“I’LL ACCEPT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING”

That was me to my hubby today, feeling this is where God wants me to be, on the high road with Him. How do I know that God is telling me to give my husband the benefit of the doubt in overlooking some things? I tell you guys often about how this “311” is my sign from God to stay on the high road, to be still and let Him fight my battles for me (God is pretty talkative once you get to know Him!). Well, yesterday, going to post a video to YouTube, it was precisely 3 minutes 11 seconds. When I saw the 3:11, I smiled with God, because I knew right away that this was Him winking at me to stick with Him, being my best, most loving, patient, and forgiving self. Even the reason why the video was shorter than usual was that my son, Emmie, was banging on our front door to let him in as I recorded it, which was all a part of God’s plan for me to see that 3:11.

Then, this message from Dr. Charles Stanley resonated with my spirit, incredibly recorded 25 years ago, but showed up at the very top of my YouTube feed this morning:

“Anxiety means distraction. That is, when a person is anxious, they become distracted. When a person is anxious, they begin to experience an emotion in their life that causes or is the result of some sense of insecurity or uncertainty that’s going on. We become anxious when we become uncertain about when we hear bad news, we find ourselves in a circumstance, and we don’t know exactly what to do next, especially if it’s some threatening circumstance. If we even perceive that it could be threatening or dangerous, we become anxious. Over and over again, Jesus said, ‘Don’t be anxious. Don’t be anxious. Don’t be anxious.’ because he knew he was talking to people who were very anxious about their life. And so his concern here is to encourage them not to be anxious…

We hear some difficult news. News that’s very heartrending and in those moments where something is threatening us or our family (EXACTLY ME!!!). In those moments, are you saying I’m not to be anxious? There are times when we suddenly hear something, and we may at that moment become anxious if we don’t know how to respond or even if we do, its so overwhelming it leaves me feeling anxiety for the moment. It’s not a matter of never experiencing anxiety; it is what we do with it. Will I let that dominate and control me, throw me into depression, or cause me some physical problem. Or will I have myself a pity party, OR WILL I RECOGNIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING AND RESPOND IN A GODLY FASHION? (I knew this was God’s way of saying I needed to stay on the high road with Him and not get all depressed and crazy.)

We’re focusing on earth, materialism, and things, not on the Father who says, ‘I will care for you. I will watch over you. I will watch over your going out and coming in.’ Which is His way of saying I will take care of you at all times. So, what good reason do I have to be anxious? Not a single good reason. What is my response to be?

‘Father today, I submit myself to You. I want to walk in Your will by the power of the holy spirit. I want to conform to Your likeness and whatever it takes to do that.’

And you know what He says? ‘Don’t worry about anything else. Don’t be anxious about anything else because I assume full responsibility not only for your needs but for every desire of your heart that fits into my plan for your life.’”

Like my brother, Kevin, taught me, “Neeks, I want you to work on being a wise woman.” An essential part of being wise is to know the battles to take on and the battles to leave with God. I need to focus on many significant battles, like raising the best kids and seeing them become all God has called them to be. To help my husband take our businesses to the next level for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren to enjoy. Then, my crucial work for God to be His Rockstar, like Dr. Charles Stanley, telling you the best life is close to Him. It’s time for me to leave that distraction behind and focus back on God, who I know has my back AT ALL TIMES. Nobody will love us better than Him! He is my Valentine every day! (HUGE SMILE)