Breaking Free from Reactivity: Embracing God's Peace

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing Reactivity and False Beliefs

Reactivity often stems from false beliefs and unmet needs, leading us to rely on our own strength rather than God's presence. This pattern can trap us in cycles of stress and anxiety, especially during challenging times like the holiday season. By identifying these patterns, we can begin to break free from them and instead lean into the strength and presence of God. This shift allows us to experience a deeper sense of peace and reliance on God's guidance rather than our limited understanding. [07:57]

Jeremiah 17:5-8 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.'"

Reflection: Identify a recurring pattern of reactivity in your life. How can you invite God into this area to transform your response from self-reliance to trust in His presence?

Day 2: Jesus' Example of Self-Definition

At the age of 12, Jesus demonstrated a profound ability to define Himself without being swayed by the anxiety of those around Him. This self-definition is crucial for maintaining peace and a strong connection with God and others. Jesus' example shows us how to engage with people without absorbing or spreading anxiety, allowing us to remain grounded in our identity in God. By following His model, we can learn to navigate our relationships with grace and confidence, rooted in our divine identity. [13:42]

Luke 2:48-50 (ESV): "And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, 'Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.' And he said to them, 'Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?' And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them."

Reflection: Consider a situation where you feel pressured to conform to others' expectations. How can you follow Jesus' example to define yourself according to God's purpose for you?

Day 3: The False Gospel of Reactivity

The false gospel of reactivity leads us to depend on our own strength and understanding, pulling us away from the true gospel that invites us to live in God's kingdom. This false narrative convinces us that we must handle everything on our own, creating a cycle of stress and anxiety. In contrast, the true gospel calls us to rely on God's strength and presence, offering us freedom and peace. By recognizing and rejecting the false gospel of reactivity, we can embrace the true gospel and experience the fullness of life in God's kingdom. [27:42]

Galatians 1:6-7 (ESV): "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ."

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you are tempted to rely on your own strength. How can you shift your focus to trust in God's strength and presence instead?

Day 4: Practical Steps to Reduce Anxiety

By becoming aware of our reactivity and choosing to approach situations with curiosity and love, we can reduce anxiety and experience peace in our relationships. Relaxing into God's presence allows us to respond with grace rather than anxiety and self-protection. This practice helps us to connect more deeply with God and others, fostering an environment of peace and understanding. By intentionally noticing our reactivity and choosing a different response, we can cultivate a life marked by God's peace. [18:06]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you reacted with anxiety. How can you approach similar situations with curiosity and love, inviting God's peace into your response?

Day 5: Perfect Love and Anxiety

Perfect love casts out anxiety, allowing us to connect with God and others in a meaningful way. Reactivity often disconnects us, but love has the power to reconnect us, offering true freedom and peace. By embracing God's perfect love, we can overcome the anxiety that hinders our relationships and experience the fullness of life that He offers. This love empowers us to live with confidence and peace, rooted in our identity as beloved children of God. [24:37]

1 John 4:18-19 (ESV): "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us."

Reflection: Identify a relationship where anxiety has created distance. How can you invite God's perfect love into this relationship to foster connection and peace?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through life, we often find ourselves trapped in repetitive patterns of behavior, especially during times of stress, such as the holiday season. These patterns are often driven by reactivity, which is rooted in false beliefs and needs. Reactivity convinces us that we must rely on our own strength and understanding, leading us away from the presence of God. This false gospel of reactivity is the antithesis of the true gospel, which invites us to live in the kingdom of God, relying on His strength and presence.

Jesus, even at the age of 12, exemplified the ability to define Himself without succumbing to the anxiety of others. His life demonstrates how to connect with people without spreading or catching anxiety. This ability is fundamental to His identity and is a model for us to follow. By being aware of our reactivity and choosing to relax into God's presence, we can navigate our relationships and environments with grace and peace.

As we approach the Advent season, it's crucial to recognize the reactivity within ourselves and others. By doing so, we can choose to respond with curiosity and love, rather than anxiety and self-protection. This awareness allows us to experience the true freedom and peace that Jesus offers, freeing us from the false gospel of self-reliance.

Key Takeaways

1. Reactivity and False Beliefs: Reactivity is often driven by false beliefs and needs, convincing us that we must rely on our own strength. Recognizing these patterns can help us break free and rely on God's presence instead. [07:57]
2. Jesus' Example of Self-Definition: At 12 years old, Jesus demonstrated the ability to define Himself without being influenced by others' anxiety. This self-definition is key to maintaining peace and connection with God and others. [13:42]
3. The False Gospel of Reactivity: The false gospel of reactivity leads us to depend on ourselves, whereas the true gospel invites us to live in God's kingdom, relying on His strength and presence. [27:42]
4. Practical Steps to Reduce Anxiety: By noticing reactivity, approaching situations with curiosity, and relaxing into God's presence, we can reduce anxiety and experience peace in our relationships. [18:06]
5. Perfect Love and Anxiety: Perfect love casts out anxiety, allowing us to connect with God and others. Reactivity disconnects us, but love reconnects us, offering true freedom and peace. [24:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:06] - Patterns of Reactivity
[00:34] - Jesus' Identity System
[01:37] - Life with God
[03:06] - Holiday Stress and Emotional Health
[03:37] - Finding God in Systems
[05:13] - Understanding Systems Theory
[06:39] - Reactivity and God's Presence
[07:39] - The Nature of Reactivity
[09:24] - Acute vs. Chronic Anxiety
[11:06] - Reactivity's Impact on Behavior
[13:23] - Jesus' Response to Anxiety
[15:21] - Connecting Without Spreading Anxiety
[18:06] - Practical Tips for Reducing Anxiety
[21:22] - The True Gospel vs. False Gospel
[24:20] - Perfect Love and Anxiety
[27:42] - The False Gospel of Reactivity
[30:50] - Conclusion and Reflections

Sermon Clips

Reactivity at its deepest level is generated by false belief. We all have 30 to 50 false beliefs, and when we don't get them, we get reactive. The false Gospel of reactivity would be the availability of the kingdom of Me by self and my power in order to obtain my will. [00:00:17]

Reactivity somehow blocks our awareness of God's presence, and it convinces us that it's all on me. I need to figure this out, I need to try harder. It's that combination of convincing me I don't have it, and then somehow it numbs me to God's presence. [00:06:03]

The core trait that Jesus exhibited at 12 was he defined himself. That capacity to know how to connect with people without catching or spreading anxiety is fundamental to Jesus' identity system. It's a secular theory, but they're all scratching their heads because they say that Jesus is the preeminent example of systems theory. [00:13:39]

Reactivity is at its deepest level generated by false belief, which is why we're both fascinated by it because we're interested in what's true and what sets us free. False beliefs, so you know, we all have various core false beliefs. [00:07:51]

Perfect love casts out fear, and I've never thought about this before, but I suppose you could translate that perfect love casts out anxiety. Rather than just there is no fear in love, there's no anxiety in love. Anxiety is kind of a great enemy of love. [00:24:32]

Reactivity or anxiety disconnects us. It disconnects us from ourselves, from God, but it disconnects us from awareness of God, and then it disconnects us from each other. Love connects us. Perfect love casts out fear, and fear doesn't cast out perfect love. [00:24:49]

The false gospel of reactivity would be the availability of the kingdom of me, and so I'm left having to depend on myself and my power in order to obtain my will so that my will can come. It really is the false gospel that is the great antithesis to the true gospel. [00:27:36]

Reactivity is the only form of anxiety that's contagious, and that's why you put us in a family of origin, and man, all those old patterns just start to show up before you even walk in the door. [00:07:26]

Reactivity is generated by false belief and false need, and we all have 30 to 50 false beliefs and false needs that we carry, and when we don't get them, we get reactive. [00:11:36]

Reactivity and anxiety are kind of miraculous. If you learn to notice it, you're much less inclined to catch it and spread it. So what that would look like is you would actually walk into that Christmas dinner saying to yourself, I'm actually going to have one eye on the reactivity going on. [00:18:06]

Reactivity convinces us that it's all on me. I need to figure this out, I need to try harder, and somehow it's that combination of convincing me I don't have it, and then somehow it numbs me to God's presence. [00:06:46]

Reactivity is generated by false belief, which is why we're both fascinated by it because we're interested in what's true and what sets us free. False beliefs, so you know, we all have various core false beliefs. [00:07:51]

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