Stepping Heavenward

Worry.

It takes my strength for today away. Worry it robs me of peace. Worry I cannot count the hours of sleep you have stolen. Worry you have taken the joy of the moment I am living in and allowed it to slip by unnoticed. The child's smile of joy in a task well done. The joy of creation around me as I watch my children play in the fresh beautiful world.

The moments I leave unearthed, I too often have taken worry on as a friend. Worry truly are NO friend of mine, yet I invite you to come sit at my table, my bedside and even enter into my thoughts while as I open my Bible. Worry has taken my life and emptied it of all peace. I worry in place of prayer. I take my worry and project its ugly fingers into the hearts of those around me. I pass it down to my children and drown my marriage with worry. Worry creates a passageway for anger, comparison, doubt, fear, & discontentment. The more I worry, the more I try to control EVERYTHING as IF I had some godlike power to change what only HE can. What is the opposite of worry? Calmness, certainty, cheer, comfort, confidence, happiness, joy, pleasure, sureness, trust, unconcern, advantage, contentment.

Wow! What a LIST! A few of those words stood out in my mind: Calmness: Calmness is the mental state of peace of mind being free from agitation, excitement, or disturbance. It also refers being in a state of serenity, tranquility, or peace. John 14:1 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." Trust:Firm belief in the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing; confidence or reliance 1 Chronicles 16:11 "Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always." Exodus 15:2 "The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him." Peace:a state of tranquility or quiet: Psalm 34:14 "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." Psalm 29:11 "The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace."

Worry turns can turn into dread and eventually procrastination. We are are a generation of procrastinators and worriers. 

What do I do with this worry Turn it into a opportunity to make a prayer journal. TAKE these worries to the ONE who is all POWERFUL. When the enemy brings worry into your life use it against him and fight it head on with prayer. Journal it and lay it at the feet of JESUS. If those worries arise again...take it to prayer EACH AND EVERY TIME. Knock at the door of heaven, HE wants us to come and lay our request before him. 

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6

A few items that I pray for often:

1.)Peace to accept where God has placed me today. Trust that HE has it all in HIS hands. HE is taking care of it. Practice being calm: Seek HIS face throughout the day, in every moment take captive the thoughts that lead to worry. What do I worry about? What is it that I am laying at the feet of Jesus? 2.)Physical exhaustion. I struggle with a slow thyroid and often can just barely make it through the day without just falling apart emotionally due to physical weakness. 3.)My children-There is so much to be said about this. When do I not think about my children? Their physical safety, health, mental well being, education, spiritual health. My children are most definitely on the top of my WORRY list. This being said, they should be FIRST on my prayer list.

4.)My marriage-I hardly have time to even think about this one, but there was a time when I was unsure of where my marriage was going. We by God's grace are now walking in the freedom of a healed marriage that is stronger than before. Praise the Lord for his goodness and mercy. I love being married to Brant. We are over the top in love with each other. Sharing this journey of life with Brant is AMAZING. I married my best friend. When we put Christ at the center of our marriage and stop looking to our spouse to be our everything, it is then that our marriages thrive. I can love Brant in this way because I choose place GOD first in my life. I take my worries and concerns to HIM(God) first.

5.)My house--I have a little bit of OCD about clear/uncluttered surfaces/spaces and when things get cluttered up I have a hard time closing my eyes to it and giving it to Jesus. HE is BIGGER than my house that is a little messy at the moment. I am being honest here. I have been known to totally LOSE it over a mess in my house. Those toddler/preschool years were VERY trying to me to say the least. I am thankful for God's grace and forgiveness. My family loved me through it, but I know it was not easy at times. I am SLOWLY learning to let little things go and let God be in charge of when that clutter spot will be clear. I have been known to chose cleaning up the house or working on projects over BEING present with my family...hello??!! I am telling you the complete and honest truth. I am that person who freaks out if I KNOW the bathroom has crusted toothpaste and overflowing trash. I am that mom who walks by the bedroom and sees a floor covered in Legos and just wants to compulsively pick it all up! It takes HIS grace to stop and look at that those messes as HIS gift. The bathroom is being well used and I am a happy mom who is blessed with children who at the very lest put the trash in the can and I know they have brushed their teeth because there is toothpaste crusted in the sink to prove it. The Lego mess? I am blessed to have

creative, bright , healthy children who have endless imaginations and build with it. It takes a moment of stopping, slowing down and looking at all this life with a brand new perspective. PRAISE HIM! Take that moment in the bathroom to praise HIM for good dental hygiene! Take the opportunity to stop as you pass my your child's creative messy room and thank HIM for how amazing HE has made your child's mind! When we fill our mind with PRAISE & GRATEFULNESS and stop focusing on worrying, what PEACE it brings to us.

6.)MY life--seriously Lord what what is going to happen next? Can I TRUST you? I KNOW I can trust HIM, he laid the foundations of the earth. He put the stars into place. He has charge over the waves of the oceans. HE is GOD over all that moves We are HIS people. We BELONG to HIM. We, as believers, are HIS and do not belong to this world. As a child of GOD I must daily practice the freedom that he has gifted me with. We are to WALK in this new life that he has gifted us with. I must recognized that he does not give worry, fear, anger. These are directly of the enemy and do not have control over my life. When fear, worry, anger come knocking at my door I will NOT by HIS POWER AND GRACE answer. HIS power has already overcome. I MUST OPEN MY EYES AND SEE HIS GOODNESS. Walking with God's peace holds such rest. HE gives physical strength when you have nothing left. He grants patience when you are empty. HE fills you with joy in times of tears. He pours out grace when we fall. His forgiveness is always there. We only need recognize and allow it to come wash over us. Stop holding yourself up to a standard of perfection that you have only projected on yours

elf by yourself. GOD DOES not require perfection , but a heart that SEEKS him and hears him. Walk in the newness of his view of you. HE looks at us with forgiveness and love. HE sees us through the blood of Jesus. God wants a heart that desires to be kept in HIS word. We are to stop looking at what we can do , but what he has already done. He lifts us up when we are too weak to take one more step. A heart on knees. Take time to pour your heart out to him in your everyday life. HE will pour out HIS grace and love to you this day. HE promises to never leave you or forsake you.

Our heavenly Father does not endorse worry, he gives peace, truth, calmness. How can you discern what is caution and worry? Do you feel anxious?--THIS IS FEAR WORRY NOT OF GOD! 2 Timothy 1:7King James Version (KJV) "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Do you have a confidence and peace about this? THIS IS FROM THE LORD! Stop confusing YOUR SIN OF FEAR AND WORRY as GOD caution. You will greatly limit HIS full potential for your life.
ALL OF HIM and none of me!
Angela