Organizing the Inside 365 Days
Empowering Christian Women To Get Organized and Discover God's Plan for Their LivesArchive for Worry
Organizing the Inside – Day 235 I Changed My Mind Again and Again
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
Allow God to change your heart and your mind will follow.
You have taken your problem to a completely new level. You have analyzed it, broken it down, turned it sideways and the flipped it over again. You can’t seem to stop thinking about it, and now you feel you are closing in on obsessive behavior. It is keeping you up at night, and when you do finally fall asleep this problem shows up in your dreams. You often feel worried and overwhelmed. It’s time to invite God to change your heart.
Let’s face it worrying is SINFUL behavior.
If you are going over your problems that much, stop kidding yourself, that is not your analytical mind, that’s worry. Be honest, if you’re worried, you are not trusting God. Trusting God leads to a peace that assures me, He will never leave or forsake me. There is a change coming to your situation; so why are you looking down as though you’ve been defeated? Look up!! 1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Turning toward God is the key to getting unstuck!
To know Him is to love Him.
To love Him is to trust Him.
To trust Him is to serve Him.
One minute we trust Him, the next minute, maybe not so much. You want to fix it yourself. Then you realize you can’t, and you are only making things worse. Now you’ve become even more overwhelmed. So you give your problem to Him, oops you forgot (God had it) and you picked it up again. (I have been there, more than a few times) Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8 (NIV) God is calling us today to “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)
Make a conscious decision today that you are going to take that problem to God and leave it there. Here are a few steps to help you through the process:
1. Write down what’s troubling you.
2. Find a scripture that speaks to your problem or concern, write that down next to the problem.
3. Make time for prayer.
4. Go BOLDLY before the throne of grace.
5. Acknowledge your guilt; you’ve been holding on to this issue, far too long.
6. Tell God exactly how you feel and bring God’s Word before Him.
7. Let it GO! Stay in prayer until you have completely handed it over and are done trying to handle things your own way.
Once you have completely let go, praise God.
Now that you have released your burdens to God, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. Ask for direction on how to trust Him and walk by faith. What should your next steps be? Get a notebook and pen and take notes as the Holy Spirit speaks to you about what to do. Create the “TO DO LIST” that God wants you to have and get started now, don’t wait. Faith is about action, but worrying keeps you stuck. Get unstuck and allow God to be in charge of your “LISTS”. Start now!
Organizing the Inside – Day 223 Be Heavenly Minded
1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Colossians 3:1, 2 (NLT)
Many hours are spent planning the near future.
We plan for retirement, today’s tasks and tomorrow’s uncertainties. We plan for almost every important and often even the unimportant events in our lives. As an organizing expert I realize the importance of planning for a successful outcome. I’m often challenged by the fact that too much planning ahead leaves little room for the next spontaneous move of God. Planning is good, but there must be balance.
Spend less time planning and more time preparing for eternity.
One way to simplify our lives is to stop planning every minute detail. Allow God’s guidance to lead us down the plain paths of truth for His name’s sake. Let’s unbend our minds and uncomplicated this journey by relying a bit more on His direction and leadership. Realize that the small matters we spend so much time making adjustments and planning for often have no eternal value.
Set your mind on things that are eternal.
For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3 (NLT) For those habitual planners who perpetually plan in their sleep, this may be a huge challenge. Remember that your real life is in Christ and only what we do for Him will last. Release the worry that comes with wanting to make certain everything is under control. Free yourself from trying to foresee every detail, to avoid problems. Enjoy what God has done! Rest in the glory of His presence and experience the wonderful power of His great and abiding love.
Relax your mind, simplify your thoughts, your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Organizing the Inside – Day 220 Nurturing The Seed
22The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. Matthew 13:22 (NLT)
The seed parable warns us of the dangers of living a disorganized life. When we run around pursuing one thing after another, while trying to get it all done, the Word is choked out. Those things that need our attention, those competing priorities take our focus off living the Word.
Do you remember the Word that was recently planted in your heart? Slow down today, set aside time in your busy schedule to nurture the Word. Allow God to speak to your heart through His word. The Holy Spirit will bring to your remembrance all that you have been taught. Nurturing the Word that is in you will restore calm and order to your life and enable you to bear fruit that endures.
Also read Matthew 13:3-8
Organizing the Inside- Day 164 Oh I’m Not Worried, Just Concerned
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
Matthew 6:25-27
Worry breeds worry
We all have so much to worry about. There is likely enough worry to keep each of us busy until Jesus returns. Worry is a remarkable energy zapper too. Yet so many women just can’t seem to stop worrying about all the things that affect us and the lives of our loved ones. By the time you take a rest from worry you don’t have the energy to do anything about the situation…so you go back to worrying. Worried about relationships, health, finances, careers, and having a secure future for our families, women tend to take on the roll of Worrier in Chief. We prefer to call it being concerned and sincerely caring, because we realize that worrying is sinful and by no means glorifies God. We even know is not beneficial and can ultimately harm our health, but most of us can’t help it, we just can’t help it. (God can) Worry plays in your mind like a continuous review of bad possibilities, bad decisions and tough circumstances. You can’t really find much relief when worry takes over. You’re wondering what might go wrong, and what would happen if things didn’t go right. Worrying is debilitating because it keeps you from moving forward to make your situation better.
If you are worn-out from worrying
God wants to restore your peace of mind. Remember when Jesus died on the cross for us He not only died for our sins, and physical health, He also died for our peace of mind. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
Who put all this on you to begin with? Certainly Jesus never intended for you to sit around worrying about your future. 28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
What type are you?
Whether you are a strictly night-time worrier or a catastrophic type thinker, God has good plans for your future. We’ve all had the occasional thought of total disaster. Those are the ones that have to be brought into captivity. (2 Corinthians 10:5) When you look at all that is happening around you the enemy tries to taunt you with fearful thoughts that maybe you’ll be next. Jesus gives love, peace, joy and laughter; all these are part of the abundant life He came to bring. The truth is that we have been redeemed! Worrying is for the birds, oh but even the birds trust God to take care of them and so can we.
Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked… Proverbs 3:25
4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Psalm 91:4-7
There comes a time when you just have to trust God.
God has done everything to set us up for success. It’s time to set things right! Today, make a firm commitment to let go of this ongoing, mind bending, skin wrinkling debate with the enemy. Today determine in your heart, no matter what you will trust God. Commit today to leave the worrying behind. God has a plan, and none of His plans include us having to worrying. (Also read Jeremiah 29:11)
Organizing the Inside – Day 151 Stop Borrowing Worries from Yesterday and Tomorrow
4Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
~ Philippians 4:4-8
Live in the moment.
Some may think, well that’s just irresponsible. Really all we have is what we have right now. Sometimes I wonder if we spend too much of our time reviewing what presumably is a laundry list of past hiccups, or future circumstances that we cannot control, or only imagine will exist. Living life in the moment can be rather refreshing; a different approach to the day’s challenges. No matter what, something in my DNA makes me over prepare for everything. Trust me, if there is a possibility that any one thing might occur, I have a contingency plan already in place. Yes, I salute my precious checklist daily, as I make certain each hour is well-appointed. Order and top-notch execution of my strategically planned activities will keep me from coming apart at the mere thought of a lull in my schedule. Processes and systems are the keys to keeping everything in tip-top condition, right?
Today, I abandoned my checklist.
Today, my “To Do” lists were replaced with a strange call to carefree simplicity, to actually cross over the line. I crossed the line and instead of my usually well scheduled and planned activities; I promised to not worry about all the things that didn’t get done this one day. I promised to not worry about the monumental costs of having a freebie, just one day to do whatever I wanted. Yes, I took a few hours to walk the plank completely blindfolded. Who does this? One whole day unobligated, no agenda, no worries, no rules (well there are always rules; I didn’t abandon my sanity, only my trusty “To Do” lists).
So, can one simply enjoy being present “now” and living in the moment?
Can she enjoy life without considering the consequences of a choice that wasn’t derived from 20 minutes of self debate? Will the world be worse if I sit in the garden and sip a cup of tea? What if I listen to what I hear; and actually look at what I see? What if I allow my senses to experience what is around me, experiencing the moment with my autopilot off? Will today still be okay, if I don’t ponder tomorrow’s obstacle or contemplate yesterday’s mistakes? I think so, I sure hope so. Hum?
Today I abandoned my plans without worry; today I embraced whatever God had for me and actually spent my day joyfully living in the moment.
Organizing the Inside – Day 136 Reducing Stress in the Workplace
Stress affects women in the workplace in many ways. Whether you work in a corporate environment, or have the privilege of working from home, stress is certainly a factor in your day. As women we have excessive amounts of stress as we look for ways to balance our professional and personal lives. While stress is indeed a factor to consider, the guilt associated with having to keep up the delicate balance between loved ones, ministry and business can be daunting. Learning to end the guilt associated with living a full life and staying on top of your responsibilities can also be quite simple. Here are some things that can help.
5 SUPER EASY STRESS & GUILT RELIEVING TIPS:
1. Be present in the moment.
Jesus teaches us an important lesson about stress, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34 If you often find yourself worrying about an upcoming meeting or important conference call this is something you may want to practice. Each time you find yourself spending time worrying about an upcoming event repeat the scripture aloud and make your mind yield to the Word of God. Write things down on your trusty to do list. If there is something you need to prepare for, include a set time when you will work on that task, and lay it down. You could easily miss out on today’s blessing because you are looking too far ahead, concerned about tomorrow. Jesus is already in tomorrow waiting to meet you there, so no worries please enjoy today.
2. Kick worry to the curb and have FUN!
Hang out with people who make you laugh. Be thoughtful about who you have lunch with and make it a point to take time to enjoy moments throughout your day. Take a minute to call that one friend who you know always cracks your side. Keep a book of office friendly jokes near your desk and take a peek at it when you need a lift. If you are a meeting facilitator bring a joke with you to the meeting; your attendees will appreciate you lightening the place up a bit. Spend time with people who are positive. Perfume and incense make the heart glad, but the sweetness of a friend is a fragrant forest. Proverbs 27:9
3. Consider how God has always provided.
The next time you feel yourself worrying about tomorrow, consider all the times in the past that you worried for nothing. Think about how God made everything better. Consider the works of His hands and how He absolutely met your needs and provided for you and your family. Adorning your mind with the knowledge of God will help you to remember it will all be okay. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.Proverbs 31:25
4. Offer a listening ear.
If you are one who tends to talk a lot, maybe you just have a lot to say, good for you. Sometimes the need to get your point across and always being the one to carry the conversation can be somewhat stressful. Slow down and take a moment to listen too. When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. Proverbs 10:19 Letting the other person express themselves while you listen attentively is an act of caring and demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit at work in your heart. Listen lovingly and wait to be heard. Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19
5. Take a mental vacation.
I’ve recently written about the importance of being still before God. Being still will help you find balance and keep you from being overcome with random thoughts racing through your mind, which can be very stressful and create feelings of guilt. Our minds are powerful and often (especially if you have a creative mind) your mind tends to want to run things, don’t let it. Learn to relax your mind by taking a mini vacation and allow yourself to sit and focus on just one good thing. Perhaps it is the smile on your daughters face every time you read her favorite bible story. Whatever brings your mind to a place of peace and calm, allow yourself a brief break to go there. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8
If you have a stress relieving tip that works for you please take a moment to share it.
Day 31- Anxiety Is Overrated
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ~Philippians 4:6
Are you letting your worries and the what-ifs in life keep you from being all you can be? Maybe the anxiety is keeping you from doing all that you can do for the kingdom of God. Today after having recovered from the stress of the stress brought on by almost worrying myself out of a victory, I finally faced my fear and decided to trust God, but not until the very last minute.
I knew I needed my wisdom tooth removed for months. It took me that long to do something about it, because I had perceived the pain and tragedy of a possible broken jaw or overdosing on anesthesia was more than my little fearful heart could handle.
How foolish I felt when after all that worry and self inflicted anxiety I breezed through it almost as easy as standing in line at the grocery store. My BP read 178/96 and to my doctor’s surprise I’d never been diagnosed with high blood pressure. The worry and stress brought my numbers almost off the charts in an otherwise healthy individual. Silly me, I should have just trusted God from the very beginning.
If your anxiety is keeping you from doing something that you know you should do. Or perhaps you are avoiding an opportunity to serve simply because your imagination has been corrupted by fear. Take it from me it is so much easier to trust God from the beginning. Enjoy the victory, it has already been won, trust God today even if the giant in your life is as big as my wisdom tooth.
Organizing the Inside 365 Days 