Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.
This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)
Just a word and a phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!
Today's word: turmoil
What causes the most turmoil in your life?
What do you think is the "root cause" of this turmoil?
What have you found to be God's answer to turmoil?
(I'd love it if you shared a Scripture passage!)
Let me know what you think!!
"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
I think my family causes me the most turnmoil. Let's see - turn? And they can get me restless and turning a lot. I try when I get like that to lay in the Lords hands. Hope you can too.
ReplyDeleteOkay - I'll play:
ReplyDeleteImagining "worse case scenario" of situations and circumstances - whatever they may be - puts me into turmoil territory - along with close encounters with "ugly" in contemporary societal norms.
The root cause of these turmoils of heart is my giving them too much play time in my mind apart from the temperate reality check of the Holy Spirit.
Remembering God's instruction to "Be STILL and KNOW that I AM GOD" is my anchor. In the center of His Will - no matter what (often easier to say than be) - is safety, security, and haven from worldly turmoils. Oh! To exist moment to moment in such a place!
Hinds Feet in High Places!
Love you, Lady Jane!
Kathy
Not to be a big blamer, but I think Satan causes the most turmoil in my life.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I will admit that I let him.
My greatest turmoil comes when I latch on to something like a dog on a bone and won't let go. It might be a problem, or a circumstance, or just something that I imagine up in Debbie Land.
It's the failure on my part to let go and TRUST that will cause turmoil. I start listening to the whirlwind instead of the still small voice.
*Yes, I know God can speak from the whirlwind too, but go with me here.*
My go-to verse in the turmoil is "You will keep in perfect peace, him whose heart is fixed on thee because he trusts in thee."
I like the fact that the Hebrew reads "peace...peace" in the place of perfect peace, and that's how I say it.
turmoil, another good one Sharon!! this is hard, stirring up of trouble that causes one great anguish?? Most turmoil in my life at one time was the kids' teen years and the things happening with them. I'm thinking the antidote to turmoil is to remember "Be still and know that I am God".
ReplyDeleteI hope you aren't having too much turmoil in your life these days Sharon!
betty
turmoil - fear
ReplyDeleteroot cause - satan
God's answer - Truth
When I view it so simply written it seems so much smaller than I often allow it to be!
Blessings, Debbie
Hi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteWhen I had kids at home, one would stir up a lot of turmoil.
Root cause- sin, rebellion
Scripture- Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor 4:16-18
Blessings,
Ken
running in the hills...in His creation...calms me from everything that makes my world feel like it's spinning out of control...His answer to turmoil...stillness....trust...knowing He's there...always...in our corner
ReplyDeleteSandie - Thanks, my friend. Yes, family causes me turmoil, too. Their life issues, their health, their relationships, their work situations, etc. Doing my best to lay this into God's hands - need more work on it, though!!
ReplyDeleteKathy - Sounds like you're like me - a real "what if" kind of thinker. I definitely go to "worst case" scenarios. It's really a trust and control issue. It's the battle I continue to fight in this life. Yes, the Holy Spirit is the only one who can anchor me to the sure promises of an unchanging God. I need to be still...
Debbie - Hey, you can blame that guy all you want! Oh yes, listening to the whirlwind instead of the whisper in the storm. I loved that. Thank you for the Scripture - I will be holding on to that one tightly. Peace, peace. Yes. (Thanks for your comment about Elijah yesterday - yes, he also suffered a depression after a great victory. And...God comforted him - I know He'll comfort me, too).
Betty - I've been having some turmoil, and for some reason, I haven't been dealing with it very well. That's why I chose this word this week. I needed the wise words of my caring friends. Thank you for reminding me that there is indeed an antidote to turmoil - and it's found in the stillness of a heart turned toward God.
Debbie - Wow! Short and sweet, and just perfectly said! Yes, you have hit the nail on the head. My greatest turmoil is fear, and we know that Satan is the author of that. Perfect love casts out fear - and that is the Truth. I must cling on to that!
Ken - Oh thank you, Ken. The verses you chose just washed over me like a rainfall of Living Water. Thank you for sharing those. What a great comfort to read and remember - I am being RENEWED every day. And, I must not focus on the things I can see - there is something so much more REAL that is based on God's truth - the truth that life is NOT the turmoil I see. Thank you.
Nikki - Oh, beautifully said. I also find great comfort in God's creation, especially in the mountains. They remind me that God is unchanging, and His truth is eternal. He is there, always. And yes, He is in our corner. What or whom then shall we fear?
Bless you, dear ones, for the encouragement you have spoken to my heart today. Thank you.
GOD BLESS!