I'm Grateful

There's a question that I've often been asked.  I imagine you've had it too.  Someone will say "how are you?"  The standard answer is "I'm fine."  But many times that wasn't the case.  I wasn't fine.  I may have been sick in some way - or discouraged - or overwhelmed.  But people don't want to hear a litany of those things.  They're usually just being polite in asking the question.

Recently someone shared on the FaceBook prayer page something her pastor had taught.  When someone asks "how are you?" - a good answer is "I'm grateful."  I love that!!!  And it's true.  Even in hard times, my heart is grateful.  It's the perfect answer to that question.

Some things I'm grateful for today:

• Sunshine!!  The last few days have been sooo cold.  The sun today warms my heart and my body.

• Grocery delivery!  One good thing that the pandemic brought is delivery service.  I can order just about anything and have it delivered.

• Friends!  A friend came over today to help me with something.  I so appreciated it.

• Strength!  I had a long list of things to accomplish, and the Lord gave me strength to make it through the list.

• The internet!  It allows me to communicate with all of you from right here in my home.  I'm old enough to remember when we had to communicate with letters.  It took days to get a message to someone.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."  Proverbs 17:22

My heart is cheerful - filled with gratitude.

When I face challenging situations (I’ve had a few this week) - I face a big temptation!  To worry!  My mind for details thinks through everything about the projects.  If I'm not careful, I can get bogged down in the pit of worry.  I have to continually give things to the Lord.  Even in the midst of a stressful project I had this week, I had to walk away, sit down, and give everything to the Lord.  One time wasn't enough!  I had to keep giving things to the Lord and ask Him to carry the burden for me.

Continually communicating with the Lord is our protection from being weighed down by the burdens we face - both large and small.  The key is the constant communication!  The Lord doesn't get tired of our bringing the situation to Him.  He is always available, always listening, always ready to help.  As I gave the burden to Him repeatedly, I could feel His help and strength to make it through.

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"  Luke 12:25,26

"In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help.  From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears."  Psalm 18:6 

"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."  Proverbs 12:25

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6,7

I had a friend speaking kind words - and was surrounded by the peace of the Lord.  It was a good week. :) 

Don't Give Anxiety a Minute!

This past week I experienced some difficult complications from the cancer I’m battling.  They came on suddenly, no warning, seemingly out of nowhere.  They were traumatic.  I've had them before, but it was still a shock when they hit my body.  Usually they are months apart.  This time I had 2 rounds of them just 3 days apart.  I was still trying to recover from the first round when the 2nd round hit.

All this has left me feeling anxious.  I don't know when I'll be "hit" again.  I've dealt with anxiety before in the last hard years, but this is anxiety at a new and deeper level.  I'm having to learn how to press deeper into the Lord, to cling to Him each time I feel anxious.

I've learned through the years that I will deal with something, learn from it and how to cope with it.  I then feel like I've "conquered" the lesson.....but it will come up again.  It's not that I've failed or haven't learned the lesson - it's just the Lord allowing me to learn it at a much deeper level.  I think that's what is happening now.  Fear, worry, and anxiety are not from the Lord!  Already I'm learning not to give the anxiety a minute's hold on my heart and mind.  I must take it immediately to the Lord to receive His peace and grace.

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

"I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears."  Psalm 34:4

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles."  Psalm 34:17

"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy."  Psalm 94:19 

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6,7 

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  2 Timothy 1:7

"Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you."  1 Peter 5:7 

"Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  Matthew 6:34 

These are a small sampling of dozens and dozens of verses about not being anxious.  When anxiety crops up in my heart and mind - I proclaim and pray these verses.  It helps me immediately.  I'm so grateful I don't have to walk alone through the trials of life.  The Lord has already provided promises and instruction for how to deal with them.