Sunday was a different day at church. All the 'work' had been done and all was ready. Those of us on the team prayed we had been led by the Lord to create an environment and a flow to allow the Spirit of God to lead us in worship that day. Twelve hours of prayer by many individuals had filled the room prior to the service. You could sense the presence of the Lord and there was a peculiar somewhat reminscent peace in my heart. As the service moved on, I struggled with a number of my tendencies, one of which is to analyze. I shook that as quickly as I could by asking God to just take it away and fill the space it left in my heart. We all wore dirty rags around our wrists to remind us of our sins. Various sins filled the screen, one by one, giving us time to ponder, to think - is that one of mine? I knew what my rag would wear, one word, 'anxiety' ... now some would say that might not be a sin. But anything that separates us from God's work in our life is a sin. And if I am freaking out over something instead of turning it into my prayer list, thtat is separating me. A declaration I made in my life about one year earlier, was to work towards true peace in all situations and relationships in my life, and this year has been harder than most because to get to true peace, you have to go through the deep waters. Back to the service, something interesting happened when it was time to take my rag off and leave it at the cross, it was completely wound in and around my bracelet. I kind of chuckled for a moment, then, it struck me, it was if God was asking me, do you really want to get rid of it, doesn't it cause you comfort. Doesn't it make you stay stuck and you can just ignore, zone out, not deal with the real issues that cause you dis-peace. You get tangled up in it all the time don't you? Yes. yes I do. It's my bent, its where I run to first, its what I need to let go of and go at it again and again until it doesn't master me any longer. Yes, Lord. Free me from this monster. I kind of patted it as I draped it on the cross, not sure what that was all about. Later on on my drive home, my beaded bracelet shattered into tiny fragments all over my car. I didn't do anything to help that happen. I was stunned for a moment, but I wasn't sad, no not at all. I saw it as a sign, that the Lord had heard my prayer and I was free. As big as anxiety is in my life, He could shatter it with a breath. That's how mighty my Lord is. I know from now on, He is going to allow things to happen that will test me, give me the opportunities to 'get it right' and cast every care, every care on Him for He cares for me (and you!). Love to hear your ponderings ........