Over the weekend as Erica and I had our mini road trip to Amanda and Justin’s wedding, we started chatted about negative thoughts. But not just any negative thoughts – the anxious, worrisome, fearful thoughts that most likely are not even true.
This is definitely something I struggle with because I’m a FIXER. If there’s something wrong (or something I perceive as being wrong), I instantly think of ways that I can make the problem go away. But if there’s anything I’ve learned about anxious thoughts, it’s that 99% they’re irrational and can’t actually be “fixed.”
What can be done, though, is redirecting those thoughts. For me, simply thinking positively doesn’t do the trick. I need to get out of my own thinking, and instead redirect it to the truth…to God.
I always knew that that was the answer when it came to getting rid of anxious thoughts, but over the weekend Erica shared with me the best way I’ve ever heard of for doing so.
She suggested repeating this five statement pledge, which is from Believing God by Beth Moore.
1) God is who He says He is.
2) God can do what He says He can do.
3) I am who God says I am.
4) I can do all things through Christ.
5) God’s Word is alive and active in me.
It’s crazy how much just saying those statements out loud literally makes my anxious thinking disappear – there’s so much power in these words!
I’ll be honest, it’s been a bit difficult getting used to doing such a simple act instead of (doing the opposite and) overanalyzing, but that’s what makes God’s grace so unfathomably amazing…
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How do you deal with negative/anxious thoughts?
Well, it would be easier to write what I don’t do while anxious 😉 I have written this 5 step down. Always a good reminder, always. Prayer is huge….I finally have hit the age (took me long enough) to come to the realization I can’t fix everything and everyone. Love just doesn’t do it sometimes. More like tough love. Thanks for this today.
Honestly, this was just what I needed to read. I struggle BIG time with anxious thoughts and am yet to figure out a way to calm myself. I truly believe this will help! So thank YOU!
I am a fixer too! It’s good when you’re younger, but when you get older and realize how complicated life is, man is that hard. I use my anxiety about having no control over situations I wish I could repair by channeling it into writing. Sometimes anxiety and dispair inspire some of my best posts, essays, and short stories. Not only does that release some of my negative feelings by getting them out of my head and into a word document, but it also instills a pride in my work that replaces some of the anxiety.
this is great — i could use to remind myself of this every day, for no other reason than because it’s so vitally important for any Christian to rest upon. thanks for sharing.
I love this! Great book by Beth Moore, too. I read it a few months ago and have incorporated these powerful sentences into my life ever since!