Our thoughts are powerful.

Anxiety is a perfectly normal emotion. However, in excess it becomes dangerous. Its intent is to erode and corrode our mental, spiritual, emotional, physical health and well-being.

Anxiety's cousin is worry. Have you ever met someone who says, "If I don't have something to worry about, I worry about that." For many, worry is a constant friend. Anxiety can be like that too.

I've discovered something that helps me when I realize I'm getting worked up. I take a step back, detach from the emotional whirlwind and look at the situation objectively as though I were observing it from afar.

When I do that, the turmoil that accompanies anxiety begins to disappear like how a dust devil in the desert loses its momentum and fizzles out to nothing. From that vantage point, I can begin to change the narrative. I give it to the Lord in prayer, if indeed, it really is something worthy of causing me to feel anxious. Is this something I want to feed and entertain or does it need to go on a permanent time-out?

Another tried and true method is to flip it on its head and go do something good for myself. Be my own best friend. Take a walk, have an ice cream cone, read a book, meet up with a friend or enjoy a nap.

When Elijah was anxious about his future, he fell asleep under the juniper tree and then God sent an angel who told him to get up and eat. (I Kings 19:5) Worked for him, it works for me too. Try it!

I like to think about what if my friend were going through something difficult how would I support them, what would I say or do? Then I do that for me.

I talk to myself as though I were my best friend. Because I am. I've known me the longest of anyone in my life except for my mom. I've decided I like me. I know not everyone has yet made that decision, but it's a good one to make.

"Be good to you," is a common thing I say to so many people, myself included. When we know God, we know we are His child, we can run to Him for comfort and spend time with Him. When I do that, everything fades in the background and that looming mountain recedes similar to a small ant hill that I just walk over.
How? By faith that is resting in the promises of God.

He loves me, He's always with me, I'm not alone, He's making a way where there seems to be no way. On and on I remind myself of God's goodness and His continual care for me until the anxious thoughts are gone. Poof!

I Peter 5:7 says I can cast all my cares upon Him for He cares for me.

As an EPIC Conqueror I know that Everything's Possible In Christ and so I rise up encouraged by that and say, "I AM EPIC." Anxiety, where are you? GONE!

Dr Judy Bauer

SHOW NOTES

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