We, here in Boone, NC, saw snow flurries on Saturday. It didn't last long but experiencing snow in October is new for me and the Big Man (Keevin). Winter comes quickly here in the mountains. I have my rubber boots and I am ready. I am a very cold-sensitive person and winter is not my favorite time of year, but I am embracing it fondly as I know God has wonderful plans for me and Keevin and He will help me not only enjure the coldness but to also enjoy it.
You've heard the old saying "mind over matter" and it is true that whatever our focus is on- -that is what our outcome will be. I have been trying really hard to recognize the moment I start to feel guilty or worried and turn it into thanksgiving to God, thus refocusing on God and putting a positive spin on it. So far, it has worked wonderfully. I got the idea to do this after reading in a book that guilt is our (note-OUR) way of trying to redo the past. I sat up alert and realized that guilt is a common practice of mine. Could it be yours, too? We cannot do-over the past. It is done and gone and needs to be dealt with and then put up on a shelf. Worry is similar but it tries to control the future. What's weird is--the future hasn't happened yet and here we are driving ourselves crazy over nothing. The problem with worry is that what we worry about is implanted in our subconscious and it actually causes some of the dreaded things to happen. The things implanted deep in our subconscious comes out in our words, actions, behaviors and body language--it tells the world what is deep inside of us. But we can incorporate the habit that I described earlier in this paragraph to counteract and prevent this bad behavior. It's a form of self-discipline. Holy Dad can help you and has already equipped you. 2 Timothy 1:7 (combined versions) says: God has not given me a spirit of fear (or timidity), but He has given me a Spirit of power, love and self-discipline (sound mind).
I came across Proverbs 25:28 and saw a vision of what I look like when I allow my mind to run rampant. NLT says: "A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls." Self indulged guilt and worry makes me bad inside and out. It may sound like I am sugar-coating sin when I call it bad behavior but I feel we can relate to this label. Words, actions, body language are behavior. Behavior is conducting oneself in a specified way. That definition makes it sound intentional, doesn't it? And bad means not good, not as it should be. It also means incorrect or faulty. It leads into the wicked, immoral and offfensive area of the definition.
I know from experience that all the bad junk that has been fed into our brains and minds seem to overwhelm us and to take our self-control and discipline captive. A person can stay stuck in the trap. However, a person can choose to recognize the overwhelming feelings from all the bad junk and make a decision to be healed from the mess. The first step is to realize and admit to your messed-up way of thinking because of all the bad junk. Then talk to Holy Dad about it. Tell Him that you have been doing bad behavior and you are ready (and really mean it, even if you don't know how you are going to do it) and willing to allow Him to help you change. Study the areas in your life that trip you up. Could be childhood events. Could be adulthood events. Could be aggravation at work. Could be life-threatening things. Could be vague feelings that you cannot put your finger on. Tell Holy Dad about all of it. Deal with whatever it is with His help. He gives plenty of pointers in His word. The concordance in the back of your Bible is very helpful. Talk to a trusted friend and ask for accountability. Write your own contract to God and hang it up in your bedroom where you will be reminded of your quest for a better life--on God's terms. God has great plans for you!!
Put God's walls of His word around your city. Allow Him to fortify you and build you into something great--afterall, His great Son lives inside of you and that makes you great--because Jesus is great.
There was a time that I was fearful of everything about my life. Anxieties gripped me and had control over me. I was not practicing self-control. My bad behavior was pointing me in the direction it was going in, which was Satan. I got to the point that I was tired of living that way. The anxieties were taking a toll on my body and my mind. I was stressed to the max and I was worn out. Perhaps you find yourself feeling like this. I decided to do something about it but couldn't imagine what could be done. I made a vow to God that I would change my way of thinking. I even made a poster with 2 Timothy 1:7 and some other verses to remind myself of my vow. Vows are serious declarations and God honors vows and loves to help with the healing process. Writing out 21 day Journal Note # 16 (hand-written once a day x 21 days) helped me to heal of the control that anxiety had on me. Please give it a try.
21 Day Journal Note # 16
Anxiety, Panic Attacks
Psalm 55:5 (GWT) Fear and trembling have overcome me. Horror has overwhelmed me.
Provrebs 29:25 (MSG) The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.
Fear grips me. I admit that I allow it to control me. I will no longer trust this unnecessary fear. I will not permit myself to be disabled by others. My past will not be my god. Instead, Dear Lord, I will give You the utmost respect You alone deserve. I will spend time with You and get to know You. I am using my self-control to help heal my wounded heart and to grow and be used by You. Thank You Father for everything You are!!
end of journal note.
Did you hear the horror and disabilities mentioned in the above verses. This is how we are affected by fear and how it overcomes us and controls us. The Great News is that God's great word heals. Praises to God!!
The funny thing is that the healing is noticed in a quiet way--not a dramatic, theatrical way. After completing the 21 day journal note, when an occasion arises, you will notice quietly that you are not reacting the same way you usually do. But don't let the quietness of the reveal keep you quiet. Shout praises to God, even if it is silently (you may be in a room full of office excecutives when you discover your healing) but don't let the opportunity pass you up. That's when thanksgiving becomes a joy to you. The feeling of healing is such a relief and welcome change that thanksgiving pours out of you to the One who has healed you.
Now, back to Halloween. I read this morning some on-line devotions speaking to our current holiday. I was pleasantly surprised at how the devotion said to react to the holiday. Today is about death and horror and frightful things--which we have addressed in this blog, but society is referring to the one who causes all of the upset. Satan and evil and death. But the truth is Satan is real and death is real. Lots of folks enjoy this holiday. The devotion spoke about the origin of Halloween and how it was started as a pagan religious practice. These pagans recognized evil spirits and chose to dress up like evil spirits to make the evil spirits think that they were one of them and to leave them alone. The Christians of the Bible times chose to move a fesitval of theirs called All Saints' Day from May to Oct. 31. It was renamed All Hallows' Eve and eventually referred to as Halloween. These Christians chose to move their holiday to have a chance to introduce their beliefs to the pagans--much like the hayrides, pumpkin patches and fall festivals that our modern-day churches celebrate inviting the public. The devotion spoke of Paul's gentle approach to the pagans in order to win them over to Christ. So many of us do the bad behavior thing and totally turn our backs on the modern pagans. So if you see someone dressed up like satan, please don't brush him off. Engage him in a conversation and see where he stands. He may be hurting inside and could use a listening ear. You never know!!
Another direction that the devotion took was to relate the death experience so emphasized by Halloween to Jesus' death--but that His life continues because of His resurrection. Yes, death is real and we all experience it but as Randy Alcorn puts it in his book on HEAVEN, death is a transition to much greater things for the followers of Jesus Christ. We will live forever with Holy Dad, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and all of the believers who have trusted in Jesus. It is going to be a great life absent of bad behavior, evil and death!! Praises to Jesus!! Thank You Holy Dad for your awesome, life-changing gift.
So friend, go ahead and enjoy Halloween but do it in a way that Jesus would be proud of you.
Happy Halloween to all, Wynndy
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