In Him

I’m the type of person who has to mentally pull something completely apart and reconstruct it to know how everything is going to go.  It doesn’t help the situation to do it four or five times.  This is called worry.  I try to organise myself and plan and strategize, this works alot of the time, but often it’s just another form of worry. 

Today’s “Our Daily Bread” spoke to me and gives you a practical exercise to use when you’re worrying.  I share it below.

The Peace-Of-Mind Game

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. —Psalm 23:1

In her down-to-earth book More Than Sparrows, Mary Welch tells of her discussion about worry with a group of teenagers. Although they were Christians, they were as worried as unbelievers about the common things of life. As she lovingly listened to them, an unusual idea came to her for a game they could play. It went like this:

Instead of saying, “I’m worried,” stop and say, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Then add, “So I’m worried to death!” The students laughed at the absurdity of the idea, but they all promised to play this new “peace-of-mind” game.

Later, Mary received a phone call from a young woman who had been paralyzed by worry over an exam she had been dreading to take. She said, “I must tell you how the game helped me trust God today. As I froze with worry, I remembered to say, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd . . . so I’m afraid I’ll fail!’ Suddenly I felt the strangest peace of mind. I laughed at myself, then I took the exam—and I passed!”

Saying “The Lord is my Shepherd, and I am worried to death” is more than a mind game to point out the absurdity of worry. God can use this contradiction to bring us to a fuller trust in Him. —Joanie Yoder

Why worry when you can pray?
Trust Jesus, He’ll be your stay;
Don’t be a “doubting Thomas,” rest fully on His promise.
Why worry when you can pray?  —Peterson
© Renewal 1977 Singspiration, Inc.

Worry is the interest you pay on borrowed trouble.

I’m happy today.  I’ve been happy for the past little while.  I know that DH and I are walking in God’s Will.  It’s a great place to be.  I love operating from a place of peace and, with God’s help, being able to respond to things in a good way.  I have in the past often been short with my children, frustrated with housework and felt trapped.  Through the books I’ve read recently (”Love, honor and be free” by Maxine Hancock 1975 and “Homeschooling with a Meek and quiet Spirit” by Teri Maxwell 2006) I’ve learnt how to rely on God further in things.  It’s been a gradual process over the past 13 years of being a Christian.   Other books I would recommend to read are:

“Search for Significance” by Robert McGee 

“Bondage Breakers” by Neil T Anderson

“Boundaries” by Cloud/Townsend

“What’s so amazing about everyday living” by Daisy Hepburn

“A Woman of Strength” by Neva Cole

 ”Free to be Thin” by Coyle/Chapman

That’s all I can think of at the moment.  All of them are centred around the bible.

The girls have spilt something, so I’d better go see if they need any help cleaning it up.

Have a great day!

Recently we have been seeking God’s will for our lives.  Sounds like a huge grandios statement, when in fact it’s rather simple.  Funnily enough most of the things about God are simple.  God’s will for my life (and that of my family) is for us to serve Him with the gifts He’s given us, whereever and whenever He asks us to.   So that leads me to these next questions.  How do I hear from God so that I know what gifts He’s given me, where He wants me to use them and when?  By being in a close relationship with Him.  Again, sounds simple, and it is.  Pray daily, read the bible daily and be with God daily.  It’s simple.

“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11: 30