White Coat Hypertension

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow so I thought I'd share a technique I've been using to try to make myself less nervous. I try to think of the doctor and nurses (and all of the other people whose titles include various combinations of the words assistant, tech, clerk, student and practitioner) as stylists, masseurs and general well-being pamperers.

  I imagine those montages that occur in chick flicks right before the leading lady goes to the big party.  You know what I'm talking about.  When she gets her hair done and her friends shower her with outfit options.

  If you're getting a colonoscopy (which thankfully I am not) maybe you can imagine your doctor is one of those masseurs who rubs you with hot stones or beats you with birch branches.  :)  
    My point is that, whatever the appointment is for, you pay medical professionals to contribute to your well-being. Even though they are experts, they work for you.  And no matter what unpleasant treatments and tests they convince you to undergo, ultimately they are caring for you and trying to help you.

I know this little mind trick is not a Biblical truth but here's a Biblical truth: When you're anxious or afraid, it should help to know...

1. How God feels about you - "Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?  ...for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us." Romans 8:32, 33b-34 
2. That you and your loving Savior are literally inseparable -  "No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39
3. In spite of circumstances, Together You can say no to fear - "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?"Psalm 27:1

MeTV

What if I was the star of my own reality show? Life With Emma. What would the SUPER EXCITING Grand Premiere episode be like?
 
Interior- Dimly Lit
Woman puts dinner plate into dishwasher.  Walks to couch. Watches eight hour Mentalist marathon...
 
Okay- that sounds like a really boring reality show!  What about my job?  Dealing with all those shoppers, my day has to be broadcast worthy.
 
Grocery Store- Harsh Fluorescent Lighting
Woman waves cereal box over scanner. Beep. Coffee. Beep. Cheese. Beep. Small talk... 
 
Nope, my life would not make an entertaining reality show.  Big Surprise! :) But sometimes I'm so self-conscious I act like I'm live on national television.  How should I act?  How do I look?  What should I say? What will people think?
 
As ALWAYS, God has the perfect answers: 
 
Philippians 2:3 NLT "Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves."   - Should I be self-conscious? NO.

Why Not?:
Psalm 118:6 NLT "The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?" - Because compared to God's opinion, what other people think of me is SO not important!

And...
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."
Philippians 4:13 NKJV "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 
- No matter what, God has my back.

When I mess up:
Romans 8:1 NLT  "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." - I have forgiveness through Jesus!!! :)
 
DON'T: Compare myself to other people -
2 Corinthians 10:12b NLT "But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!"
 
DO: Use God's Word to guide my actions -
2 Timothy 3:15-17 NLT "You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."
 
So it looks like Life With Emma has a target audience of One.  And that One loves me unconditionally and forgives me completely.  Praise God!!! 

How Boring Would You're Reality Show Be?  Leave me a comment and make me laugh! :)