Be Mindful (Not Neurotic): You Are Loved
Boy, it’s been awhile since I wrote one of these bad boys, hasn’t it? I apologize for the impromptu hiatus (see what I did there) and lack of updates as of late. I don’t know why – other than the usual distractions – I’ve been slacking off so much, but I’m sorry if you’ve missed this sucker over the past two or three weeks.
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. I certainly did. I’m ashamed to admit it had been many years since I’d seen several of the folks around that table. But I do love them and I’m glad to say that they still felt like family after all this time. I think it’s somewhat true that no matter how far apart you’ve grown, blood is always going to be blood.
You know, those of us who are in Christ are often called to examine ourselves. Some of us dig deep, get introspective, and come out the other side with a better understanding of our sin. That’s great. When the Holy Spirit points us back to Christ – as He always does – we know it’s going to be a good day. We can never boast in our own flesh, our works, but His grace always abounds. Thanks and praise belong to the Lord!
But some of us lose ourselves in our own minds. Our inward focus keeps us from seeing the light in our lives, the sanctifying work of the Spirit with which God transforms our likeness into that of our coheir the Lord Jesus Christ. There’s such a thing as too much introspection and excessive devotion to rooting out the negatives of one’s inner being can lead to more harmful and darker happenings.
I’m an anxious person. I’m decidedly shy, introverted, and not at all comfortable with small talk or conversations with strangers. I spend a great deal of time in my head and this, unfortunately, leads to sometimes heavy doses of melancholy and obsession. There are days where I forget I’m a new creation in Christ, days where my opinion of myself is so low that I neglect the wonderful reality that I’m loved by my Father in heaven and that He sent His Son to die for sinners like me and you.
So heed this advice: God’s not mad and He loves you. Okay, I didn’t get that all on my own. That’s from the Word (1 John 4:7-10). It’s the truth that Christ Jesus is our Lord and Savior, that by His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection we can know that it is finished. The Son paid a debt He did not owe with His precious blood. I can’t ever repay Him for what He did. My efforts are not worth one drop.
I can’t be thankful enough that a little over two years ago He reached out and yanked me away from the pit of despair and brought me to Him in love. My hope is in Christ and in Him alone. His grace and mercy is everlasting.
Now, I don’t have a whole lot to talk about today in terms of my books or the future of this blog. But you might consider, my fellow Christian, checking out Key Life Network (an online ministry) and the works of Steve Brown. If you’re the obsessive-compulsive and neurotic type like me, you’ll find his books and his preaching invaluable.
https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Brown/e/B001IYXA8G/
No, he didn’t pay me to say that or to put up those links. He’s just a good preacher and one that understands how truly fallen we are and how good God really is to us sinners. I’d highly recommend any of his books and the website for your growth and understanding as a Christian (not neglecting the only indisputable source of truth i. e. the Word of God).
So I guess this is the part where you fall down – I mean, this is the part where I sign off!
(Sorry. I just wanted to make the Johnny Cage joke even if it didn’t really fit.)
Thank you for reading. God bless, have a wonderful week, be mindful, but don’t let your neurosis take control. Abide in Christ. Amen.
