I have certainly soothed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child resting against his mother, my soul within me is like a weaned child. — Psalm 131:2 NASB John Calvin and I, we both remember the year we were four.
The year I was four, my sister Aimee was killed by a truck in our driveway. That is my first memory.
Fears have formed me.
John Calvin’s mother died the year he was four. Calvin buried all three babies born to him and his wife. Scholar and historian William Bouwsma described Calvin as “a singularly anxious man.”1
What might somewhat alleviate some complicated anxiousness in a complicated world of unknowns? Calvin wrote, “The stability of the world depends on this rejoicing of God in His works... If on earth, such praise of God does not come to pass,... then the whole order of nature will be thrown into confusion.”2 In a confusing world, our interior world can reel unless we rejoice, and a song of thanks can steady much more than you imagine. In the midst of many needful and thoughtful approaches to anxiousness, this is one possibility: -
deep anxiousness may find deep comfort in deep adoration of Christ.
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Deep anxiousness may find deep comfort in deep adoration of Christ. |
Deep anxiousness may find deep comfort in deep adoration of Christ. |
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“We are cold when it comes to rejoicing in God!” wrote Calvin. “Hence, we need to exercise ourselves in it and employ all our senses in it — our feet, our hands, our arms and all the rest — that they all might serve in the worship of God and so magnify Him.”3
There’s always this invitation to exercise: to pick up a pen, write down a few more gifts — employ the senses to see and hear and inhale and taste the grace and gifts and goodness of God.
Your sense of joy can grow stronger when you exercise your senses to taste and see unexpected ways to keep exercising your gratitude muscle. - Much exaltation of Christ can bring much comfort to much anxiousness.
Holy Father, John Calvin said the stability of the world depends on the rejoicing in Your works. Doesn’t my world find a deeper sense of stability when I rejoice in Your works? Cause me to remember it today, Lord: adoration of Christ comforts much anxiousness. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. — 1 Chronicles 16:34
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. — Philippians 4:10
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. — Philippians 4:6 |
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- Belden Lane, Ravished by Beauty: The Surprising Legacy of Reformed Spirituality (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), 65.
-
Ibid., 66.
- Ibid.
Excerpted with permission from Gifts & Gratitudes by Ann Voskamp, copyright Ann Voskamp. * |
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How is your interior world? With so much madness in our everyday world, how are you doing? Are you worshipping through it? Our anxieties find their comfort in adoration of the Lord Jesus who loves us! ~ Devotionals Daily |
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Gifts and Gratitudes: A Year of One Thousand Gifts (A Guided Journal) |
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Sale Price: $14.99 With TY15: $12.74 |
+ FREE shipping on all orders over $35 |
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Discover the joy and well-being that comes with the daily expression of gratitude. Join New York Times bestselling author Ann Voskamp to create a rhythm of gratitude that permeates every area of your life, every day of the year.
Gifts and Gratitudes is a daily companion that urges you to savor every moment by recognizing and listing only three things you are grateful for each day. This life-altering practice will allow you to record and reflect upon more than one thousand gifts of blessing throughout the year. Multiple studies show that expression of gratitude helps: -
Lower stress levels
- Benefit relationships
- Improve physical and mental health
- Help deal with adversity
- Support and improve mental health and overall wellbeing
It's only in the expression of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we've always wanted...a life we can take, give thanks for, and offer others. Come to feel and know the impossible right down in your bones: you are wildly loved by God and showered with His gifts. |
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In this beautiful journal, Ann provides: - Devotional content for every day of the month to guide your gratitude journey
- Prayers for every day of the month
- Written out Bible verses
- Her personal, stunning photography
- Space to record your gifts every day of the year
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Through the daily and healing practice of gratitude, you can discover a way of seeing that opens your eyes to ordinary amazing grace, a way of living that is fully alive, and a way of becoming present to God that brings deep and lasting joy. A perfect book to use on its own or as a thoughtful companion to One Thousand Gifts, Ann's bestselling book that takes readers on the transformative journey of chronicling God's gifts in their lives. This unique format allows you to express your own gratitude with three lines per day for you to reflect on the day's unique blessings. You'll then move to the next day, and at the end of the month, return to the beginning, the first day of the month.
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+ Don't miss Sacred Prayer |
Sacred Prayer: 90 Days of Deeper Intimacy with God (A Guided Journal) |
Sale Price: $14.99
With TY15: $12.74 |
+ FREE shipping on all orders over $35 |
Ann Voskamp shares her own personal prayer practice to help you discover the power and beauty of prayer: SACRED Stillness to know God Attentiveness to hear God Cruciformity to surrender to God
Revelation to see God Examine to return to God Doxology to thank God
Discover with Ann, that, when we retreat from the world to pray, to wait, to hope in God—we find true and beautiful perspective for our souls. Ann shares the six steps of SACRED prayer through this 90-day guided journey. |
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Sale Price: $14.99
With TY15: $12.74 |
| Sale Price: $15.99 With TY15: $13.59 |
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Jesus Calling®:Practicing Thankfulness Online Bible Study |
Jesus Calling®: Practicing Thankfulness Online Bible Study |
Experience the Peace of a Thankful Heart 🧡
You're invited to the Jesus Calling® Bible Study: Practicing Thankfulness this holiday season! In just four weeks, you'll learn to develop a habit of daily gratitude and open your eyes to God's abundance. Plus, get a free Weekly Gratitude Kit & access to the online community when you sign up! |
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this devotion with someone who needs it today |
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