Nail Biting Worries

     Thoughts drifted in the back door of my mind -- totally unaware of the subtle change, I subconsciously began to chew on a fingernail.  A bit later I found myself irritated by a few simple incidents and chewing on the second fingernail.

     Old habits die hard. 

     By supper I had complete mutilated one hand and had started on the second.  What a stupid habit, I chided myself.  It took until bedtime to recognize the cause of my nail biting day -- I'd been worrying.  

     About what?  Nothing of great significance, but those dangerous "little concerns", if allowed to go undetected, can leave me worse off than the big ones.

     Once I recognized what was happening, I began to speak God's truth...God, let your peace, the one that's beyond what I can imagine, GUARD my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)  My heart calmed and my mind fell silent!

     Somehow if my "radar for worry" isn't activated at all times these seemingly unimportant worries can take over and I find myself becoming overwhelmed with life.  I know this isn't the way God wants any of us to live -- but what are we to do?

     I picture a sweet child spinning and twirling with happy delight . . . Jesus was looking out for our best interest when he told us that, "Unless you CHANGE and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."  (Matthew 18:3)

     We transform our thinking from that of a stressed adult to that of a carefree child.

     By His strength, not ours, we have to surrender these concerns to Him ~ ONE AT A TIME.  As worries come to our minds, we release them immediately - not ignore the issues; we still have to deal with working things through, but without the worry with which the enemy wants to weigh us down.  No wonder we're told in I Corinthians to take thoughts captive and make them obedient.

     If your mind is simmering with shadows and your thoughts are flying faster than a bird in flight, stop, let go and give God the freedom to work each problem through with you and for you!

"Pile your troubles on God's

shoulders - He will carry your

load, He will help you out."

Psalm 55:22

Clearing Up the Clutter

As a mom, I have found a consistent connection with kids and clutter - my children can go along quite well for a good amount of time, keeping their rooms clean and then they seem to hit a wall!  The wall is not that they don't want to clean anymore, it is that they don't know how to clean with all the pieces that have added up.  They become overwhelmed with clutter and require "mom" to come alongside and help them sort through the pieces.  I have to admit this is not one of my favourite tasks, as I feel that once it is done, it should last for at least a year or two, but that is just not the case.  I find each of my children, especially the younger ones, are usually good for a season or a bit longer but then they need help.  So, how does this relate to us as moms?

I have been pondering that the clutter my kids have to deal with in their closets is very similar to the clutter I have to deal with in my own heart and life.  I take time in the Word and with the Lord and can go along for quite a while with God surfacing areas I need to work on or repent of, but at some point - often after a season or two has gone by, I find I hit a wall of sorts.  I have come to realize that I need people in my life who are a few steps ahead of me, either in journey or in Christian maturity and I need to ask them to sit and help me declutter my heart.  I have heard some describe this need in their own lives but then feel badly that they are not "far along enough" to deal with it on their own.  DON'T EVER let the enemy make you feel that way.  God did not design us to walk alone, fight alone or mature alone - we have to have the help of those He has placed in our lives.  This may mean choosing someone that is not going to provide sympathy, though - the people I have sought out have always been the ones I know will not let me be content with where I am at and will be honest with me even if it hurts.  Remember what Solomon says in Proverbs 27:6, "Wounds from a friend can be trusted."

I just want to encourage you to be open with someone you respect and trust, and ask them to honestly speak into your life and help process the clutter you may be facing.  If you are not sure who that person is, ask the Lord to show you who you is safe to share with.   He is faithful as we journey along, working through clutter and all!