Anger
Be angry but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the Devil a foothold. Ephesians 4: 26-27
Do you ever get angry at your parents? You know what I mean, you have an argument with them and you storm off in a huff and slam the bedroom door in their faces. Do you ever get angry at your teachers? You just can’t take it anymore when they come down on you like a ton of bricks for your uniform not being perfect or for simply talking to your best friend in class. Do you ever get angry at other people at school? You know when they call you that name or pick on you, tease you, or don’t even talk to you and isolate you? You let rip some choice words, which say how you feel.
Listen to these words about anger from the New Testament. They’re not what you’d expect. They’re not a “Do not be angry” or “You can’t get angry”. No thought what so ever that Christians or anyone for that matter should not be angry. No they are the complete opposite, they are permission giving words ...listen to them again and let the impact of it sink it; “Be angry”.... “Be angry”. Did you hear that? The bible is giving you permission to be angry. God is giving you permission to be angry at your parents, at your teachers at your friends. You can be angry today. God is giving you permission. He wants you to go out into the world and know that it is OK to express this most basic of human emotions.
But wait there’s a catch, it sounded too good to be true didn’t it? You have permission to be angry today, but and this is a big but, “Do not sin”. You can be angry but this anger is not to come out it ways that will hurt yourself or other people. You can be angry but you cannot let it erupt into violence. You see anger is God’s gift to you. God has given you anger for a reason. Anger is like the pressure value God has built into our bodies. It is the mechanism by which we can release all the stress, strain, and pressure that there is in our lives and accumulates inside our bodies. The problem is most of the time when we get angry we can’t control it and our anger spews out on others like molten burning larva from a volcano. It’s not OK to hurt others with angry words or lash out in violence to harm others. We do have permission to be angry, but the trick is to let that anger out in ways that don’t damage other people or scar them for life. Although some people find it very hard to control their anger it is possible for our anger to come out like flashes of lighting warning others and ourselves that something is not right.
The other piece of wisdom for us today is to not let the sun go down on your anger. If you are angry with someone today do not let it sit and do nothing about it. Stewing over angry thoughts and feelings is not a healthy thing for our bodies and minds. Repressed anger leads to resentment and can snowball into depression. If you are angry with someone today, do something about it. Use your words carefully, think before you react and have the gumption to talk about it rather than bottle it up, or worse explode it violently on someone.
So there you have it. You have permission to be angry today...but do not sin. Don’t dump your anger on someone else or spew it out so that it hurts or harms other people. God has given us anger for a reason. You could say it is a God given ability. An important one we need to be in tune with so it doesn’t control us or get out of control.
Discussion Questions:
Prayer:
Thank you God for our emotions, especially for the emotion of anger. When we feel angry help us to take a moment and let it out in positive ways with wise words. Forgive us Jesus for the times that we have hurt others with our anger. Help us to be angry without using violence. Give us the gift of self control. Help us to be angry without hurting others and don’t let the sun go down on our anger today. Amen.
✠ May Jesus who has forgiven you, give you self control in your anger today. Amen ✠
Do you ever get angry at your parents? You know what I mean, you have an argument with them and you storm off in a huff and slam the bedroom door in their faces. Do you ever get angry at your teachers? You just can’t take it anymore when they come down on you like a ton of bricks for your uniform not being perfect or for simply talking to your best friend in class. Do you ever get angry at other people at school? You know when they call you that name or pick on you, tease you, or don’t even talk to you and isolate you? You let rip some choice words, which say how you feel.
Listen to these words about anger from the New Testament. They’re not what you’d expect. They’re not a “Do not be angry” or “You can’t get angry”. No thought what so ever that Christians or anyone for that matter should not be angry. No they are the complete opposite, they are permission giving words ...listen to them again and let the impact of it sink it; “Be angry”.... “Be angry”. Did you hear that? The bible is giving you permission to be angry. God is giving you permission to be angry at your parents, at your teachers at your friends. You can be angry today. God is giving you permission. He wants you to go out into the world and know that it is OK to express this most basic of human emotions.
But wait there’s a catch, it sounded too good to be true didn’t it? You have permission to be angry today, but and this is a big but, “Do not sin”. You can be angry but this anger is not to come out it ways that will hurt yourself or other people. You can be angry but you cannot let it erupt into violence. You see anger is God’s gift to you. God has given you anger for a reason. Anger is like the pressure value God has built into our bodies. It is the mechanism by which we can release all the stress, strain, and pressure that there is in our lives and accumulates inside our bodies. The problem is most of the time when we get angry we can’t control it and our anger spews out on others like molten burning larva from a volcano. It’s not OK to hurt others with angry words or lash out in violence to harm others. We do have permission to be angry, but the trick is to let that anger out in ways that don’t damage other people or scar them for life. Although some people find it very hard to control their anger it is possible for our anger to come out like flashes of lighting warning others and ourselves that something is not right.
The other piece of wisdom for us today is to not let the sun go down on your anger. If you are angry with someone today do not let it sit and do nothing about it. Stewing over angry thoughts and feelings is not a healthy thing for our bodies and minds. Repressed anger leads to resentment and can snowball into depression. If you are angry with someone today, do something about it. Use your words carefully, think before you react and have the gumption to talk about it rather than bottle it up, or worse explode it violently on someone.
So there you have it. You have permission to be angry today...but do not sin. Don’t dump your anger on someone else or spew it out so that it hurts or harms other people. God has given us anger for a reason. You could say it is a God given ability. An important one we need to be in tune with so it doesn’t control us or get out of control.
Discussion Questions:
- What are some of the things that really get you angry? What gets on your goat?
- Have you ever be able to let your anger out in safe ways? Have you seen people be angry but not damage others?
- Do you think it is OK to get angry at God? Did Jesus ever get angry?
- What things would you like prayed for?
Prayer:
Thank you God for our emotions, especially for the emotion of anger. When we feel angry help us to take a moment and let it out in positive ways with wise words. Forgive us Jesus for the times that we have hurt others with our anger. Help us to be angry without using violence. Give us the gift of self control. Help us to be angry without hurting others and don’t let the sun go down on our anger today. Amen.
✠ May Jesus who has forgiven you, give you self control in your anger today. Amen ✠
Contentment
True religion does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have. We didn’t bring anything into this world, and we won’t take anything with us when we leave. So if we have enough food and clothing, we can be content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)
Reflection and YouTube clip:
The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence. I wish I looked as good as they do! I hate the look of my hair, my figure, my backside. I wish my parents were like hers! That Xbox, that new phone, those latest clothes, I wish I had them. I wish I had money like his family does! As humans we want to compare ourselves with others. The way our bodies look, what our friends have and we don’t, the way other parents or families have it easy. We find it hard to be content with what we have. We are tempted by what others have. We want to be rich, famous, and powerful like the celebrities and icons we see in the media. But is the grass really greener on the other side of the fence? If we put ourselves in other people’s shoes would we be happier? Check out this YouTube clip called “My Shoes”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=627ddF06Gqs
Having values, spirituality, something to believe in is what makes many people rich and content with their lives. Believing in God does bring contentment. Because in the end contentment is a gift you cannot buy. It is a gift that comes from living in the moment, freeing yourself from negative thought patterns, from judging others, and cultivating a spirit of appreciation for what you already have. It is being aware of how God has indeed blessed you with many things. What has God blessed you with that you have failed to notice? What do you already have that you can be thankful for? We don’t need much stuff in life to be content. Having less stuff and focusing on the simple things is a great starting point where God can surprise us with his presence and change our hearts. Keeping up with the Joneses and wanting your neighbour’s shoes might not be the best thing for you. Maybe the grass really is greener on your side of the fence; you just haven’t quite noticed it yet.
Prayer:
Jesus, you promise that you can give us an abundant and fulfilling life. Free us from the comparisons we make with others. Give us a spirit of contentment and happiness with what we have. Create in us a grateful heart and renew with us with a content spirit. Amen.
✠ May the Spirit of God give you contentment today and thankfulness for what you do have. Amen ✠
Reflection and YouTube clip:
The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence. I wish I looked as good as they do! I hate the look of my hair, my figure, my backside. I wish my parents were like hers! That Xbox, that new phone, those latest clothes, I wish I had them. I wish I had money like his family does! As humans we want to compare ourselves with others. The way our bodies look, what our friends have and we don’t, the way other parents or families have it easy. We find it hard to be content with what we have. We are tempted by what others have. We want to be rich, famous, and powerful like the celebrities and icons we see in the media. But is the grass really greener on the other side of the fence? If we put ourselves in other people’s shoes would we be happier? Check out this YouTube clip called “My Shoes”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=627ddF06Gqs
Having values, spirituality, something to believe in is what makes many people rich and content with their lives. Believing in God does bring contentment. Because in the end contentment is a gift you cannot buy. It is a gift that comes from living in the moment, freeing yourself from negative thought patterns, from judging others, and cultivating a spirit of appreciation for what you already have. It is being aware of how God has indeed blessed you with many things. What has God blessed you with that you have failed to notice? What do you already have that you can be thankful for? We don’t need much stuff in life to be content. Having less stuff and focusing on the simple things is a great starting point where God can surprise us with his presence and change our hearts. Keeping up with the Joneses and wanting your neighbour’s shoes might not be the best thing for you. Maybe the grass really is greener on your side of the fence; you just haven’t quite noticed it yet.
Prayer:
Jesus, you promise that you can give us an abundant and fulfilling life. Free us from the comparisons we make with others. Give us a spirit of contentment and happiness with what we have. Create in us a grateful heart and renew with us with a content spirit. Amen.
✠ May the Spirit of God give you contentment today and thankfulness for what you do have. Amen ✠
Finishing Strong
Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be people of courage, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
Finish strong!
It’s almost the end of the school year with only one week left. Eight more sleeps to go. Eight more sleeps to holidays, freedom! No more homework, no more teachers, no more school! But these words keep going around my head; Finish strong, finish strong!
There is so much to look forward to, but there is so much that can hold us back. So much that can sway us to fall down and not finish our year on a good note. We can all finish the school year strong! We’re all in this together. Together we can be on our guard, stand firm, and not let the silly things tempt us from finishing this school year strong. We all have the opportunity to finish our year positively, to be people of courage and not let the side down. How are you going to finish this last week of school at Victory? Are you courageous enough to finish strong!
God gives this same message to not just students but teachers and all people; finish strong! Don’t let all those tasks you have to do; all those reports and papers on your desk and your hard drive divert you from finishing strong. Don’t let all the things that clutter up your life at this time of the year obscure you from focusing on Christ. It’s a message God has for all of us, to stand firm in faith and trust Jesus, so that we can finish our lives here on earth strong. Are you going to be courageous, and live life to the full and for the sake of others not just yourself? Are you going to finish strong!
Prayer:
Thank you Lord, that the end of the school year is it sight. Thank you for all the work we have done and the things we have learnt. Give us patience to stand firm, be on our guard and finish this year strong. Give us courage throughout our lives to believe in the deeper things you give us, faith, hope and love. Bless us with the strength that only you can give us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Finish strong!
It’s almost the end of the school year with only one week left. Eight more sleeps to go. Eight more sleeps to holidays, freedom! No more homework, no more teachers, no more school! But these words keep going around my head; Finish strong, finish strong!
There is so much to look forward to, but there is so much that can hold us back. So much that can sway us to fall down and not finish our year on a good note. We can all finish the school year strong! We’re all in this together. Together we can be on our guard, stand firm, and not let the silly things tempt us from finishing this school year strong. We all have the opportunity to finish our year positively, to be people of courage and not let the side down. How are you going to finish this last week of school at Victory? Are you courageous enough to finish strong!
God gives this same message to not just students but teachers and all people; finish strong! Don’t let all those tasks you have to do; all those reports and papers on your desk and your hard drive divert you from finishing strong. Don’t let all the things that clutter up your life at this time of the year obscure you from focusing on Christ. It’s a message God has for all of us, to stand firm in faith and trust Jesus, so that we can finish our lives here on earth strong. Are you going to be courageous, and live life to the full and for the sake of others not just yourself? Are you going to finish strong!
Prayer:
Thank you Lord, that the end of the school year is it sight. Thank you for all the work we have done and the things we have learnt. Give us patience to stand firm, be on our guard and finish this year strong. Give us courage throughout our lives to believe in the deeper things you give us, faith, hope and love. Bless us with the strength that only you can give us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Selfies
Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves. And look out for one another's interests, not just for your own. Philippians 2: 3-4
How many selfies have you taken lately? The proliferation of iphones and instagram, facetime and facebook means that we can take a photo of ourselves anywhere, anytime and send it to anyone, anywhere, anytime in the world. Put up your hand if you have taken a selfie over the weekend, over the last week, or the last month? If you have put up your hand you are joining the ranks of our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who recently posted a selfie on instagram where 8141 people liked the image of him with a shaving cut. Why is the Prime Minister of Australia obsessed with posting selfies? Maybe he thinks it will buy him the votes of younger people. Whatever the reason, when you touch that send button, no matter whether you’re the Prime Minister in the Lodge or a Year 9 girl in a bedroom, that photo of yourself is out there in the public and there is no getting it back. Have you ever regretted sending a photo, a message, a text? Have you ever felt like you needed an ‘unsend’ button?
Why is the selfie so popular in our culture? Because in it we can portray ourselves in the best possible light. Think about it, do you send any selfies when your self is looking pretty ordinary? Say first thing in the morning when you get out of bed? Or when you are sick and tired and worn out? No. Usually the photos we send other people are the photos that make us look good. We hit delete on the awful ones don’t we? Our selfies tend to show the best side of us, the side we want other people to see? The side we want other people to like? How many times have you looked at how many likes you have on a photo or a message on facebook? It’s very easy to get caught up in who’s hot and who’s not, commenting on friends whom we really aren’t friendly to if we are honest about it.
It’s hard not to get caught up in the popularity game and try to seek approval from others. It’s hard to be humble, to think of others first, to refuse to act out of selfishness or a desire to boast. But that is the challenge before us today as we listen to these words; “Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves. And look out for one another's interests, not just for your own.”
There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a selfie. The problem lies when we try to be someone we are not.
Discussion Questions:
Prayer:
Thank you God for creating us as your unique people of all shapes and sizes, attractive and not so attractive. We thank you that what matters for you is not how we look on the outside but that you love us on the inside. No matter what other people think of us or say about us you love us and care for us. Help us to think of people other than ourselves. Help us to be humble to one another and to look out for one another’s interests. Help us to use technology wisely and to look out for our friends. In your name we pray. Amen.
How many selfies have you taken lately? The proliferation of iphones and instagram, facetime and facebook means that we can take a photo of ourselves anywhere, anytime and send it to anyone, anywhere, anytime in the world. Put up your hand if you have taken a selfie over the weekend, over the last week, or the last month? If you have put up your hand you are joining the ranks of our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who recently posted a selfie on instagram where 8141 people liked the image of him with a shaving cut. Why is the Prime Minister of Australia obsessed with posting selfies? Maybe he thinks it will buy him the votes of younger people. Whatever the reason, when you touch that send button, no matter whether you’re the Prime Minister in the Lodge or a Year 9 girl in a bedroom, that photo of yourself is out there in the public and there is no getting it back. Have you ever regretted sending a photo, a message, a text? Have you ever felt like you needed an ‘unsend’ button?
Why is the selfie so popular in our culture? Because in it we can portray ourselves in the best possible light. Think about it, do you send any selfies when your self is looking pretty ordinary? Say first thing in the morning when you get out of bed? Or when you are sick and tired and worn out? No. Usually the photos we send other people are the photos that make us look good. We hit delete on the awful ones don’t we? Our selfies tend to show the best side of us, the side we want other people to see? The side we want other people to like? How many times have you looked at how many likes you have on a photo or a message on facebook? It’s very easy to get caught up in who’s hot and who’s not, commenting on friends whom we really aren’t friendly to if we are honest about it.
It’s hard not to get caught up in the popularity game and try to seek approval from others. It’s hard to be humble, to think of others first, to refuse to act out of selfishness or a desire to boast. But that is the challenge before us today as we listen to these words; “Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves. And look out for one another's interests, not just for your own.”
There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a selfie. The problem lies when we try to be someone we are not.
Discussion Questions:
- What do you think about selfies? When can they be a good thing and when can they be a bad thing?
- Have you ever posted a photo to get the approval of other people? What would our communication with friends be like if we did not have facebook and other social media?
- What is one way you can use facebook or social media today to encourage someone and build them up?
- What things would you like prayed for?
Prayer:
Thank you God for creating us as your unique people of all shapes and sizes, attractive and not so attractive. We thank you that what matters for you is not how we look on the outside but that you love us on the inside. No matter what other people think of us or say about us you love us and care for us. Help us to think of people other than ourselves. Help us to be humble to one another and to look out for one another’s interests. Help us to use technology wisely and to look out for our friends. In your name we pray. Amen.
What the ****!
A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue—it’s never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! James 3:4-9 (The Message)
Words have power, especially swear words. They seem to be just the right thing to say when we are extremely mad at someone, when technology is not doing what it is supposed to do, or when we simply hit our thumb with a hammer. Swearing is emotive and can clearly communicate how we feel. We might think that the words we use do not matter but it is wise to be careful with the words we use, especially when we are around young children. Being a student in a P-12 College means that young kids soak up what they see big kids do and say. Our words do have an effect on others. On the other extreme, swear words can lose their power when they are used in conversation for every second word. When we are bombarded with the F bomb or Jesus’ name as an exclamation in television, music, films or in ordinary speech, the words can wash over us. Like other things we can become desensitised to them.
When I was in primary school I remember seeing classmates disciplined for swearing. They were told by the principal to go to the toilet and wash their mouths out with soap and water. Sometimes a teacher would accompany the student to the toilet to make sure it would happen. Whether it was an effective way of controlling the person’s behaviour is another question. Both kids and adults do need to be aware of better ways of expressing themselves than swearing and cursing. Our school community and any relationship we have is built on respect and positive healthy communication. This includes swearing and the choice of words we use.
In the New Testament reading from James chapter three we are told that the tongue is one of the smallest members of our body but it can have a powerful effect that causes great damage and fire. No one can tame the tongue. Out of our mouths comes blessing and cursing. When I read this I think of how I hear some people use the name of Jesus in a less than honourable way.
The words we choose to use or simply say out of habit can have a profound effect on others. Our speech at school or at home can either build people up or tear them down. The challenge is how can we encourage one another to better express ourselves when we let rip with a swear word?
Let’s pray:
Gracious God. We thank you for the gift of language and the words we use to communicate to one another that express our feelings. Help us to be positive and encouraging in the words we use with one another. When we swear give us the gift of self control. Help us to be good role models to the younger students here at Victory. And show us your word of forgiveness to us. In Jesus’ holy name we pray. Amen.
Words have power, especially swear words. They seem to be just the right thing to say when we are extremely mad at someone, when technology is not doing what it is supposed to do, or when we simply hit our thumb with a hammer. Swearing is emotive and can clearly communicate how we feel. We might think that the words we use do not matter but it is wise to be careful with the words we use, especially when we are around young children. Being a student in a P-12 College means that young kids soak up what they see big kids do and say. Our words do have an effect on others. On the other extreme, swear words can lose their power when they are used in conversation for every second word. When we are bombarded with the F bomb or Jesus’ name as an exclamation in television, music, films or in ordinary speech, the words can wash over us. Like other things we can become desensitised to them.
When I was in primary school I remember seeing classmates disciplined for swearing. They were told by the principal to go to the toilet and wash their mouths out with soap and water. Sometimes a teacher would accompany the student to the toilet to make sure it would happen. Whether it was an effective way of controlling the person’s behaviour is another question. Both kids and adults do need to be aware of better ways of expressing themselves than swearing and cursing. Our school community and any relationship we have is built on respect and positive healthy communication. This includes swearing and the choice of words we use.
In the New Testament reading from James chapter three we are told that the tongue is one of the smallest members of our body but it can have a powerful effect that causes great damage and fire. No one can tame the tongue. Out of our mouths comes blessing and cursing. When I read this I think of how I hear some people use the name of Jesus in a less than honourable way.
The words we choose to use or simply say out of habit can have a profound effect on others. Our speech at school or at home can either build people up or tear them down. The challenge is how can we encourage one another to better express ourselves when we let rip with a swear word?
Let’s pray:
Gracious God. We thank you for the gift of language and the words we use to communicate to one another that express our feelings. Help us to be positive and encouraging in the words we use with one another. When we swear give us the gift of self control. Help us to be good role models to the younger students here at Victory. And show us your word of forgiveness to us. In Jesus’ holy name we pray. Amen.
Why God?
My God, my God, why have you deserted me? Why are you so far away? Won’t you listen to my groans and come to my rescue? I cry out day and night, but you don’t answer, and I can never rest. Psalm 22: 1-2
Do you ever remember being a young child constantly asking the question ‘Why’? Why do I need to go to bed now Mum? Why is Fairy floss always pink? Why do cars drive on the left side of the road? Why aren’t there any more dinosaurs? Why is that man homeless? For many children there is a stage in their early development where they ask the ‘why’ question constantly? For a parent it can be frustrating to be hit with a machine gun fire of ‘why’ questions and to try to answer them.
Later in life when we grow older and experience suffering, grief and loss in our lives we also ask the ‘why’ question. This time, the question is not so much about how the world operates, but rather, why is this stuff happening to me? Why is there pain and death in the world? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is there evil? When we have experienced more of life it is natural to ask these why questions. In hard times we want to make sense of life, come to some explanation of it’s meaning, and find purpose in the ‘stuff’ that happens to us.
In the bible we are given permission to ask these ‘why’ questions of God. In fact the writers of the Psalms in the Old Testament are constantly asking the ‘why’ question of God. “Why has this happened to me?” “Where are you God in all of this?” Why have you deserted me? “Why won’t you come to help me?” These writers in the bible feel free to express their emotions, their doubts, their feelings in prayer to God. They call out to him for help in the middle of their tears and grief. They give us permission to do the same when we go through hard times. We too can call out our ‘why’ questions to God. God is big enough to handle them and hear them. We might not find an answer to all of them but we can find hope that God is able to listen to them.
When Jesus was hanging off the cross in blood and pain on Good Friday he asked these ‘why’ questions of God. He used these words of Psalm 22; My God, my God, why have you deserted me? Why are you so far away? Why won’t you help me? God heard the cries of Jesus and gave him the strength he needed to complete his task of dying for us. God knows what it is like to ask the question ‘why’. Sometimes in life the closest we come to finding an answer is directing these questions at him and knowing that he is with us.
Let’s pray:
Lord give us strength and courage each day. Give us the freedom to ask the bigger questions of life to you. Thank you that you know what it is like to be a human being in this life with all the ups and downs that we experience. Give us courage, peace and endurance when we hit rough times. In your name we pray. Amen.
Do you ever remember being a young child constantly asking the question ‘Why’? Why do I need to go to bed now Mum? Why is Fairy floss always pink? Why do cars drive on the left side of the road? Why aren’t there any more dinosaurs? Why is that man homeless? For many children there is a stage in their early development where they ask the ‘why’ question constantly? For a parent it can be frustrating to be hit with a machine gun fire of ‘why’ questions and to try to answer them.
Later in life when we grow older and experience suffering, grief and loss in our lives we also ask the ‘why’ question. This time, the question is not so much about how the world operates, but rather, why is this stuff happening to me? Why is there pain and death in the world? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is there evil? When we have experienced more of life it is natural to ask these why questions. In hard times we want to make sense of life, come to some explanation of it’s meaning, and find purpose in the ‘stuff’ that happens to us.
In the bible we are given permission to ask these ‘why’ questions of God. In fact the writers of the Psalms in the Old Testament are constantly asking the ‘why’ question of God. “Why has this happened to me?” “Where are you God in all of this?” Why have you deserted me? “Why won’t you come to help me?” These writers in the bible feel free to express their emotions, their doubts, their feelings in prayer to God. They call out to him for help in the middle of their tears and grief. They give us permission to do the same when we go through hard times. We too can call out our ‘why’ questions to God. God is big enough to handle them and hear them. We might not find an answer to all of them but we can find hope that God is able to listen to them.
When Jesus was hanging off the cross in blood and pain on Good Friday he asked these ‘why’ questions of God. He used these words of Psalm 22; My God, my God, why have you deserted me? Why are you so far away? Why won’t you help me? God heard the cries of Jesus and gave him the strength he needed to complete his task of dying for us. God knows what it is like to ask the question ‘why’. Sometimes in life the closest we come to finding an answer is directing these questions at him and knowing that he is with us.
Let’s pray:
Lord give us strength and courage each day. Give us the freedom to ask the bigger questions of life to you. Thank you that you know what it is like to be a human being in this life with all the ups and downs that we experience. Give us courage, peace and endurance when we hit rough times. In your name we pray. Amen.
Anxiety
Don’t fret or be anxious. 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 centre of your life. Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message)
Do you get sweaty palms when you sit for an exam? Do you get anxious and worry about it? Do you get heart palpitations or headaches? Do you fear how you will go in it and so you put off the study that is necessary and procrastinate? Do you get anxious that you will make a mistake and will not get a perfect result or the result that you desire? It’s pretty easy to get anxious at exam time. Anxiety over exams and anxiety over a lot of situations in life is a normal human response. Everyone feels some degree of anxiety at different times in their life. It’s the way our body tries to cope under pressure, it keep us out of dangerous situations, and motivates us to tackle problems. But if your anxiety gets in the way of you living your life and causes you major distress then it may be a problem. If it is, then there is something you can do about it.
Prayer:
Loving God, be with me now, as I prepare for my exams. Thank you for the many talents and gifts you have given me and for the opportunity of education. Calm my nerves and anxiety, help me to remember all that I have studied, to express it clearly and to answer the questions the very best that I can. Holy Spirit, sit with me in my exam and always. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Do you get sweaty palms when you sit for an exam? Do you get anxious and worry about it? Do you get heart palpitations or headaches? Do you fear how you will go in it and so you put off the study that is necessary and procrastinate? Do you get anxious that you will make a mistake and will not get a perfect result or the result that you desire? It’s pretty easy to get anxious at exam time. Anxiety over exams and anxiety over a lot of situations in life is a normal human response. Everyone feels some degree of anxiety at different times in their life. It’s the way our body tries to cope under pressure, it keep us out of dangerous situations, and motivates us to tackle problems. But if your anxiety gets in the way of you living your life and causes you major distress then it may be a problem. If it is, then there is something you can do about it.
- Regular exercise. You might not feel like it but getting regular physical exercise can make you less anxious, stressed and depressed.
- Meditation. Being in the moment, focusing your breathing, praying and centring on God helps immensely.
- Self talk. Training your mind to combat the anxious thoughts with positive self talk is a useful discipline to learn.
- Check your thinking. Study your anxious thought patterns so you can see when things start to get out of control and challenge the accuracy of these thoughts.
- Remember to consult a trusted adult or medical doctor if your anxiety is out of control.
Prayer:
Loving God, be with me now, as I prepare for my exams. Thank you for the many talents and gifts you have given me and for the opportunity of education. Calm my nerves and anxiety, help me to remember all that I have studied, to express it clearly and to answer the questions the very best that I can. Holy Spirit, sit with me in my exam and always. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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