over again from the smallest details of my life to the biggest, from how I'm going to manage a certain schedule of events on a given day, to the bigger challenges of raising children, loving my church family, and sustaining a marriage. I trust Him because He's so faithful and so attentive to me. Honestly, sometimes I wonder if I'm His favorite (but I'm sure you are too!).

There's one more application as we think about God's willingness to help that I don't want to miss. What does this mean for the way we respond to neediness in others? We have been blessed to be a blessing. If God so treats us, how are we to treat others?

Here are a few ideas of how that might look:
  • Be somewhere where you have the chance to be "in the midst" of neediness (our churches should be great places to start, also our jobs, schools, neighborhoods)
  • Don't run from neediness. Be willing to let it get awkward.
  • Be a safe person who can sympathize with weaknesses rather than judge them. 
  • Take thought for others. Show that you are paying attention. Anticipate what they might need in case they have a hard time articulating those things.
  • Make your help personal.
  • Rejoice in showing undeserved mercy and kindness. Love deeply.
I don't do these well, but I want to grow! Neediness makes me nervous and the thought of what helping may cost me makes me uncomfortable.

For this I need God's help. And that puts me right back in the place I started, the place where God is ready to act.

Help me now, Jesus. 



More thoughts on neediness here:

WHEN WEAK IS STRONG



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Help me now, Jesus

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Some days I really need a boost of confidence. But where is that found? I can fill in the blank above with:
my abilities
my wisdom
my personality
my experience
my husband
my church
my friends
my parenting strategies

I don't know about you, but confidence in these don't always inspire courage and quiet my anxieties.

We start homeschool for real next month and I range from excited to really sure I'm going to blow it.

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him." Jeremiah 17:7

We're having another child. Will my marriage take the added stress? Can I take the added stress??

"Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation . . . Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth . . . " Psalm 146:3-6a

I'm pretty sure I'm going to turn out to be a disappointing friend and a sham of a community group leader.

"Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives live." 2 Corinthians 3:5-6

In my reading through the Bible this year (wait--don't be impressed--I'm still in Deuteronomy. Not giving up . . . ), I read about how when the Israelites came face-to-face with the land of Canaan that God was giving them, and the intimidating people that lived there, they were terrified. They said, "We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them" (Numbers 13:33). Do you feel like an annoying little grasshopper in the face of some things in your life? I do!

But Caleb urged them, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." (13:30). God said of Caleb, "my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedley" (Numbers 14:24). Caleb could see himself and the situation differently because his confidence was in His God. 

If you remember the story, the results of not putting confidence in God were disastrous for Israel. But God still loved them, provided for them, and trained them through it, giving them 40 years in the desert to begin to place their confidence securely in Him. And eventually, He did what He has set out to do with them--but this time with an almost entirely different group of people.

Friends, the Spirit of God always comes through. Let's place our confidence in Him and nothing else. Let's see him as bigger than anything we face.

I'm listening to this song, "It is Well", by Bethel music today (words here). Sing it out with raised hands if you need to today. Declare it to the darkness that tries to grip your heart and make you feel like it's all up to you! My Sarah calls it the other "Let it go" song. :)

"So let it go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name"




Confidence Boost

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