12 Steps to Overcome Worry

[HKHaugan]

This came from Ted Schroder, Pastor, Amelia Island Chapel. Pass it on if you know folks who it might help. ><>Whitey

Posted: 01 Jun 2013 11:22 AM PDT

 

Recently I have become aware of how many people I know suffer from worry and anxiety. Dr. Archibald Hart’s book, Overcoming Anxiety, was a great help to me some years ago. These are his Twelve Steps to Overcome Worry.

 

Admit that you are a worrier and that you are powerless to overcome worry on your own strength. Admit that worry is unmanageable for you most of the time, even when you exercise the greatest willpower. Believe that God, through Christ, is able to help you overcome your worry. Accept that you can ‘do all things through Christ who strengthens you.’ (Philippians 4:13) This includes controlling your thinking and eliminating wasteful worry. Turn your life over to God. Present your body (including your mind) as ‘a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.’ (Romans 12:1) This will help to renew your mind, and give it peace. Make a list of everything that worries you. Never allow any worry to remain in your mind without writing it down so that you can read it, understand it, and see how ridiculous it is. Instead of avoiding your fears, face them courageously and get them out into the open. Find someone you can talk to about your worries. Talking your problems out helps restore perspective and good sense. Trying to explain your worries points up their inconsistencies and the inaccuracies inherent in all worry. Talk to God about what is worrying you, too. He can help you see them more clearly also. Be willing to ‘let go’ of your worries. For many, worrying pays dividends; when we worry,we avoid having to take action, deal constructively with problems, or face inadequacies. Worry can be comforting in its own strange way. It’s like a child’s security blanket – worn, tattered, and useless – but somehow it makes us feel safer. Trust God to give you the courage you need to take action and abandon the safety and comfort of your worry. Move away from the safety of the shore and launch into deeper and riskier waters. God knows your shortcomings and will not abandon you. Review all your past worries and see how they never came to pass. Try to recall everything you worried about, say, last week or last month. Make a list of them. Go back to last year or even your childhood. Try to recall as many worries as possible and then write down next to them what the actual outcome was. Did the things you worried about actually happen? Many probably did not. If they did, then ask yourself: Did it really devastate me? Did I survive? Try to reinforce the idea that most, if not all, things we worry about never come to pass – and that you can survive the ones that do. If anything you worried about in your past actually did happen and was devastating to you, ask yourself what you could have done to avoid it. Could you have changed something, or was the situation not entirely up to you? If you could have avoided what happened, then write down the steps you could have taken. This will help you the next time you face a similar situation and aid in showing you where and what you can control. Continue to take responsibility for your life. Don’t skirt making decisions, and certainly don’t avoid the tough times. If you fall into a bout of worry, don’t punish yourself. Instead, promptly confess your error and take control of the worry. Spend part of each day strengthening your personal relationship with God. Do this through prayer and quiet meditation on his Word, and maintain an attitude of continual trust in his protection. Pray for daily strength and the courage to take each day one moment at a time. At the end of each day, take a few minutes to review the accomplishments of your day. Thank God for each worry you deflected and for every fear you did not give a foothold in your mind. Remember each moment of comfort you received and every word of encouragement God gave you through the day. Thank him for every friend who passed your way and encouraged you, for each shoulder you cried on or ear that listened. Count each of these blessings, and thank God for them. Then go to sleep knowing that tomorrow’s challenges and concerns will be lighter to bear and easier to master. (Overcoming Anxiety, pp.29-31) How do you overcome your anxieties? Too many have to rely upon artificial tranquilizers and addictive substances rather than find peace in Christ. Try Jesus!!!! What do you think? How are you doing?