A Recipe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8sazOiolF8

Desert Road ~ Casting Crowns

 

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. ~ Philippians 4:9 NIV

 

Have I told you my oatmeal cookie story? One day, while baking oatmeal cookies, I learned the difference between baking soda and baking powder. While both are white powders, one gives oatmeal cookies and the other gives oatmeal goo.

 

Lately, God keeps bringing me back to Philippians 4:4-9. Five of the six verses are about your focus and thoughts. I need this constant reminder because my mind continuously tries to wander. It’s remarkable how many “needs” come to mind when I try to have time with God: need to review the budget, need to exercise, need to make tea, need to mail a letter, need to make plans, etc.  The devil knows that just like baking power and baking soda don’t give the same results, neither do a wandering mind and a mind set on Christ. One results in warm goo, while the other in delightful treats.

 

Just to be clear, God designed our minds to be curious. Both Jeremiah 31:13 and Matthew 6:33 call us to seek God. But the devil corrupts what God creates, which is why our minds wander, wonder, and worry when we should be seeking Him.

 

My hope in sharing this is to point you to Jesus, the One who holds our peace. If you need a recipe to help, I’ve been trying to follow this one:

1.       Rejoice always.

a.       Write down what the Lord’s done for you lately.

2.       Let your gentleness shine.

a.       Point others to Jesus.

3.       Be anxious for nothing.

a.       Write down your cares and worries, that way you won’t have to try to remember them anymore.

4.       Walk in God’s peace.

a.       Decide to choose peace over worry.

5.       Choose your thoughts.

a.       Make a list of the virtues found in Philippians 4:8, so that when chaos comes, your thoughts have a place of truth on which to land.

6.       Practice these things, remembering the God of peace will be with you.

 

Father, forgive my wandering, wondering, worrying mind. Holy Spirit, keep this “recipe” in the forefront of my mind, so that insecurity, complaining, doubt, and worry don’t overtake me. I long and love to be used by You. Keep me seeking after and focused on You. And when I mess up, remind me that the God of peace is with me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

©Heather Potts 2023

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Bumper Cars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qUPAI-VVhY&list=RD6qUPAI-VVhY&start_radio=1

Crushing Snakes ~ Passion (ft. Crowder, TAYA)

For the Lord God is brighter than the brilliance of a sunrise! Wrapping himself around me like a shield, he is so generous with his gifts of grace and glory. Those who walk along his paths with integrity will never lack one thing they need, for he provides it all! ~ Psalms 84:11 TPT

In Bumper Cars, drivers try to crash into each other, but the bumpers cause everything to bounce off, allowing everyone to enjoy the ride. When I was younger, I’d hear people pray, “a hedge of protection,” and think, “What is a bush going to do for me?!” Because I didn’t realize they were praying scripture, I’d pray for “bumper cars of protection,” because nothing got past those bumpers. In the end, we were praying the same thing; I just didn’t realize it.

I often think that’s what’s happening in the world, today. We all want to keep our loved ones safe, but instead of listening through love, we listen through fear, and end up lashing out at each other, sometimes violently. Instead of processing our thoughts and the root of our fears, we end up looking like children throwing a tantrum, because we’re simply reacting. However, if we can reach honesty in our communication—with ourselves, each other, and most importantly, with God—we’ll not only realize our needs, but we’ll be in a better position to hear and respond to the true needs of others. Unfortunately, fear is a powerful force and when we don’t stand up to it, it can overwhelm and consume us. That’s why we think God’s not hearing us, and why we often take matters into our own hands. Thankfully, God is patient, and waits for us to come to Him, so He can walk us to and through the Truth.

If you’ve been anxious about the endless unknowns, don’t let anxiety get the better of you. Instead, ask God to anoint your ears to listen to 1) only His voice and not the voice of fear, (John 10:4-5), and 2) others through love, because “Love never gives up…Doesn’t force itself on others…Doesn’t fly off the handle… Trusts God always, Always looks for the best…Keeps going to the end,” (1 Corinthian 13:4-8, MSG).

©Heather Potts 2020

HIS Side

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wPE7PYdXuc&list=RD6wPE7PYdXuc&start_radio=1&t=75

I Won’t Let You Go ~ Switchfoot featuring Lauren Daigle

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. ~ Psalm 23:1 NIV

Last night, I dreamt I tried to call some friends, but used a payphone instead of my cell. With each misdial and failed attempt, I grew angrier. When I finally reached them, they asked how I was doing. I said I was overwhelmed but given some time in worship and in God’s presence, I’d have a whole new perspective.

The world is full of distractions and the devil loves to use each one to draw us further away from intimacy with God. Just as he did with Eve in Genesis 3, the devil plants seeds of doubt in our minds telling us that God is holding out on us and He cannot be trusted. Doubting God’s faithfulness is the root of fear and anxiety. The more fearful and anxious we are, the more we find ourselves grasping for facts that aren’t typically Truths.

Fact: Protests and mayhem are happening in several cities across the country.

TRUTH: You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy…I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. ~ Psalm 61:3-4 NKJV

Fact: There’s been talk, in some cities, of dismantling local law enforcement.

TRUTH: …Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; Not one is missing… The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. ~ Isaiah 40:26-29 NKJV

Regardless of what’s going on in the world, we can get overwhelmed, scared, and anxious if we focus on it too long. But when we draw away with Father God for a while, we get a whole new perspective on things. It doesn’t make the bad things better, but allows us the opportunity to rest in Him, as we allow Him to draw us to His side.

©Heather Potts 2020

It's a Bad Day to Believe a Lie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjPKfQ7fMoM

I CHOOSE TO WORSHIP ~ Rend Collective

Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. [Acts 18:10.] ~ Isaiah 41:10 AMPC

Over the past two weeks, the counselor at the girls’ school has been sharing insights with the staff about what’s going on—emotionally—so we’re better equipped to help ourselves and our community. She said, due to the changes that are coming at us so quickly, we’re struggling to adjust, causing anger and anxiety to both be on the rise. But she gave an antidote: “Anxiety loses its footing when certainty, or truth, steps in.”

It might be slow at first, but the more truth you feed your brain, the more you’ll believe it, and it will affect your life. She said to focus on Truths from God’s Word. Below, I’ve listed several. This isn’t a magic trick, but a brain shift. What you feed your brain will affect what it believes and cause your life to shift.

Here are some Truths to help, (from Experiencing Father’s Embrace by Jack Frost):

·         God is not ashamed to be my Father. ~ Hebrews 11:16

·         Father wants me to overflow with His love. ~ Ephesians 3:19

·         Even when I am wounded, Father sees me as beautiful and takes pleasure in me. ~ Psalm 149:4

·         My Father is so pleased with my being His child that He will never leave me.  He wants to meet all my needs. ~ Luke 15:31

·         I have been adopted and placed in my Father’s presence. ~ Ephesians 1:5

·         In God’s love, I am complete. ~ Colossians 2:10

·         In God’s love, I find grace and mercy. ~ Hebrews 4:16

·         Father’s perfect love for me displaces my fears. ~ 1 John 4:18

What lies have you been believing? There’s no good day to believe a lie, but today’s a great day to dispel one with the Truth. If your brain believes—and your life shifts towards—what you tell it, isn’t it better to tell it Truth?

©Heather Potts 2020