Why worry??

 

Why worry?

I went for a bike ride the other day around the lake. I enjoy listening to my Christian
Music and enjoy God's glory and Splendor.
When I first arrived to this area of the lake I was mesmerized by the sights and sounds of so many birds. From a distance they looked like boulders in the water.

All of the sudden the  birds decided to take flight. There had to be thousands of them.
If God takes care of them why in the world would I worry about my needs.

Read: Matthew 6: 25- 34 NIV
Do not worry!

Matthew 6: 25-27,34 NIV
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about you life, what you will eat or drink; or about you body, what will you wear. Is not life more that clothes
 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable them they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life.? Therefore do now worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Instead of worrying we need to cast our cares on Jesus because he cares for us. (I Peter 5:7)

Our worry is canceled our by our Faith and Trust in God. If our faith is in God it will displace the worry in our lives. When Christ becomes the center of our lies we can settle down and sense God's presence and just Be Still and Rest in Him.

Be Thankful

We need to make a decision to be thankful and express that thanks to the people he brings into our lives that are a blessing to us and help us along the way.
When I audibly voice my thanks, I am able to take my mind of my minor aches and pains and remember with thanks how blessed I really am. Instead of constantly complaining, God is able to use those people who give thanks in every circumstance. There is always something good, we just need to look for it. It's important for me  to remember that my complaining just grieves the Holy Spirit.

"Thank God in everything for it is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."
I Thessalonians 5:18 ASV

I need to continue to be thankful for the God has a plan for my life. He has a plan and he hears our prayers.  When I put my faith and trust in him I can feel him working in my life. I may have to wait for months or years of healing; but I will press on and I will have the victory in Christ that I need. We do not want to give up before a breakthrough.
Do not give up on hope or belief in healing but keep on obeying God.

"But I trusted, in  relied on, an was confident in You, O Lord; I said, You are my God."
Psalm 31: 14 ASV

Prayer:
Thank you Jesus that my healing is on the way. I continue to have hope and I know that I am not alone. You are always with me and I now that you have a plan for my life and that it is good! I completely surrender my life and put my trust and hope in you. I will never give up. Amen

Listen and Hear from God

If we listen to and hear from God it is easy to serve him. All we have to do is simply listen to him and obey him rather than to  constantly struggle and push through things that he didn't ask us to do for him.
Jesus wants to take away our burdens and he want to lighten our load of what we have been trying to carry all alone and give us rest.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and  I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28

My faith journey with an RA diagnosis

I woke up on December 28th of 2016 with intense pain in every joint in my body. At first I thought it could possible that I had the flu. But I realized relief when I was up and about for the day. That pain continued in it's severity for 3 months. My local physician said my inflammation was up and thought it was a possible fibromyalgia diagnosis. I have been a very active person, but for the first time I wasn't sure when I got down on the floor how I was going to get up again. For 3 months a slept approximately 2 hours straight each night. After 3 months I got an appointment with a rheumatogist. The rheumatologist diagnosed me with RA. At that point at least I could put a name on all my pain.
I teach classroom music and tried not to let my pain affect how my day would go at school. I was very grateful for the afternoons that I had free just to rest and sleep a little.

I tried everything to ease my pain but prayer and total dependence on God for my needs.  I began to read a great book entitled "Get Out Of That Pit" by Beth Moore. This book helped me to get my eyes off me and my focus back to God's word to deliver me from the darkness and self-pity.

I have also learned to thank God for working in my life, and to quote God's healing scriptures. It seems if I hear it from my own mouth I can instill it in my heart.
Music and prayer are very important to aspects of my life. I have discovered when I can't sleep because of my pain to focus my energies on something positive; prayer and studying the bible or quietly practicing a musical instrument.
This quiet time has become a very special time for me. I may be 1:00-3:00 in the morning but it is always very quiet and undisturbed time. It allows me the time to really concentrate with no distractions.
I have also learned my diet really affects the symptoms of RA. It's important to learn what foods might trigger a reaction a few hours later.