Worry & Anxiety

[cmc]

I recently received this in an email and wanted to share it with you here:

Unraveling Worry From Our Life
Philippians 4:8-9

People fret over all kinds of issues, from safety and job security to election results. For many folks--and maybe you are one--anxiety is woven so tightly into the fabric of their day that they've learned to live with it.

We treat worry like a benign emotion when in fact it can actually be harmful. Anxiety clouds our thinking, divides our focus, and robs us of concentration. To complicate matters, the body can react to prolonged pressure on the psyche. Stress can manifest physically through tension headaches, elevated blood pressure, and even heart attacks.

Drifting through a mentally and physically exhausting life is not the Lord's plan for us. Our challenge is to take captive anxious thoughts (2 Cor. 10:5) and replace them with God-pleasing ones--dwelling on that which is pure, good, and right.

The best way to remove stray threads of worry is to crowd them out with something positive: weave Scripture into your mental grid instead. God has something to say about everything that concerns us. Feeling weak or under-qualified? "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). Afraid your paycheck won't cover this month's rent, clothes, and food? "Do not worry . . . for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things" (Matt. 6:31-32).

Jesus said worry adds nothing to our life (Matt. 6:27). In fact, we waste time and energy dwelling on concerns instead of affirming our trust in the Lord. We must choose to set our minds upon Him before anxiety leaves us feeling frayed.

Dr. Charles Stanley

[IO Storm]

Thanks cmc....

[IO Storm]

The last three months or so has been an especially tough battle with

depression. It has been hard to even shower and get out to shop at times.

I know my thyroid is low right now, and is slowly being brought up my my

doctor..but that has not helped the mood or energy level much.

And the stress of the elections...you know.

I prayed, cried out to the Lord...worked my steps.

Kept my doctor appointments. Encouraged newcomers.

What Lord? What else can I do?

I know a few little speed pills would make feel better real quick.

A drink..speedballing..

You know something? Thank God! I only had a fleeting thought of this..

and it only happened twice in the last two and a half years of recovery.

But within the last 6 months.

Not good.

Last week...I could feel the pressure. I prayed most of the day as I went

about my business on election day.

The next day, at home..I had to make it clear to others that, for me,

some things had to change.

I could not be a part of negative conversations, or political arguments.

I would take walks to get away if I had to.

No divisive or fear based television for me for awhile.

And..the verse..2 Corinthians 10:5 came to me in my Eleventh Step

prayer and meditation time...

I made a decision then and there to take every thought captive...

to shake off the negativity around me..and be careful to not contribute

to it.

To start thanking God for healing my mind...and bringing peace to it.

To make praise and thanksgiving a prominent place in my thought life.

I have been practicing this...and I can already see a difference.

Strange you would post this today, cmc, but then..

Not so strange.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by accident."

AA Text

Hugs

[cmc]

I made a decision then and there to take every thought captive...

to shake off the negativity around me..and be careful to not contribute

to it.

To start thanking God for healing my mind...and bringing peace to it.

To make praise and thanksgiving a prominent place in my thought life.

I have been practicing this...and I can already see a difference.

IO..
Wow....that is faith and recovery in action!!! I'm saving this post as a reminder of the actions needed when I'm struggling with the committee in my head!!!
And, yes- I did sense a prompting to share this post, it was actually Stanley's daily devotion from the day before I think.

[cmc]

2 Corinthians 10

1 Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you:

2 yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh

4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),

5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;

6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.

7 Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also are we.

8 For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame:

9 that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.

10 For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.

11 Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

13 But we will not glory beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even unto you.

14 For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ:

15 not glorying beyond our measure, that is, in other men's labors; but having hope that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our province unto further abundance,

16 so as to preach the gospel even unto the parts beyond you, and not to glory in another's province in regard of things ready to our hand.

17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

[IO Storm]

Wow...yes.

Powerful, and appropriate.

Each word as alive now as it was then...

Hugs!

[SerenityGirl]

Thankyou cmc and 10Storm, I really like the Make praise and thanksgiving a prominent place in my thought life....

[BUTTERFLY-7]

Uhhhhhhh. cmc It Hit Me Right on the Nail
for God there is no coincidence he knows what you need to hear
and when you need to hear it Thanxxx