“A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song.” Proverbs 15:15

If you’re not walking in the joy of the Lord, you are walking in the discouragement of the devil. I have been known to be a slave to fear, anxiety and worry. I lived enslaved a really long time. I didn’t want to try something new for fear of failure or looking an idiot. I didn’t want to make anyone upset so I didn’t voice any opinion or disagreement. I didn’t want to be rejected so I built a wall of fat by overeating so no one could enter and destroy my heart. By the grace of God I was able to escape the fortress which was really a prison and see my value through Him. In Romans 8:7 it teaches, “Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God.”
To combat fear and stress, worry and anxiety I have found it useful to remember God-fidence: Confidence in God. This looks different than a braggart. It says I am strong in the Lord, I will listen to what He wants for me and do what He tells me and I will succeed and not second guess my judgment, not because I’m all powerful and awesome and super smart but because He is all powerful and awesome and knows the end game. Therefore, instead of going on a walk with the devil, I must ask “What’s next?” In Romans 8:15 “This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next Papa?” Not asking in fear but in wondrous expectation. Our life is not determined by our circumstances, our life is determined by our mental ability to handle our circumstances.