Often, it is difficult to feel enough. You may feel that no matter what you do or how you do it, you are never going to be fulfilling the standards set for you, often set by other humans. This happens to me when I am trying to fulfill the wrong goals. I take this reading path through Scripture to remind me of the callings I can fulfill on the daily.
Psalm 51:16, 17: "For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." God does not despise my brokenness; it is a gift to Him, an offering. My brokenness is only the beginning of the process. My contrite heart waits to be lifted up out of the darkness.
Psalm 40:1-3: “I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.” As I wait before the Lord, I know that He will bring me out of whatever trial I am facing. He will bring me up out of the brokenness and changes my voice to praise. This promise brings a quiet peace even while I am in the midst of the whirlwind. Next, I focus on verses 10 and 11: “I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me.” This continues the theme of praise. Joy follows praise to God, and it is difficult to remain anxious while praising. Even if genuine praise does not bring perfect happiness, it brings peace, as you are fulfilling your purpose.
As Psalms goes on to say, “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” In other words, we cannot provide God with anything he does not have, except for praise. God has given us the ability to provide Him with praise, and when we do, we fulfill a calling within us, bringing peace and fulfillment to our hearts.
As the anxiety tries to push through, the Lord has promised that my feet will stand "on level ground," and as I pursue integrity, those who mean me harm cannot touch me. Psalm 26: “O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes. But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.”
Psalm 63: 5-7: "My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy." After resting in God's promises, I feel a covering of peace. My soul needs to be fed as much as my body does, and if it doesn't eat, it may get "hangry."
Galatians 5:13-25 outlines what my life should look like as a Christian. I read it often to remind me of the callings I should be fulfilling and what fruits my soul should be growing.
Lastly, if my mind won't stop racing, I put on praise music. It speaks truth into my brain when my brain won't shut down the lies. It gets the focus off of me and onto God.
