YOU MADE IT THROUGH THE FIRST FULL WEEK OF 2014! HOW'D YOU DO?

So the first full week of 2014 is over! How'd you do? Be it trying a new fitness regimen, a new diet or just doing things differently, whatever those things might be. What's most important is that you survived. You are here. You are still standing. And regardless of how much you didn't accomplish, tomorrow is a new day to try again. Did you this week or do you now even, find yourself having feelings of anxiety about all that you want to accomplish this year? I do from time to time. There are days where I just write down tasks even though there is no conceivable way that I will be able to accomplish them all in the course of one day unless I clone myself.

One of my resolutions for 2014 is to do that which I used to do consistently last year which was before my head touched the pillow at night, I would read the "word." I have become a huge fan of YouVersion which is a free bible app which I can sync across all my devices, my iPhone, my iPad, etc. You can follow plans, take notes, share scriptures and more. And I particularly love the reminder tool which even on those nites when all I wanna do is hit the hay, I get an alert to read and I always feel the better for it. For me, it's just a test of my own personal discipline but it's also part of my spiritual journey and efforts to become better versed in the word. I always admire those who can literally turn to a verse or scripture in seconds whereas I'm the one sitting there thumbing through pages until I come to the book or verse being referenced. I'm currently following the YouVersion plan, "Toward a Fearless New Year" which touches upon when insecurities creep in or when lack of focus stifles motivation, fear of the future and more. For those of us who either sometimes or all of the time battle feelings of anxiety, I'd be remiss if I didn't share these nine promises which I thought were "right on" and very relatable.

1. When I am anxious about some risky new venture or meeting, I battle unbelief with the promise: "Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God; I will help you, I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).
2. When I am anxious about my ministry being useless and empty, I fight unbelief with the promise, "So shall my word that goes forth from my mouth; it will not come back to me empty but accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).
3. When I am anxious about being too weak to do my work, I battle unbelief with the promise of Christ, "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9), and "As your days so shall your strength be" (Deuteronomy 33:25).
4. When I am anxious about decisions I have to make about the future, I battle unbelief with the promise, "I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
5. When I am anxious about facing opponents, I battle unbelief with the promise, "If God is for us who can be against us!" (Romans 8:31).
6. When I am anxious about being sick, I battle unbelief with the promise that "tribulation works patience, and patience approved-ness, and approved-ness hope, and hope does not make us ashamed" (Romans 5:3–5).
7. When I am anxious about getting old, I battle unbelief with the promise, "Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save" (Isaiah 46:4).
8. When I am anxious about dying, I battle unbelief with the promise that "none of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself; if we live we live to the Lord and if we die we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose again: that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living" (Romans 14:8–9).
9. When I am anxious that I may make shipwreck of faith and fall away from God, I battle unbelief with the promise, "He who began a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Christ" (Philippians 1:6). "He who calls you is faithful. He will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:23). "He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).

When you do find yourself anxious, what are you most anxious about? And how do you relieve the anxiety? Please share. Your method(s) might help another.

Happy 2014!!

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