Today I'm sharing an encouraging post from a special guest, Virginia Davidson, a Wholly Loved Team Member. As a brain tumor survivor, she understands fear. But she's discovered a powerful way to live in confident and courageous faith.
Countering Fear With Praise
By Virginia Davidson
The CD player in our minivan is broken. It plays the same CD on loop and won’t stop without ejecting the disc and starting anew. Often my brain does the same thing with thoughts that loop and loop until I have to deal with them either in quiet prayer time or if left unchecked, in a moment of anxiety.
When my thoughts spiral out of control, I need to intentionally focus on truth. Click To Tweet
Philippians 4 is full of encouragement. If you’re at home like most of the world right now, you have the time to sit and reflect. Verse four to seven say,
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (ESV).
Let your gentleness, reasonableness, be seen by all! This isn’t always easy when we are feeling overwhelmed and out of control. We cannot control the virus painting our world sick and anxious. But we can tell our thoughts and fears to the One that can handle them. Click To TweetHe’s not shocked, He knows them already, and doesn’t turn us away. He’s our Healer, our Shepherd, our Savior. He gives us His peace, His wholeness, and guards our ever-changing emotions and thoughts.
Philippians four verses eight to nine can help us do that. It states, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (ESV).
It's easy to fall into the "What-ifs," but we are called to think about whatever is true, honorable, just, pure ... 
These verses are a great reminder and encouragement. God created us, He knows where we often let our thoughts take over and loop. But Philippians 8 tells us what to think about, what to loop in our brains, the true, the honorable, the just, the pure, the lovely, the commendable, the excellent, the praiseworthy.
So as we notice the thoughts that so easily get stuck in our minds, may God graciously eject them, and remind us of all of His lovely Truths.
Let’s talk about this! Do you find yourself looping the what ifs right now? If so, join us by sharing something lovely or praiseworthy below.
Let’s share a new playlist below, not of songs, but of something lovely, honorable, and praiseworthy you’ve seen this week.
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Ginny Davidson is an overcomer, brain tumor survivor, wife, and mother boldly declaring God’s hope and peace. After completing her M.A. in Education from Grand Canyon University, she speaks so others can experience freedom from anxiety and life change. Whether it’s a conversation over a steaming cup of chai on her couch or sharing with a group at a retreat or Bible study, Ginny is compelled to share the message of the peace-filled life to a world of women plagued by fear. In the evenings she can be found outside with her husband and kids, attending dance parties around the record player in the living room, or highlighting a great book.
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If you're struggling with fear and anxiety, make sure to check out Jennifer Slattery's Faith Over Fear Podcast. You can find it HERE. And she invites you to join her online book discussion of Maria Furlough's Breaking the Fear Cycle. Maria will be joining the group on May 14th to discuss the last few chapters, her journey, and the book as a whole.
Online Book Discussion: Breaking the Fear Cycle
Starting this Thursday, we’re launching our online book discussion on Maria Furlough’s Breaking the Fear Cycle. We’ll be meeting via Zoom (find the meeting invite HERE) and also live streaming our discussion to our private Facebook group. You can join us in either places or both.
About the book:
It seems there is more to fear now than ever, but fear and anxiety are nothing new to human beings–or to God. The Bible calls us to not be afraid on many occasions, and of course we all want to live without fear. But just how is that accomplished when every news item seems designed to get us wringing our hands?
Using her own story as a catalyst, Maria Furlough shows readers how to overcome fear for good. She calls readers to make a list of their fears, to choose to bring those fears to God rather than acting on them, and to trust God with the future. She shows how when we give God full control over our lives, choosing his sovereignty over our own ability, we can break the cycle of fear, grow through suffering, and trust God to fulfill his promises of protection and peace.
Anyone who is filled with anxiety over their personal circumstances, the state of the world today, or even their fear-clogged social media feeds will welcome this hands-on journey from fear to freedom.
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and writers across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com.
As the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries, she’s passionate about helping women experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.
