Worry Warts….don’t be one…it’s not cute! So, clearly, this post has nothing to do with actual warts…but aren’t you glad?!? Lol…who wants to read about warts? Let alone write about them.
Mmmkay…background story….I was a worrier once. Yep…a worrier…I definitely don’t mean warrior! I used to worry about EVERYTHING. In fact, if I wasn’t thinking or worrying about something, I was afraid that I was forgetting something. I was your classic “worry wart”…and my case was ugly! Terrible, I know, and I’m glad that I allowed God to deliver me from it. I say ‘allowed’ because often, we hold on to stuff that God took from us long ago. It’s when we voluntarily give it up and let Him do a work in us that we are able to move past it.
Okay…anyhoo…this morning, the verse of the day popped up on my phone and it happened to be Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Now, this came well after Saturday, when I was privileged to assist Judah Band with their video shoot for their song, “For My Good” (if you haven’t heard it check it out…the album is called The Soul Rockers Revival: Gone Fishin’….you’ll be glad you did!). Okay, so with all of the reminders that “it” is working for MY good, I began my day. It was as if God was making sure this was in my spirit before my day started.
Over the course of the past few weeks, different things have transpired in my life and God is showing me how to deal with them and what to get ready for. Today, as I sat at my desk, I begin to think about stuff….you know….STUFF….how it’s gonna work out; when it’s gonna happen; how will I handle it?; can I REALLY handle it?; did I really hear God say what I actually heard God say??? As I’m sitting there, my heart started beating kinda fast and I started to take deep breaths. Now, remember, I don’t do this “worrying” thing anymore. I mean, of course I
think about how things will happen and when, from time to time, but I don’t “worry”! I’ve learned that it gets me NO WHERE really fast, I get stressed, headaches, loss of appetite, and all sorts of crazy stuff, so I cut that out. But today, it began to hit me and didn’t know what to do. I began to pray as I sent texts back and forth to my sister…Ari…and as she encouraged me, I heard God say, “Don’t you dare worry about a future that I’ve ALREADY planned, or situations that I’ve ALREADY handled! You KNOW to trust ME and believe that it’s worked out for your good because YOU ARE MINE!”
At that moment, I felt relief and peace. CRISIS AVERTED!!! Cause I didn’t need folk coming to my office door wondering what the heck was wrong with me. LOL! You see, often, when we get close to our goals, our promises, the enemy will try to kick up dust and get us all disoriented, causing us to
“forget” what God told us and what He promised us. God is the same, neither He nor His word changes. So, we must remember that what He told us, no matter how long ago, still stands. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8) We have got to trust Him and His timing…it’ll be worth it. And as long as God is working things out for our good, we have not reason to worry or be unsure about our futures, or our present, for that matter.
Be patient (“And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” Hebrews 6:15)….be prepared! I wrote a post a while back about preparation. See, being prepared for the promise is just as, if not more, important than the promise itself. If you aren’t prepared for what you’re getting, you’ll ruin it for sure. Then, all that waiting will have been a waste. So, while you wait, do a few things:
Pray…and don’t just pray for God to “DO IT”, but pray for Him to prepare your heart and mind for what you are about to receive. Pray for Him to help you handle it the way He intended.
Read…yes, the Bible, but other books that are edifying to God and that will encourage your spirit. Read books and articles about what you are waiting on, i.e…if it’s a job, read about the field you are going into, read scriptures about working and being diligent. If your promise includes a spouse, read about being a praying wife or husband. Read scriptures referring to what God has to say about marriage.
Write…journal your thoughts and write down words of wisdom that the Lord gives you when He speaks. Jot down your specific needs and write God’s responses and the scriptures that He gives pertaining to those needs.
Rejoice…waiting periods are not meant to be depressing. Nope…they are meant to give us time to adjust to the molding of God. You don’t give a newborn greens and cornbread. Why??? Because they aren’t ready! They need to grow and develop in order for their bodies and systems to be able to handle that kind of food. The same with us, we need time for our bodies and “systems” to be ready to handle all that is coming to us. So, rejoice in your waiting. Rejoice in the fact that God didn’t give you what you asked for before you were ready.
And don’t get like me today, and go into freak out mode…LOL! But trust in God and know that He will do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…” (Ephesians 3:20)
Love y’all….finish this Monday STRONG!
Ms. A.M.White
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