Cleaning out my closet! My "thought closet" that is...

I have the worst history of worrying about things. I make myself physically sick. On a few occasions i've found myself sitting in a doctor's office waiting for an answer....all I get is that I must be stressed. Over the years i've learned to recognize some of the things that get me all worked up. Other times i'm already covered in hives, and nauseated before I even realize anything was on my mind. Last week was one of those weeks.

Recap....

Sunday - I got pulled over by a state trooper and got a $101.00 ticket for my expired tag. (I won't go into all of this, but this has a long infuriating story to go along with it).

Monday - Layoffs were annouced at PCS (For those of you that don't know..Brad works at PCS) We would find out about his job in 2 to 3 days.

Tuesday - Before the layoff announcement I had planned to meet a realtor to look at a home. I have been home searching by myself for several months now. I looked at the house and fell in love with the potential it holds.

Wednesday - We found out that it may be the middle of November before we know anything about the security of Brad's job. I had hives in my mouth and had been sick for 2 days.

Wednesday night - I was completely broken. I soaked in the tub with pumpkin scented candles surrounding me. I met with God and I sobbed.

Thursday, Friday, & Saturday were filled with prayer....otherwise uneventful with no change.

Last night (Sunday) I was reading my Bible. I pulled out my summer bible study..Our small group had completed the study, but I had missed a few days so I went back through to see what I had missed. I'm so glad I did!!!

The whole lesson was based on how we fill our "thought closet" with worry. Worry is focusing on the "what if" instead of the "what is".

The entire week I had filled my mind with worry. What if Brad gets layed off? What if we have financial hardships? What if this sets us back and we can't get a house? What if? What if?

Right then I grabbed a pen and wrote a list of WHAT IS....

We have the money to pay my ticket.

Brad currently still has his job.

My job is secure.
We have a nice place to live with a roof over our heads.

God will provide.

That's the bottom line...GOD WILL PROVIDE

There were a few verses that really stuck out to me...I study with The Message Bible, and I love the way it states this...

Psalm 94:9 - Do you think Ear-Maker doesn't hear, Eye-Shaper doesn't see?

Phil 4:6-7 - Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

God knows my thoughts, and he hears my prayers. I still don't know the plan, but I am trusting God. I am waiting & listening for his answers. I'm learning slowly but surely to give my worries to him.