When I woke up this early morning, it did not take me long to discover that I had vertigo. Things were spinning like crazy out of control. It was incredibly difficult making the short walk to and from the bathroom. Then, I panicked. Could I get to the kitchen to make my all-important pot of coffee, essential to begin my day? Coffee lovers will understand. The rest of you, please move along😊. My equilibrium was screwed up.
You know what often spins us out of control in life producing “spiritual vertigo”…anxiety and worry. The Bible speaks clearly to this. Philippians 4:6 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything.” Anxiety is the playground of the devil and his minions. Before you know it, you get off track and are in a major funk. That is why Paul says to keep anxiety out of your mind, “not anxious about anything.”
Worry screws up your equilibrium. Why is that? When you worry, you are focused on the temporal and not the eternal. Matthew 6 speaks to this, “I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” You cannot serve God and temporal things at the same time. If you try, you will be out of control.
What are the antidotes for “spiritual vertigo”?
- Make sure your priorities are in order. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
- Keep peace in your life. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.” This biblical passage gives you three solid solutions for keeping peace: Be an active member of a transparent, authentic group (“one body”). “Be thankful.” Let His word saturate your soul. John 14:27 declares, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
- Trust God not yourself. Proverbs 3:5&6 makes things clear,“Trust in the Lord with all your heart leaning not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight” (without anxiety).
If you are spinning out of control with spiritual vertigo, stop, drop and roll…you are on fire spiritually. Reestablish your priorities, keep peace in your life, and above all else trust Him. If so, your path will be made straight.
Barnabas Man 