Anxiety and Contentment

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving , present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6 & 7

This is one of my favorite verses in the bible---I claimed this verse for the first time when I was a teenager, and very anxious about my future. It carries me through my days because I am prone to worry. I tend to worry about so many things I can't do anything about, and when I manage to convince myself of that I pray. Prayer is what I should have done in the first place in order to ward off the worry. It is one of the first things I think about, but because of sin worry creeps in and my faith falters. Yes my faith falters, it is at those times my emotions take over and I become a basket case. Does anyone else have this problem. I bet you do, especially if you are a women. Women tend to let emotions overwhelm them before they claim God's peace. Can you claim God's peace for your life, your future, your family?

I have been reading a book called---Calm My Anxious Heart, by Linda Dillow and in it she has four things we need to practice in our lives----

1-Choosing to give our anxieties to God
2-Choosing to pray SPECIFICALLY
3-Choosing to be thankful
4-Choosing to dwell on the positive

Wow those are a prescription aren't they.
---being specific in our prayers is helpful to us, God already knows what we are coming to Him about.
---Being thankful for the things, situation and people He has put in our lives right now, there is a purpose for everything and everyone. Try thanking God for what He is doing even though you don't understand it right now and being thankful for what is to come.
---being positive is a hard one for me. My mind always goes to the negative in situations. I have had to really work at this all my life, it is a sin pit for me.

"Beware of what you dwell on for that you shall surely become."---Ralph Waldo Emerson
This quote is convicting in my life.

Our thought life --not our circumstances--determines whether we are content.

I hope and pray that all of you can Choose to give your anxious thoughts to the Savior.
Also we all need contentment, inner peace separate from our circumstances. It can be achieved through a shift of attitude more that a change in circumstances.

Believe me as you read these words I am constantly working on my self in every area I have talked about here. Pray for me as I pray for you.

LOVE YOU All---Cynthia---Mom