Posted on 12/13/2004 11:41:08 AM PST by katieanna
Friend, I thank you. It helps indeed.
That's the only way to do it. Whatever happens, God will be there. And sometimes things that look bad turn out to be the best thing in the world for you - if you trust in God. If you don't, you may miss the new possibilities He is opening up for you.
Merry Christmas!
While you worry PLEASE put up a flag on your FReeper homepage, thanks in advance.
DISCLAIMER. I am not a doctor. This is my personal opinion.
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Katie,
If I put myself in your shoes I would:
1. Pray about it.
2. Hand your worries over to the Lord.
3. Do it now.
4. If a counselor is necessary, get one
that isn't dispensing meds for life's problems.
5. Do something. Get involved in DOING SOMETHING
because busy hands and an active mind leave virtually
no time to stew and worry. Get a job. Volunteer at
church. Plant a garden. Get a dog and take him on
a 5 mile walk every day. Join a club(s) and meet people.
6. Look at a worse case scenario: If the doctor told you
that you were going to die in a week, a month, or a year;
what would you wish you would have done? Well, whatever
it is and it's ethical, moral and legal; GO DO IT or work
towards achieving that goal.
If you listen to this song long enough, that should take care of it.
Another song that makes me laugh is Louis Prima's "Just a Gigolo", which Rush Limbaugh almost introduced as the John Kerry them song.
Read the Book of Matthew
That doesn't mean that he is giving you everything that you think you need, he is giving you exactly what He knows that you need.
Accept the difference and you are there: the worry-free state.
Those pills may be your whole problem. There is no such thing as a drug without harmful side effects.
All the worrying I do must do some good. Because, all the things I worry about don't happen
Worrying is like paying interest on a loan you haven't taken out yet.
Great idea! I think I'll do it too.
Hi katieanna
You must "take every negative or dangerous thought captive" and deal with it for what it is.
My personal vendetta is against fear. I live in an African country where senseless violence is part of the daily norm.
If I didn't take the thoughts of fear caused by this captive and literally tell them to "get out" I would go crazy.
Your situation is more complex in that you are worrying "that God is expecting more from me".
Personally that wouldn't worry me, that would excite me and I would endeavour to find out what it is. Remember God always starts small and builds up. So I don't think He's asking you to publicly burn a copy of the Koran and challenge Allah to get off the loo and respond. ;)
But if that's where He's leading you take it a step at a time, be obedient and learn to trust Him more deeply every day.
You may also want to read "He came to set the captives free" by Rebecca Brown. She's right in there at the fore front of fighting demons and though I'm not suggesting that this where you're supposed to be (VERY dangerous turf), she has some insightful things to say about obedience and listening.
Chris
Thank you, my friend. Yes, God is in control of my life. Bless you!
Chris,
I thank you for reminding me to take captive thoughts that are dangerous and negative. You are so right. I sure hate to hear that violence is all around you. May I ask: are you a native of Africa, or has your job taken you there for a season? Let me know from time to time how you are doing, ok. I'll remember you in my prayers. God bless!
I just drink a few beers and call it good.
When I am depressed
one of the things that cheers me
is to take a walk
through a Chicago
mall, the Water Tower Place.
Walking with people,
and especially
all the beautiful women,
makes me feel better.
Looking at happy,
attractive people is good
when you're feeling sad.
I posted no "trash"
here, and I bet Anna's pic
made lots of folks smile.
Since you're such a grinch,
I suggest you find people
you think attractive
and contemplate them.
You'll be less likely to rush
and mis-judge others.
Most of the responses here focus on blocking out or diverting worrying. That never has worked for me.
The method I use is borrowed from a way of working through a traumatic memory. That focuses on purposefully reliving the memory until it is no longer debilitating. Depending on the severity it's important not to do this alone, but with a professional counselor.
With worry, I give myself an hour, half-hour, whatever I need each morning to do my worrying. I play out the scenarios to the end and imagine my responses. I allow myself to fully play it out even to the unthinkable. Then I ask God to both give me faith and sustain me if such an event should happen. At the end, I choose to go through each day without worrying, and post-pone any worries until my appt. with them the next morning.
In this context, I don't find worry to be unhealthy at all, but rather it provides a context for prudent planning. I haven't done this, but it also may be helpful to develop a "worry diary" which allows you to monitor the productivity of your worrying. This also provides another line which gives you a clear appropriate way to express worry and makes it easier to keep yourself from doing it in other contexts.
Part of the reason you have a hard time giving up worrying is because worrying can be helpful. As a result, you know that people who tell you it never is are lying. The Psalms are fully of "worries" and entirely appropriate. The Bible says to cast your cares upon the Lord, not stop having any cares.
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