Your Plan of Action

Café Menu for Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Today’s Special is:   A.D.D  Cures Mental Clutter

Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Dana Pittman

Main Ingredient:  “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Entrée: 

We exist on a pretty tight budget. We don’t complain or grumble because we knew things would change once we decided to homeschool our children. We went from two full-time incomes to one. Then last year my husband left his job and now we are fully self-employed.

Our budget went from tight to nearly rubbing pennies. However, having the opportunity to homeschool our children is worth it. It is worth it to be able to do the work God called us to do.

But life sometimes throws us curve balls. The kids still enjoy extracurricular activities…money. Gas prices increased…money. Groceries are at an all time high…more money.

I found myself thinking money…money…money. When is it coming? Where is it going? Do we have enough?

This is how mental clutter manifests itself. It is a single thought or several that take hold of us and multiply.

Do you remember the Gremlins movie?

If so, you’ll recall what happened when they ate after midnight or got wet. They multiplied. You could literally see them go from one to two, two to four, hundreds to thousands. And they ate their way through everything and everyone.

Our thoughts are much the same. One thought of worry seems to multiply. Sprinkle a little doubt after midnight and it becomes hundreds of individual thoughts bouncing around.

How do we keep our thoughts from consuming us?

We expose them to the Son. Much like those scary Gremlins exposure to bright sun light kills them.

At my greatest hour of concern I felt the Spirit telling me to breathe. Count to ten. Trust God.

We have to trust that God is concerned about our concerns. Then we take hold of our thoughts by exposing them to the Word.

You, my friends, can walk in victory.

Take Out:  “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:13). This verse provides a few action steps I believe are helpful. I will share them as an acronym-A.D.D.:

1. Anticipate. Prepare your mind for the task(s) at hand. Anticipate what is required of you.
2. Discipline. Respond and carry yourself with restraint. Take control of your emotions and feelings.
3. Direct. Keep your eyes (and heart) focused on Jesus. Set your hope fully on Him.

Dessert: Father, Dad, we need you. Your Word says we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. Father, renew our minds. Help us move away from the clutter and closer to You. Father help us see You more clearly because our hope is in You. Today we will cast every care, concern, anxiety, worry on You. We will place it at Your feet and stand in Your victory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For more encouragement, visit Dana at her blog http://www.danapittman.com/, where she writes to inspire, educate, and encourage women to LIVE.

© 2012 by Dana Pittman. All rights reserved.

For more ideas on how to clear the mental clutter, visit our friends at Proverbs 31 and sign up to receive the P31 Woman Magazine and enjoy Lisa Archinal’s article “Clearing the Mental clutter – Learning to Make Decisions Boldly”.

Are you craving MORE? Are you ready to trust God to care for you and help you through the worry?  Click here for Extreme Encouragement, and five steps to living in God’s peace.