Free Samples + Peace Not Anxiety

2 things have been on my mind today, and they are related I think.

1. I. love. free. samples. Today no kidding I went to UKrops, walking in the store fully intending to ravage the free samples, and I ate (count it) SEVEN pieces of sushi from the sushi sample plate. Seven, right in front of the Japanese sushi guy. It was so good and I feel great about it. Best decision of my life.
   
   
2. Speaking of decisions, another thought hit me. I am glad that my God is a God who works with peace and not anxiety, especially when his children make life decisions. So many times do I let anxiety dictate my steps and I end up making poor decisions. And I think, F that was dumb. But, I think it's perfectly fine to expect God's peace to accompany big decisions in life, for His peace to drive those decisions.

Point #2 is the main thing for this post, so I'm breaking off of the bullet thing nbd. More about the peace thing, so we have "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" from Colossians 3:15, which I think is a command more than anything. It's a command for us to truly let the peace of Christ rule inside of our hearts, our being, our thoughts. And the peace of Christ cannot co-exist simultaneously with anxiety. They cannot co-habitat. They would suck as roommates, even if they had a foosball table (I played foosball w/ my roommates in college 24/7).

And then we have another command: do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, 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. Phil. 4:6-7.

And I love this promise and I bank my life on it. However, it takes action from us in order to receive that peace. We are commanded to not worry about anything. That is on us.

So with all of that said, I fully expect God's peace to dictate my decisions, and to direct my steps. I hate HATE when people say "you know, maybe you just have this worry-thing going on in your life, this slight OCD where you over-analyze everything and anxiety gets the best of you sometimes, and you just have to walk with that as your crutch," because that is bullshit and God does not work like that. We're made in His image and Jesus doesn't have a worry problem. And I am happy to be called a child of God.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1.

Ps. one final thought, I love how scripture uses the word "lavish," just like God lavishes his grace on us: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding" Ephesians 1:7-8. When I think Lavish I think pouring down rain, where it completely covers us and we cannot escape it. It just keeps pouring down on us, and God's fully aware of it and it's very intentional (the "with all wisdom and understanding" part). I love that picture.