How to get past the anxiety to hear Him?

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Permalink Reply by Amanda on June 20, 2014 at 10:25am

It sounds like the financial proceeds are being put to charitable use (building orphanages, etc.) and even in the OT, women received beauty treatments. See Esther 2:12. I think one of the things people tend to criticize and judge negatively when it comes to helping with women's health and beauty, is the concept of self esteem. Anything that would seem to help someone with self esteem is often viewed as sinful and wrong. I think our value is found in Christ and not in ourselves but I also think God doesn't frown upon us taking care of our bodies. I think the mind and the body are closely connected. When we feel bad physically, it affects our thinking and vice versa IMO. I imagine after 12 months of beauty treatments, Esther's confidence in facing the King and making requests was greatly enhanced. Of course, God was with her helping her and she was praying for guidance and protection. Perhaps you would like to read the Book of Esther. Let God's Word wash your mind and splash away the anxiety. It may increase your confidence.

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Permalink Reply by Debbie C. on June 20, 2014 at 2:00pm

:) Thank you Amanda!  Exactly, it is a VERY charitable company!  I think in a way for months now i've been trying to find a reason NOT to do it.  I'll admit, in a public forum, I want to make money...to give,  I don't want for much.  I've always helped people, and have always prayed for opportunities to help more.  Then this happens and I am overcome with anxiety.

The more I checked into the opportunity, the people i've met, the company has nothing to do with vanity.  What I see isn't  business building it's people building, and to help with self esteem.  And when I say  self-esteem i'll give you an example:  if I spent an hour with one person who spent $500 and an hour with a person that spent nothing I would treat them both the same.  And I would go the extra mile making the person who spent nothing know that they're just as special if not more than the person that spent $500. (I hope that example makes sense).  I would do that because I know what it's like to have no self esteem and feel like i'm not even good enough for God (which I know is a sin). 

Thank you for the Esther Bible reference, i'm going to download a study of it.  I need prayer, I know i'm to have faith and trust in Him and so many different things seem to be starting to make sense.  Then I will think this is the enemy trying to trip me up again.  That aside I just want to do the right thing, and Im having such a hard time deciphering is this God or the enemy.  The most confusing part is the ONE thing everyone always says:  you have such a gift with people.  That's just me, it's easy for me...until now!!!! I just don't get it! xo thanks for listening :)

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Permalink Reply by Tammy on June 22, 2014 at 4:05am

OOOOOHHHHH OK. I was thinking it was a Bible Study you was going to teach. I believe this anxiety is Satanic driven. If you should be good at selling anything, you should be a pro at selling these products. You've been working with these types of products 1/2 of your life. The reason I see this as demonic is this should be easy breezy for you but instead, it's taking you in the opposite direction. I mean, this is how you feed your family. Maybe Satan is fearing that you may change women's lives in ways you couldn't have if you didn't sell them. Just keep remembering that greater is He that is in you. You got this. In your weakness, He is made strong.

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Permalink Reply by Debbie C. on June 22, 2014 at 7:13am

Oh goodness no, not a Bible Study! I could totally see if that was causing anxiety that would make sense :), this doesn't.  The products are amazing they sell themselves, my part is i'm very good with people.   People leave me knowing I care about them, there's no doubt about that.  I made a promise 2 1/2 years ago to the owner of a cosmetology school, I said "someday i'm going to give anonymous scholarships to victims of domestic violence".  I just didn't know how.  I felt like this was the opportunity I had been waiting for.  I have peace about it in my heart but not my head.

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Permalink Reply by Tammy on June 23, 2014 at 1:13pm

Well girl, we just gonna have to pray for the anxiety to lift or maybe it's not His will. We'll pray He shows you the answers in this situation. The setting for this situation is different then being behind a chair with a one on one conversation. You serve many however with the other situation, you're the head. All eyes are on you, etc. 

Permalink Reply by Debbie C. on June 23, 2014 at 10:39pm

I believe you are 100% right, I do need prayer and to let go and let God.  If it's His will it will happen.  I have to stop thinking so much and lift it up to Him.

Thanks so much and God Bless

Deb

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Permalink Reply by Tammy on June 25, 2014 at 2:02pm

Praying with you girlfriend.

Permalink Reply by Mary O on June 18, 2014 at 4:13pm

Hi Debbie, God bless you!

This will sound weird. I'm not a great public speaker, but I can do it. When I speak publicly,  props help me. My thing is drawing. I draw out rough pictures or something related to the speech. If I have a crayon or marker in my hand, and draw, I'm in my element.

Scriptures are different. I look them up ahead of time and make sure I have the right cites. I put tabs in my Bible to help me go to the scriptures right away. When I can't find a scripture, it's usually pages sticking together or something. I read the verses ahead of time and make sure I can pronounce the words. It's good to read it aloud. I make sure I understand the words I'm reading. I do use props when I'm teaching. Maybe try a teaching with other people acting the parts. Take some time and think it out. Pick several people to act while you are slowly reading the scriptures.??? How about the woman with the issue of blood who touched the hem of Jesus's garment and was healed. Just an idea.

Love,

Mary

 

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Permalink Reply by Debbie C. on June 20, 2014 at 2:01pm

Thank you Mary, those are all wonderful ideas! I think if I move forward with this venture i'll be borrowing some of those from you :)

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Permalink Reply by Richard L. Broch, Sr. on June 19, 2014 at 10:21pm

Hi Debbie C.,

I believe there's a reason for everything that happens. Sometimes the reason is obvious.......Sometimes we realize it later.....

Sometimes we never find out the reason.........

Here's some Scripture that might help you:

I John 3:21-22, "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; (22) and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight." (N.A.S.B.).

I John 5:14-15, "And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (15) And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." (N.A.S.B.).

So, if we are leading a godly life, and our heart doesn't condemn us for not being in God's favor, and show love to Him along with our fellow human beings, we are in good standing with the Lord. And finally, (this is a big one) our requests must be according to His will and schedule.

Grace and Peace.

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Permalink Reply by Debbie C. on June 20, 2014 at 2:18pm

HI Richard :)

I do believe everything does happen for a reason, I wear a bracelet everyday with that phrase on it.  Here's the feeling i'm having  right at the moment: am I waiting for a sign to make sure it's God?  Or am I like the man by the pool? Or am I like Moses?  In my mind and heart I believe it's Him, and maybe i've turned here for prayer and also I maybe publicly discussing this for accountability...so I stay on the right path.

Deb

 

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Permalink Reply by Carla on June 20, 2014 at 1:37pm

Hi Debbie,

There could certainly be many factors contributing to why this is happening.  Perhaps there is a spiritual element to it also.  We have a very real enemy who strives to discourage us from living out a particular calling.   Consider that it may be spiritual.  When God calls us to something it is always quite 'deep', entrenched in life lessons and value in serving others, and living an 'others centered' existence.   Women in particular need to be encouraged and lifted up in regards to self esteem, self perception and well-being.  Women need to know what true beauty is, and perhaps this is part of what God is leading you to.  God has also put it on my heart...this same sort of thing.  I have also found it extremely difficult to move forward in this.  There have been many thoughts such as 'Why me.... why would anyone listen to me anyway?'  I'm not qualified or well versed in this..  surely there is someone else who could do a way better job.'  Doubt, Fear, Discouragement, self protective..  I know these feelings well.  God is so patient with us.  There's this old cliché saying that goes something like this... 'God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.'  Amen Right!  Glory to Him.  He keeps telling me to step aside and let Him work through me.  I'm acting a bit like Jonah.

Love In Christ,  Carla

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