Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.
Do you ever have days when you find yourself an anxious mess over things in your life? Too many decisions to make, too many things to do, too many bills to pay? Lord, do I ever feel you!
I am a worrier by nature, yes it's true - this Jesus girl worries. *However* I have learned an effective way to combat this bad-for-you habit. Do you know that God tells us many times in his Word that we should not worry, even telling us to fix our minds on things that truly matter? He does. (Matthew 6:25-34)
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
And while we are thinking about things that are excellent and worthy of praise, let's talk about our God! Can I get an Amen, or a Hallelujah for his excellent worthiness? Woohoo! I'll tell you, when I take some deep breaths and fix my mind and thoughts on him - WOW - peace and serenity settle over my anxious brain.
Here is my story on finding that serenity, published in the WordGirls Collective, Snapshots of Hope & Heart.
The Serenity Sponge
There are times when my brain flits around at breakneck speed, worrying about every little matter in my life. It seems that for each concern, I need to plan out the perfect scenario to the nth degree. Once done, I begin to second-guess myself. As a result, I am an anxious mess. Sound familiar?
When I let myself go for days, soaking in this worry mindset, I often end up with a migraine. With an expensive trip to the ER and a few days of recovery afterward, it is a colossal waste of time and energy! So, why do I continue to sop up all this worry, knowing it will cause more trouble? Good question.
In my mind, the desire to be in control overrides the quiet voice of truth. The truth that tells me I’m not really the one in control, but rather, I am being controlled by fear. Yikes! I finally realized that in my guarded need for control, I become a casualty of the Enemy, who wants to negate my testimony, rendering me useless in God’s Kingdom.
How about you—do you feel a need in your life that dampens your usefulness? I have discovered a sure-fire way to counteract these destructive needs—being quiet before the Lord. This takes a little practice, but once learned, it empowers our usefulness and soaks us in serenity.
What does it entail? For five minutes, an hour, or on and off for days, sitting or lying quietly, speaking, or singing praise, put yourself in timeout. Let go of outside distractions. Lie face-down on the floor if you need to. Concentrate on God. Tell him how you love him and thank him for loving you. Ask the Holy Spirit to envelop you in his presence. Be still and feel it.
If your mind wanders, pull it back with praise. Declare, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty!” Worship your Creator. Let go of your fears, allowing the miracle of his unending love to lift you. Bask for a time in the redeeming presence of your Savior and be renewed.
Whenever I take time out to sit before God, with all my mind, body, and soul, I am quieted. I am sustained. My need for control diminishes, and I have restored hope that everything is going to be ok.
Does that sound good to you? Pray with me now:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for loving and sustaining me, even during my crazy bouts of destructive needs. Please help me sit quietly before you, like a sponge, soaking you up and then wringing out the worry I no longer need. Help me rest in you alone, every moment of every day, as I place my hope firmly in you.
I love you.
Amen.
In this Easter month, I am praying for you, Dear Reader, that God will touch your heart deeply, drawing you ever nearer him, supplying you the peace and serenity that Jesus won for us, through his death and triumphant resurrection, on that first Easter so long ago. May your heart be filled to overflowing with his beautiful love and gracious forgiveness.
How are you doing with your anxious thoughts? How might I be praying for you specifically? Leave me a comment and let me know 🤗
My love & blessings to you,
Mindy 🩷