My Cure for Anxiety Attacks

I battle problems with anxiety.  My chronic pain disorder is linked to high levels of anxiety. I am wired in such a way that  my mind flies a mile a minute. When trouble and uncertainty enter my mind it is very easy for me to slip into state of anxiety.  The dictionary defines anxiety as

1.

distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune

2.

earnest but tense desire; eagerness: 

 In both definitions I can find  feeling that I often experience. Fear can hold one captive.   Fear is a natural human experience but it should not be a state we live in.  I also consider myself to be a passionate person. This passion often bubbles into tension.  Tension often manifest in a change in my physical demeanor.  Trouble and uncertainty are a part of life. I can not allow for them to dictate how I feel.  This scripture has become my mantra :

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. Philippians 4: 6 Amplified Bible

 I read it often.  It is a text that is scribbled in the front of my journals and my favorite bibles. In times of high anxiety and fear... I simply quote the scripture aloud. I say it until I feel better.....  and when I start to feel better I end with that's my prayer now and forevermore.


I'm curious. How do you deal with Anxiety, Fear and Tension?

A Quote on Prayer

Wishing will never be a substitute for prayer. --Ed Cole

Have you prayed about it ?

Yesterday, I spent most of the day running errands with a friend.  She is starting a new job so she needed some work clothes. I needed a jump drive I could get some work done. I was hustlin' yall working to get some things done. My accountability partner  and I had a quick wrap session late that night.  I really enjoy the opportunity to talk to her because she always challenges me.The most pressing question we ask each time we speak is  :  

Have you prayed about it? 

I mean really opened you heart to a conversation with God about___________ . 

Notice that I use the word conversation.  I love love to  talk. I  but I deeply enjoy conversation.    In conversation I get to gain access to people's hearts, emotions and inner workings.  Successful and engaging conversation involves more than just me or the person I am speaking with rambling. Conversation is a three  part activity.  It involves being my mentally present, engaging in thought. It also involves articulating those thoughts , talking. And it also involves another very important often underrated part, listening.  I took the time to explain the components of conversation because we often over look or dismiss things that are truly profound because of their simplicity. Understand that prayer is a wonderful thing but it has to be apart of a larger relationship and conversation with God.
 My father always tells me to be careful what I pray for because  God answers prays. I  mean to say that often we get so focused on our desires that our prayers seem to more of  a wish list.  We also rarely take time to take into account God's timing. God answers prayers in unlikely and surprising ways. Just asks anyone who has ever prayed for patience.

Listening to God can seem like an overwhelming  task.  Thank God, we do not have to a degree or any special credentials to hear from God.  God speaks in so many ways.  God speaking is never the problem.  The problem is often that we do not stop talking and take time to listen.

"The secret to concentration is elimination." Dr. Howard Hendricks


What can you eliminate so you can have a  open and honest conversation with God?

What is kneegrowth?

 Kneegrowth  is something you will not find in your dictionary. It is  sadly  something you may or may not you might not see in your local church.  It is  my feeble attempt of describing the process of growth through prayer. Take note that growth can encompass:  the physical, the emotional , and the spiritual parts of life. Kneegrowth is  a word that I made up while I was in high school.

Kneegrowth is a noun. It is the process of growing through prayer. It can also be described as the stage of development steep in prayer. Prayer that brings one to their knees. 

Although, the word was then funny way of describing my painful process of reconciliation to God.  I believe it describes my life.  Or the life of Christians who wholly rely on God.  I have been an ardent believer in the power of prayer from a very young age. As I grow older I realize that I will not be able to make to the next stages in my life if I do not rely on the power of prayer. So, this folks will be a prayer blog.  It will be one small woman's attempt to share  kneegrowth  and the revelations it brings. It will be my way of collecting and remembering the developments kneegrowth brings.