Editor's note: You're invited to join us for the Relaxed Online Bible Study by Megan Fate Marshman!
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Who is the Relaxed Bible Study for?
The Relaxed Bible study is for anyone who responds to the sanctification gap in ways that I have in my entire life. Basically, the sanctification gap is this — There is the person we want to be, long to be, or even Jesus Himself and then there’s where we’re at. This sanctification gap comes up to us every time we hear an amazing sermon, right? You hear some truth about God such as the invitation to pray without ceasing and then what comes up in your head is how you’re doing with that. The question I pose is: What do you do about that gap?
What I spent the majority of my life doing was trying to shrink the gap from where I’m actually at and where I want to be. Of course we do that! That’s how we’re trained in all of life — to do our best (and we should!). But, maybe that’s not God’s invitation for us on how to become more like Him by His Spirit because the best response to that gap is not even our response to it. It’s His response to it.
He comes to us to take us on a journey.
So, who’s it for? Anyone who, like me, has been trying to become the best version of themselves on their own. All the spiritual disciplines, spiritual practices, all of our efforts to become more like Jesus feel like they fall on our shoulders instead of understanding how this Holy Spirit works in our spiritual formation.
What Do You Do When You Feel Overwhelmed and Anxious?
When you feel overwhelmed and anxious, I would encourage you to hear the words of the Lord, especially this verse, which happens to be the most highlighted verse on all Kindle e-readers. Philippians 4 is where it’s found.
Do not be anxious for anything (Easy enough, Paul.) but in everything with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And, the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7
I know we want understanding and the fact that we can’t have it is one of the many reasons we’re anxious. But, in this verse, two things are highlighted for me. First, the second half… better than understanding is the peace of God which is possible before you understand anything. Secondly is that front half. What do you do with your anxiety? Instead of ignoring it, pretending it’s not there, you open it to the Lord. And then — don’t miss these two words — with thanksgiving… Psychologists are now telling us that gratitude and thankfulness happen in the exact same part of the brain. You can’t be both anxious and grateful at the same time. So, there’s a spiritual practice we can try right now.
- What are you grateful for? Pull out a pen. Make a list.
Get your notes app out and do not be anxious but rather in everything with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. You can ask Him for anything. And, the peace of God, which transcends all understanding — It’s even better than understanding! — will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.
How Did Jesus Model a Worry-Free Life Trusting in the Father?
I think the way that Jesus modeled a worry-free we see probably most vividly in the Garden of Gethsemane when He shared with the Father in prayer the honest truth of right where He was. He was Jesus, so He wasn’t going to lie, but we have it recorded when He says:
If there’s another way, take this cup from Me.
He longed for there to be another way and yet He lands it:
Not My will, but Your will be done.
Of course, that’s a beautiful landing place! The invitation for us to become more like Jesus is not just to slam this truth in you that you need to want what God wants, but to be honest even with the ways that you don’t. He’ll take you on that journey. As we become more like Jesus, our hearts, our desires, our goals in life will begin to form — a desire for more of God’s will to be done and, as He taught us to pray on earth, here, as it is in Heaven.
What Practices Can We Start Today to Become More Like Jesus?
A practice you can begin right now to become more like Jesus is to spend more time with Him.
I don’t know if you have those types of comfortable relationships where you don’t have to perform… You can just sit next to that person on the couch and doom-scroll side-by-side because you’re so comfortable. You don’t have to turn something on; you can just be with them. Now, I’m not telling you to go doom-scroll knowing God’s with you! I’m actually encouraging you to put the phone away and to be with the One who loves you the most… and let Him love you. I know you know that He does. When’s the last time you showed it in a posture and in a five-minute moment in which you had nothing else except you and Him and a longing for the love that you may have known for your entire life. To be true to your experience in that moment.
Bless you!
Oh, enjoy the Relaxed Online Bible Study! Be a part of us not just saying that we trust in the Lord but doing it together with all our hearts. See you there!