The Shop
  • Home
  • About
  • The Blog
  • Bible with Me
    • Bible Studies
    • Bible Printables & Screensavers
    • Bible on the Blog (by topic)
  • Paint with Me
  • The Substack Community
  • WHOLESALE
  • SHOP MY ART
    • SHOP ALL
    • NEW
    • Stickers
    • Notepads
    • POSTCARDS
      • All Postcards
      • Postcard Sets
    • Greeting Cards
      • Boxed Card Sets
      • Anniversary + Love
      • Baby
      • Birds
      • Bible Verse Cards
      • Birthday
      • Celebration
      • Christmas Cards
      • Friendship
      • Hymn Cards
      • Sympathy/Empathy
    • ART PRINTS
      • Hymns
        • Fall 2024 Hymn Collection
        • HYMN POSTCARDS/Mini Prints
        • CHRISTMAS
      • Jesus Speaks to Women
      • Landscapes
      • Birds
      • Encouragement
      • Harrisonburg/Local
      • CHRISTMAS
    • BIBLE PRINTABLES
      • Full Color Card Sets
      • Coloring Pages
      • Advent + Christmas Printables
      • PRINTABLES in SPANISH
    • CHRISTMAS
    • $5 BIBLE CARD SETS
    • Gift Cards
    • *SALE*
  • Your account
    • Your account
    • Wishlist
  •  
Categories

Marydean Draws

MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
  • The Blog
  • Bible with Me
    • Bible Studies
    • Bible Printables & Screensavers
    • Bible on the Blog (by topic)
  • Paint with Me
  • The Substack Community
  • WHOLESALE
  • SHOP MY ART
    • SHOP ALL
    • NEW
    • Stickers
    • Notepads
    • POSTCARDS
      • All Postcards
      • Postcard Sets
    • Greeting Cards
      • Boxed Card Sets
      • Anniversary + Love
      • Baby
      • Birds
      • Bible Verse Cards
      • Birthday
      • Celebration
      • Christmas Cards
      • Friendship
      • Hymn Cards
      • Sympathy/Empathy
    • ART PRINTS
      • Hymns
        • Fall 2024 Hymn Collection
        • HYMN POSTCARDS/Mini Prints
        • CHRISTMAS
      • Jesus Speaks to Women
      • Landscapes
      • Birds
      • Encouragement
      • Harrisonburg/Local
      • CHRISTMAS
    • BIBLE PRINTABLES
      • Full Color Card Sets
      • Coloring Pages
      • Advent + Christmas Printables
      • PRINTABLES in SPANISH
    • CHRISTMAS
    • $5 BIBLE CARD SETS
    • Gift Cards
    • *SALE*
    • Your account
    • Wishlist
  •  
November 18, 2014 anxiety•joy•worry

Pushing back the chaos

I am not a great pray-er. I am a desperate, scattered pray-er. I desperately need HIM because . . .
I could think a thousand thoughts and feel a thousand feelings. 
But what is true?
I could attempt many things.
But what would please YOU?

C.S. Lewis described the battle for our thoughts this way:

“It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind.” (Mere Christianity)

When I do listen, fighting to keep the “wild animals” of my “natural fussings and fresttings” at bay, God declutters me, closing out the unnecessary “windows,” assuring my of my place in His grace.

I stare at my planner and ask:

What needs to be done today? 
What can be left undone?
What am I feeling the pressure of that I need to let go of?
Who have I left out?

I bring before Him the things weighing on my heart and nagging at my brain. I ask for clarity, and for a word from His Word applied right here to this pain. And He often does.

But God may not give specific answers, He may just give HIMSELF, His quiet, sure presence . . . which is enough,  It is enough to know that I will live the day in Him, and that He will be there in every moment.

This is the beautiful thing about living in the Spirit of the living God who loves us. Romans 8:6 says, “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” A chaotic mind is a symptom of a mind set on the flesh, the here and now, the right-in-front-of-me, the pressing things on MY mind . . . not the Spirit’s.

Before you jump into even another minute, take a moment to “come in out of the wind” and set your mind on the Spirit living in you. “Life and peace” will definitely be worth the time.

I love this song (You Speak) by Audrey Assad:
“You liberate me from my own noise and my own chaos
From the chains of a lesser law You set me free
You liberate me from my own noise and my own chaos
From the chains of a lesser law You set me free


In the silence of the heart you speak”


0
Previous Thanksgiving Art Print & Coloring Page Printables
Next How I deal with depressing days

Related Posts

Anxious for Nothing Philippians 4:6 Screensaver

anxiety

The Thankful View

joy

Marked safe in this new year + a safe phone screensaver

anxiety

Holy distraction and the lost art of focus + servant of all printable coloring page

anxiety

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to the blog!

I’m Mary and I’m glad you’re here! Since 2014, I’ve been sharing encouraging words, fun Bible printables, and accessible art activities.

let’s talk about . . .

SEARCH THE BLOG

I'm continuing to build my collection of watercolo I'm continuing to build my collection of watercolor tutorials on Substack. I'm starting with some basic skill-building. This week's lesson is all about mixing colors. I had the best time creating this lesson and think it will be helpful for anyone wanting to improve their watercolor skills. 💕 This lesson comes with two bonus abstract projects!
Good things are coming for my Substack subscribers Good things are coming for my Substack subscribers this week! Are you signed up?
Purples and greens. 😍 Purples and greens. 😍
A summary of last week for you (because I forgot t A summary of last week for you (because I forgot to post it on Friday): 

🌷 Mother's Day sale in the shop using the code MOMLOVE for 20% off

🌷 Watercolor Tutorial: Three experiments for putting down paint (on Substack for paid subscribers with printable paint guides)

🌷 Planting time in the valley!

Mary ❤
Follow on Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter!

Copyright ©Marydean Draws 2025 2025 Marydean Draws
Theme by SheShoppes

20% your entire purchase now through May 5 in honor of moms (and mother's day on May 11). Use the code MOMLOVE ♥ Get free shipping on orders of $75 or more. Dismiss

I send a FREE Friday newsletter filled with encouragement, good reads, and shop updates. On Wednesdays, I share watercolor tutorials and Bible studies. Wanna join me?

As a thank you for signing up, I’ll send you a beautiful free 5×7″ printable print.