I’m no scientist… but I understand that when I fill a glass with liquid and then drop something into that glass (such as:: ice or my iPhone) then there will be liquid that spills over the edge of the glass and onto the floor. I am overjoyed to announce to you, that this scientific principle is called “water displacement”.
There is a Greek word for “worry” that Jesus used when He commanded His followers to be free from anxiety (see:: Matthew 6:25-34). That word is… merimnao.
The merimnao approach to life is one of worry and anxiety. Jesus taught that we should seek God’s kingdom… and allow Him to meet our needs. If a follower of Jesus wants to live a life that is not marked by merimnao (aka:: a life without an addiction to anxiety and worry) then that person must begin with the principle of water displacement.
Check this out::
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
+ Paul of Tarsus (Philippians 4:6-7)
A life of anxiety is a life that is filled to the brim with concern, doubt, fear, and uncertainty. A life of anxiety is a life that is unanchored and unstable. A life of anxiety is a life that is lost in attempts at control. A life of anxiety is a life that is devoid of peace. A life of anxiety is a life that is lived in disobedience (see:: Matthew 6:25-34 and John 14). A life of anxiety is a life that celebrates MY OWN KINGDOM rather than the KINGDOM of GOD (see:: Matthew 6:33-34).
In order for me to live a life that is free from anxiety… I must remember that, despite all my grasping for control in my life, there is another way… a better way… a way that is marked by sacrifice… a way that utterly displaces my carefully constructed, meticulously maintained, precious kingdom.
For whatever reason, Jesus didn’t choose to instantly sanitize the whole lot of us. We often think he did though, so we spend a lot of time running around with mops and buckets getting ready for bunk inspection. In our kingdoms, we begin to believe that we can fix all our messes. In Jesus’ kingdom, He alone can start with our messes and accomplish something we never could have imagined. And He does.
+ Rick McKinley (This Beautiful Mess)
If we are going to live lives that are free from anxiety… we have to realize that “seeking God’s kingdom first” is promised to be messy… and costly… and painful.
We must begin by vacating our own kingdoms. This form of spiritual displacement is the way to peace and freedom in Jesus, the Messiah.
Let the displacing begin…
…………………………….
//rweaver//