may 10

I woke up anxious today.

My dreams were riddled with good things and then nightmarish things.  This doesn't happen very often.  Last night the nightmarish things just were downright unpleasant and scary.  Struggles and destruction!

I woke up in a weird and kind of negative mood.  I didn't finally stand up until a while after I'd woken up, maybe half an hour.


Anxieties about people and friendships then slipped easily into my mind.  Anxiety is my bane, and it is easy for me to not put a cap on it and get frazzled mentally and emotionally by the "what if"s or "why didn't i"s.

And the best way to get rid of it I've found is to lay it down and instead take up the Gospel which offers peace.

It is kind of like wearing an uncomfortable helmet that hurts your head, when just in the closet is a helmet that will make my head feel CLEAR and COMFORTABLE!  It's safe, too!  I just have to make the choice to lay down the helmet that hurts and put on the helmet that does me good.  oh, the effort... walking to the closet, removing one helmet to replace it with another.  Got a sofa nearby?
(Sarcasm)

It really comes down to bothering with making the choice.  I don't always, and I ought to; I am so glad when  I do.

There are different ways of laying down anxiety.

Dancing in joy, worship, confidence is one way.  You are laying down (or "shaking off"!) that which weighed you down and instead praising God in the confidence that His Word holds true and you need not fear.  "I KNOW I have no reason to worry in Christ, because He is my shepherd and Father, my refuge and even calls himself my Friend."  The stuff you do influences who you are.  Smiling when you aren't so happy releases chemicals that go along with smiling, making you more... happy....

Another way is journaling about the trouble and leaving it there.

You could write out a prayer  of leaving that worry with God, and praying about the worry, and then LEAVE it there.

What helps me often is images.  I picture in my mind, or even draw out, me leaving a concern or burden at the foot of the cross.  I leave it there because I know it is far safer in God's care than mine.  Good or bad things, God can easily handle them.  And I choose faith that, tomorrow or a year or even later than now, the thing will be resolved.

Another image is laying something into Christ's hands, or at His feet.  You can even lay YOURSELF down at Christ's feet in total surrender as a habit of praise, and trust, or as a means of saying, "God, I can't handle my life.  I trust YOU with it! I'm a mess"  Often it can be all of the above.  God loves it when we trust things in His care.  God did a lot one day with a loaf and a couple fish, feeding hundreds of people.  He can do a lot with you and me.  And our concerns that we trust with Him.  He is such a redeemer.

Art, running, reading or speaking Scripture on the worry topics are other means; venting to someone trusted and then praying with them are ways; and I bet there are a lot  more ways of handling a concern too!, giving it over to God and instead taking up peace.

Ask God for peace.

Today I'm laying down anxiety about moving for three months; I'm afraid and nervous.
I'm laying down anxiety about my body; I don't feel beautiful today, but GOD says I am gorgeous, and you know, I know I am as a fact and as something God made.  I really do know it, but the heart can be deceptive and say something different sometimes.

I'm laying down anxiety about plans this weekend.

I'm laying down the feeling on not being enough.  I'll never be enough, but GOD is more than enough, and all He asks me to do is walk moment by moment with Him. Driving, sitting, serving, whatever.

I lay down these emotions I feel of sadness and worry from the nightmares.

ANd I take up a peace that surpasses all understanding, shoulders with much less of a weight; and I choose to keep those things laying at the cross.  IF I begin to fret again, I will not let myself dwell on the concern and will lay it at the cross again, and again, and again.

Ask God to trade out lies for truth in your life;  ask Him to teach you to trade out lies for truth.  What a mercy of God that He is faithful to do, and what a good skill to have as you minister to yourself and to people you love and encounter.



I feel better now having laid those concerns down.  I even kind of am teary-eyed (...I'm an emotional person.)  So now I will listen to some music and probably start some dishes.  Or maybe make a gold-fish craft I've been thinking about.  Have a great day.  Do know that sometimes you don't feel better right away after laying down a burden.  But the feeling does not so much matter as the CHOICE.  Believe me, I prefer it when I all of a sudden feel better and can smile!  But that is not always how it is! it is a matter of saying, "God, I want to do this your way; I just have to trust you to help this project get done."  Or "Lord, my home is such a ruin.  No one is happy.  God, I'm hopeless, and I commit my home and family to You; I believe You are a redeemer.  Redeem my family please, to Your glory.  I wait for You, Lord, and make me willing to do something if there is something I need to.  If not, please help me have the hope and patience and whatever to wait and trust in You, God! Amen"

Please comment if you want any articles or want to talk about this topic.  I'd be happy to send them.  I'm still learning but it helps a lot to learn together.

Praise the Lord