Keep it in the oven

I grew up checking the oven to make sure it was off at least 2 or 3 times every week before going to bed. I worried that it may have been kept on and the house would explode. For a while I wasn't really into swimming indoors because dang what if the roof collapsed and we all drowned. That would suck. I eventually got over that one.

I like to say that I've gotten better about reducing this worry type of mind set, where if I'm not worrying about something I'll find something to worry about. I think I'm getting better at it.

But every once in a while, I think, well hey maybe that's the way I'm wired. God wired some people to take things in stride, and other people to worry about stuff and perpetually over-analyze the crap out of everything and get trapped and be paralyzed by their mind.

Then truth kicks in and I realize that this is a lie from the pit of hell. No one is wired to worry. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Gen. 1:27). Since I am created in the image of God, and God is not a worrier, then I wasn't created to worry. Right?

So the challenge I am learning is having a complete paradigm shift in my mind, because the more I worry the less I trust God. So my life goal as of late is to change my mind, and a big part of doing this is self-discipline. If I start to worry about something, then I can choose to STOP and pray about it. I'm finding this tough as nails to accomplish, but I'm stoked about where I will be a year from now in this area of my life. I pursue and hope in anticipation.