First-Time Obedience

A Sunday School class we attended thirty years ago covered parenting principles.
The teachers, Kevin and Kelly, introduced first-time obedience and the appeal process.
With First-time obedience, the goal was for our children to obey the first time we asked, and asking them more than once meant we were teaching them to disobey.
They could ask for an appeal if they wanted more information, time, or a different answer.
It gave them space to vocalize what they needed if it was more time, clarification, or understanding.
Jason and Daniel, aged eleven and seven, and we taught them the steps to apply this.
Years later, I noticed a pattern where I could apply the First-time obedience principle. My thoughts can wreak havoc and this is when I need to take them captive. First-time obedience means I run to God.  
I must run to God with my fears, thoughts, actions, and reactions and let Him adjust my thinking to align with His.
When I give in to my thoughts like this, I am not obedient to God.
I'm not running to Him for peace.
He wants my obedience because He wants calmness in my heart.
He wants me to be still and know He is God.
He wants to be the solution and answer to my fears.
His desire is an obedient heart that keeps running back to Him.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts  Psalm 139:23
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.

....fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

I realized Jesus wants my heart at peace. I wasn't taking my anxious thoughts captive. I was using needless energy and time to obsess over something. He wants me to listen and obey as soon as He makes me aware of my needless, anxious thoughts.
Jesus wants to be my rescue in these moments and pull me out of the mud and mire.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:2

Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Psalm 69:14