Saturday, July 10, 2010

The Anxiety Beast

  I never really considered myself an anxious person.  I'm pretty easy going.  I don't get my feathers ruffled to often. 
  The Lord has been showing me some things lately, about myself and how I am.  
    I have come to the realization that anxiety is a sneaky thing.  Sneaky because it starts off small and unnoticed, and if it is allowed to grow unchecked quickly becomes a beast.  I am also noticing the large amount of sickness that are related to this thing called anxiety or stress.  The physical effect it has on our bodies.   
  Anxiety is rooted in fear.  Fear of....whatever it might be causes us to worry about whats going to happen.  I believe and this is just my "Lolly Theology that first of all obvious fear causes worry, but secondly that fear is rooted in believing a lie.  A lie about God, your self or others or a situation."  If you are not sure where a fear comes from ask God to show you where it starts, it starts in our mind related to some thought or experience. 
  The Bible talks about being anxious, mostly about not being anxious.   Matt. 6: 34 "So do not...be anxious about tomorrow"   Mark 13:11 "do not be anxious beforehand about what you will say"  Luke 12:22 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious" 
   It's really easy to say, "Don't be anxious" or even "Being anxious is a sin."  There can be a spirit of fear or anxiety that needs to be removed first.  Even then you will still need to retrain your brain.
  These thought patterns are so ingrained in us that we miss them.  Well I do!  I have to really be paying attention to what I'm thinking about.  Then I realize, "Hey that's worrying! What am I doing that for!" 
  I don't have victory every day.  Some days I miss the mark, sometimes I'm not even aiming!  I'm just trying to get through a day full of kids and a toddler!  God knows all this, and He is there in every moment.  He is not condemning me when I forget, or mess up.   He's encouraging me to try again.  To realize that I can't depend upon myself I must depend on Him.
  When I recognize a thought or feeling(that is related to what I'm thinking;) If I can break it down like...ok this is worrying.  I'm worried about what some else is thinking or worrying about what I'm going to say or whatever.  I rebuke those thoughts in Jesus Name.  Take them captive to the obedience of Christ(2 Cor. 10:5)  Actually 10:3-5 read that:)
  Now that we've done all that, now what?  Do you think that we are done?  Well I can tell you that even after I have done all this, and prayed all that I know to pray eventually the enemy of my soul will try to regain the ground.  And by eventually I don't mean tomorrow, sometimes it's right now.
  My Father in law told me something wonderful.  He first told me 10yrs ago and I've never forgotten.  But he reminded me last week.  Once we are finished our battle it's important to lay down our weapons and praise our King.  God is always watching your back you need not worry:)  Plus as soon as you open your mouth and sing the praises to our God the enemy will flee.
   So my fellow warriors, once you have slain the beast, sing praise to your King.  Put on praise music in the house, sing, shout! Make a joyful noise to the Lord.  And when those thoughts try to creep back in send them back to the pit where they came from!  And sing again!!
Love in Christ your sister
My goal is not to be perfect and just so you know I won't be, so don't expect it:)   My goal is to continue on in the race that is set before me. (Hebrews 12:1)

PS
This is not meant to belittle or simplify serious Anxiety disorders.  Sometimes we need extra help, don't be afraid to get help, being afraid is part of the trap that keeps you locked up.  There is freedom in Christ, but we may need someone to help walk us through:)

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