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Christlife Posture: Submitting to God's Love and Leading

Topic: Fear/Anxiety or Perfection Drives Me

 

Suggested Approach: Choose 1 thing from each of the three boxes

OR Choose 1 from Media or Reflection + 1 from Scripture 

Media Excursions               Interact with one or more:

Images

  • Christ on the Sea of Galilee (Rembrandt) Take a moment to take in the chaos, to locate Christ, and to focus on some of the disciples. Note your own feelings as you enter the painting.  Now view “Peace Be Still” (Friberg).  Take in this painting as well by entering into this second part of the same drama.  What reactions does this painting evoke in you? Is there a disciple depicted in either boat/painting that you relate to? In what ways?

Video Clips

  • Skit: Trust Fall (onetimeblind) What are the things you have learned to trust Jesus with? What are the things that are still really hard to trust Him with? Do you find yourself consciously reacting like the actor at the end of this skit, or does it feel more subconscious to you?

  • Testimony:  Shawn Johnson (I Am Second) How did the illusion of perfection affect this woman’s life?  What are the consequences of pursuing perfection in your own life?  What shifted in her to turn this around for her?

Song

  • May the Lord Bless and Keep You (Andrew Peterson) Listen to this song during a pause in your day or before you go to sleep (you can watch the images or close your eyes) Let the words of Numbers 6:24-26 wash over you.  How did this exercise help you submit your anxiety to the Lord?

  • Fear is a Liar (Zach Williams) Are any of the fears in these lyrics familiar to you? What are other lies your fear conjures up?  Use the few lines of prayer in this song as your own.

Video Teaching 

  • Stop Worrying (Troy Black) Which scripture covered in this video was the most helpful for you?  What about his story stood out to you?

Article

  • Hovering Anxiety (Steve Stucky) What hits home for you in this article?  Try either Meditation 1.0 or 2.0.  How was doing that helpful? 

Reflection Options  

Journal  (Reflect on one or more of these questions)

  • Perfection is often fueled by fear or anxiety.  Journal about how those concepts interact together in your own life experience.  How has Jesus met you in them?

  • What are some ways you have found to refocus your attention away from your fear or anxiety?

  • What have been some of the costs of pursuing perfection in your life?

  • Choose a verse from the list below to meditate on.  Then journal about your experience of meditating on that scripture.  How did it help you address your fear or anxiety?

Quote Interaction (Agree, disagree or otherwise engage with the quote/quotes)

  • “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.” ~Charles Spurgeon

  • "Perfectionism is not the same thing as striving to be our best. Perfectionism is not about healthy achievement and growth; it's a shield."  Brene Brown

  • "Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic." Anonymous

  • "Stress and worry can cause disease or contribute to it--producing the enchanting prospect of people worrying about worrying, a downward spiral that perhaps only a good sense of humor can break." N.T. Wright 

  • "Perfectionism is imprisoning. As long as I demand it, in myself or anybody else, I am not free...freedom to remember, to share, to dream, to accept irrationality and paradox is what makes us human..." Madeline L'Engle

Reading & Reflection from the book, Shaping The Journey of Emerging Adults:

  • Read the section “Humbly Leaning into Pain and Brokenness” (pp. 231-234) Fear/anxiety can relate to current patterns or to past brokenness. How does this section speak to a need to face fear and anxiety or be willing to “lay on the mat” rather than to be in control of our fear and brokenness?

  • Mentor:  Read the section “Humbly Sharing Ourselves” (pp. 234-235) How does this section bring comfort or perspective to you as a mentor? What is an imperfection you struggle with that you can share with the young adult you are meeting with?

Explore Scripture

Meditate on one or more of the following passages. Always look them up in context.  Take some time to really explore the verse in relation to this topic.  How does scripture help us conquer our fear/anxiety? What is a scriptural understanding of perfection? Make a note of what you discover to share later.  See "Learn More About Ways to Study Scripture" below for help in getting the most out of the verse.

  • Genesis 1:31

  • Deuteronomy 31:6

  • Psalm 23:4

  • Psalm 46

  • Psalm 57

  • Psalm 94:18-19

  • Isaiah 41:13

  • Luke 8:22-25 /Mark 4:35-41

  • Luke 12:25-32

  • Mark 6:45-52

  • John 14:27

  • 2 Corinthians 12:9

  • Philippians 3:12-16

  • Hebrews 13:5,6

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