Hi, all!
This is Lynn. I've been kinda out of it for a while. I'm beginning to realize God wants me to use the program and other ways to recover from my anxiety and learn to live with the bipolar disorder I've known about for seven years. Anyway, I'm back and I'd like to share something I've learned this week. Jesus tells us in John 14:6, "...I am the Way..."
In the book Managing Your Emotions by Joyce Meyer, she mentions how people are "hurting so badly, and they are crying out for help. The problem is, they are not willing to receive the help they need from God.
"The truth is, no matter how much we may want or need help, we are never going to receive it until we are willing to do things God's way.
"It is amazing how many times we want help, but we want God to do it our way. God wants us to do it His way."
She also reminds us that we have to be willing to read the Word, to pray daily and to listen to Our Lord for His will, to participate in activities within our churches, and most of all be willing to obey God in whatever He calls us to do. Joyce continues to refer to obedience by beginning the next section of the book "Obey the Word" with James 1:22-
But be doers of the Word [obey the message],
and not merely liteners to it, betraying
yourselves [into deception by reasoning
contrary to the Truth].
I believe this means that we are not just to listen to God's Word in church or read it on our own at home, but to apply the lessons God teaches us daily by being active in our families, our churches, our communities, our work, and our world in whatever ways God might call us each day.
Another issue that comes up in the program (Attacking Anxiety and Depression) and in this book and Scripture is Do you really want to get well? In essence, are you really in earnest (ready) to make a change in your life for the better or do you still want to keep complaining about your problems to everyone who will listen and pity you? Think about that; then decide which way you want to go. What if you could get so well you had all the energy in the world to do whatever you feel led by God to do with your life and could actually do it? Wouldn't that be awesome?!
Well, I'd better say good-bye. Gotta be somewhere in a few minutes. Ya'll that do pray, say a prayer for me, and I'll be praying for everyone on the forum and at the Midwest Center tonight. Talk to ya later.

Lynn, I couldn't agree with you more about the therapeutic value of reading Scripture, prayer, and worship. I always feel consoled and inspired when I read these words of Jesus:

Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
~Matthew 11:28-30

Remember that yokes are for two animals, sharing the work, side by side. We are *never* alone!!!

Anna

Hi Lynn,
Thanks for sharing with us the need for doing God's will if we truly want to heal. You brought up some good and appreciated points. Thank you.

Todays talk on the Bible that I attended shared several encouraging scriptures from the Ptoverbs.
I think that they might add to your post.

"Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and a healing to the bones." --Pr. 16:24

"A heart that is joyful does good as a curer, but a spirit that is stricken makes the bones dry." --Pr. 17:22

"The calmness of the tongue is a tree of life, but distortion in it means a breaking down in the spirit." --Pr. 15:4

"Happy is the man that has found wisdom, and the man that gets discernment." --Pr. 3:13

"Hear, my son, and accept my sayings. Then for you the years of life will become many. I will instruct you even in the way of wisdom; I will cause you to tread in the tracks of unrightness. When you walk, your pace will not be cramped; and if you run, you will not stumble. Take hold on discipline; do not let go. Safefuard it, for it itself is your life. --Pr. 4:10-13

"The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge. Wisdom and discipline are what mere fools have despised." --Pr. 1:7

These wise Proverbs show that by gaining wisdom and walking in the way of God we can find an emoitonal healing which is also good for us physically.

Keep up the good goal of doing the will of God.
Sincerely,
Victoria

Hey, Anna and Victoria!
Thanks for the replies and reminders that we are never alone and that joy and peace are necessary in this walk with God we call "life". We must all remember that some days may be harder than others, but with God all days can be awesome! This is because with God ALL things are possible! So cool! Keep the faith and don't forget God loves you.