Have you ever thought to yourself, “Do I create my own anxiety?” If you have not had that thought, how real are you being with yourself? If you have had that thought, you are not alone. My blogging is designed to help those out there, especially women be real to be real with themselves, to think/examine themselves, and to come to the realization that we are not alone. This blog is meant for ENCOURAGEMENT and the nudging for SPIRITUAL GROWTH. Now of course, my blogs come with scripture. I wouldn’t being doing you, me, or anyone any justice if I didn’t. So, let’s start with this one: “Do not be anxious about anything–but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.“-Philippians 4:6

We are believers and devoted children of the most high right? So WHY do we struggle to obey Philippians 4:6? We are anxious when it comes to our education, family, children, marriage, health, you name it! Let me be real. I am one who honestly STRUGGLES with anxiety. I have gotten so much better in some areas but the anxiety has remained. Why is that? Let me tell you. In all honesty, WE CAUSE OUR OWN ANXIETY by the things and thoughts we put into our minds and the things that we speak. The word of God tells us “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things.”-Philippians 4:8 Isn’t it funny how these words come after the Lord telling us not to be anxious about anything? It took me a long time to realize that I cause my own anxiety and it is because of what I am meditating on? Ask yourself what are you meditating on? Instead of feeling our minds with and focusing on how people act towards us, what people say to us, what bills we have, if we are good wives, if we are good mothers, if we are good children to our parents, if we are worth anything, what people think of us, if we are good employees, what if you are sick, if we are doing enough, how are we going to get certain things done, and the list can go on and on for ANYBODY. The bottom line is those are NOT THE THINGS that we should be focusing on. Whatever concerns and worries we have, we are instructed to take them to God. Unfortunately, we do not always do that, or we do it but then pick it back up instead of leaving it there. I am at the point in my life where I am choosing to focus on WHO GOD IS, His LOVE, His GRACE, His WORD, my loveable and loving son, my husband and the good things he does and says, the career God has blessed me with, the home and family God has blessed me with, the transportation I have to get to my place of employment, the food God provides, I HAVE A LIST. Focus on the things that you know you do correctly and with a pure heart. Do not focus on your shortcomings. Focus on what you have accomplished, YES even the smallest things like completing your laundry for the day. Choose to meditate on the positive impact you make on the lives of others, because believe it or not you ARE making an impact. As a mother, wife, daughter, son, sibling, teacher, advocate (whatever your career entails), you ARE making an impact. Choose. I choose to meditate on those things that are worthy of praise, the lovely things, the pure things, the commendable things. I am choosing to speak life over my life (Proverbs 18:21). You have to decide what you will choose to do. Will you speak life or death? Will you meditate on the negative or the positive? Will you fill your mind with the things and love of God or the cares of life? Whatever choice you make, there is fruit that follows. Be Blessed!