POSTURE FOR THE MORE
Part two of how to get the most out of the COVID-19 Lock-down
In the midst of the craziness of the season we find ourselves in, the temptation exists to allow fear, anxiety, stress and frustration to overwhelm us. Business, financial, family and emotional pressures are very real, but we believe that no matter our circumstance we can choose a different story-line for our lives.
Like never before in our lifetime we are faced with having to make strong daily decisions to engage with heaven’s narrative and not the headlines that the enemy wants us to buy into.
Here are four daily choices we must call our hearts to make:
-
FAITH OVER FEAR
We are told in the scriptures that “we have not been given a spirit of fear, but rather the spirit of love, power and a sound mind” (2.Timothy.1:7)
The battle against fear is primarily a spiritual one, and we have to be fully aware of the enemy’s schemes. COVID-19 will bring its challenges and devastation, but the grip of fear that will stay behind will have an even bigger long-lasting effect if we don’t combat it daily with a faith response.
Faith does not deny the facts, it just acknowledges that there is a superior fact. In the natural we are facing enormous challenges amidst the lock-down season, but it’s in these moments that we need to open the door of our hearts wide to the Spirit of love, power and a sound-mind. As Christ followers, we take our cue off His leading and not the voice of how we are feeling.
Either your feelings will affect your faith, or your faith will affect your feelings.
Make a decision to daily take up the posture of faith!
-
WORSHIP OVER WORRY
The old adage of “what you feed grows, and what you starve dies” couldn’t be truer than at a moment like this. The legitimate cares and burdens that consume our minds at pressure moments like this have to actively be apprehended, taken captive and made obedient to God. The best way to do this is to fill your mind, heart and the overflow of your mouth with songs of praise and worship to Jesus.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi with this encouragement, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians.4:8)
If you want to access the peace that only God can bring at this time, make a decision to fill your thought life with worshiping that which is unchanging – the nature and character of God!
-
PAUSE BEFORE PANIC
With us having more time than ever on our hands along with more access to the never ending news and social media cycle, it will be a great temptation to allow panic to flood our hearts driving us to think, say, share and do silly things.
Our encouragement at this time is to allow this principle of pausing, taking a breath and allowing the Spirit of God to align your perspective before making statements, status updates and purchases.
War-time conditions demand calm heads, and the bigger the decision needs to have double the amount of forethought and time to go into them. Give yourself that time! Pause before you panic!
-
THE WORD BEFORE THE SCREEN
What a joy to have access to the online world at this time! It is indeed an incredible blessing to be connected to friends, family, information and outside sources of encouragement during this unprecedented season of isolation.
But, if we leave this online access unchecked and unfiltered, it can easily become a double-edged sword, as much of a curse as a blessing!
With that in mind, a simple solution to make sure you have heaven’s perspective or lens on all the information that fills your day, is to make a decision that you will go scriptural before you go digital everyday. The Word will then become your compass point, your anchor and your line of sight amidst the social media and news feed storm for the day ahead.
The way we posture our hearts will determine whether we lean into the future God has for us or allow the enemy to take ground in our hearts.
Everyday the choice is ours!
Blog written by Gabe Phillips
Gabe and Fiona lead the Life Changers Milnerton and City congregations