Frazzled???

I have been doing a 30 day devotional called The Frazzled Female by Cindi Wood.  I am doing 2 days at a time to be done before I start my job.  It is just awesome and I wanted to share just a bit.  She also has a website frazzledfemale.com.  I tried to put that as a link but still new to this blogging.  I would highly recommend this devotional.  Here is just a little I wanted to share from this devotional.  These are all excerpts from this book by Cindi Wood.

"Oh, my!  Life can be so frustrating!  It's such a challenge to react positively when stressors are continually thrown your way.  I have found that many times we women can handle the big things in life that produce stress.  Maybe it's because we've planned in advance for them and realize they are coming.  It's the accumulation of common daily hassles that seem to sneak up on us and rob our joy and positive attitude."

"Remember, though, the first step to being positive is to determine to think positively!  It's a matter of choice, an act of will."

"Anxiety and worry can lead to an extremely negative attitude."

"Life's hard, and being positive requires desire and persistence."

"And by the way, being positive doesn't necessarily mean that you're happy."

OK I am sure I have shared plenty to wet your appetite for this devotional.  I know that worry and anxiety will rob me of a positive attitude very quickly.  I have been working on being more positive for a while now and it is work.  She also talks about the "worry box" which I talked about in an earlier post.  It is only 30 days and it is filled with scripture to guide you and me to live a life that is not so frazzled, rushed and negative.  I am only 10 days in and looking forward to getting into this devotional every morning.  I hope to go back through it slower when I do have the 30 days to do it instead of doing 2 days in a row but I still am getting so much out of it I just wanted to share it with everyone.

"Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?"  Luke 12:25-26

"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." 
Colossians 3:17

"Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart."  Psalm 119:34

 

F.E.A.R.

FEAR...that is what gripped me just the other day.  I have heard that FEAR is "False Evidence Appearing Real" there are a lot of other acronyms but this one I have heard the most and seemed to fit.  My fear stemmed from a very real concern for one of my children.  Instead of taking that fear to God I just went right into worrying about my child's future and let the worry just keep growing in my mind.

A quote from Corrie Ten Boom I like that really fits here is "Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear."

I have been working on NOT worrying and here I was just not letting go of this worry/fear.  Being a mom I want to always protect my kids, this is not possible.  Sometimes the things they go through are for their good.  Personally I don't see the good in this one but only God knows the future.  After some research, more worrying and becoming very grumpy I FINALLY realized I needed to take this child and their issue to God.  It took me a bit to get it through my thick head but I did and it only took me one day--that for me is progress!!  When it comes to my family it takes more work to NOT worry--especially when it has to do with my kids.  I'm still growing...

Now that I was able to give all that to God I am still struggling with myself and the lies that swirl around in my head.  I feel like I have been fighting a battle in my head between lies and truth instead of letting go and letting God have control.  Allowing myself to worry robbed me of an entire day and now I am dealing with the aftermath of thoughts that go with it.  Feelings of failure & guilt.  LIES!!!  I have to take every thought captive, "we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  2 Corinthians 10:5b.  "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."  Ephesians 3:20

I am more content and at peace when I am walking in God's will for my life.  Worry takes me out.  He cannot work in me when I try and take control.  Plus I am no good at it.  I want joy, peace, contentment--things I only have when I keep my eye's on Jesus and walk with Him daily.

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."  Corrie Ten Boom

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
 Philippians 4:6-7

Fasting from Worry

About 2 months ago I found an article in the February addition of Journey which is a devotional for women.  The title is The Fast That Changed My Life by Cindi Wood.  In this devotional she tells how she "fasted from worry" and here I am going to tell you how I used her wisdom and ideas to do my own worry fast.

If you are like me you worry about everything:  kids, marriage, money, health, family, friends.....the list could go on and on, at least for me.  What has worrying done for me--NOTHING!!  It keeps me stuck and unable to move forward into a happy, joy-filled life.  In Matthew 6:27 it says "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (NIV).  So there is no benefit to worry.  Also in Matthew 6:34 it says "Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own".  Well that is so true.  I worry about what is going to happen tomorrow when I have enough to deal with today.  This is not good.

So on March 19th, 2010 I started my "Fasting from Worry" Box

I decided to do this one week at a time.  So I sat down, wrote out one worry per little piece of paper, prayed over it and then just gave it to God.  I then put it in my box and it was no longer mine to worry about.

I placed my box on my dresser so that I would be reminded to NOT worry about things.  I have kept a journal and updated each week.  I will say the first week was rough.  I had a spiritual attack and it was NOT fun.  I even thought of giving up but was NOT going to let Satan win in this.  So I went on and have been doing this almost every week (now to every 2 weeks) since then and I have been blessed more than I could even imagine. 

I can't say that I don't worry, I do, I just find that when I start to worry about something I remind myself about my box and that I am to give all my worries to God and I am able to do that--most of the time.  I am not perfect, it is not always easy.  God has really grown me and taught me a lot about myself since I have been doing this.  I find that even things that are not in my box that pop up as a worry I am able to stop and give them over to God.

If you would like more information about this please let me know.  I would love to share.

This weeks (2 weeks) box

It is just awesome to see how God works when we place our worries in His hands!!  Free's me to not have to worry about things but I am able to move forward in life with a peace knowing God is in control.

It is ALL good!!

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  1 Peter 5:7