Are you feeling as much anxiety as others who are stressed out with voting, inflation, the war or your own problems?
Do you just want some peace even for a few minutes?
One of my favourite verses when I’m anxious is Philippians 4:7
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
In these chaotic and turbulent times, many of us are searching for some quiet, some relief, some peace. It is possible despite everything going on in your life, community, America to find that peace through your God. As the verse says a peace that surpasses or “transcends” your own understanding or knowing everything you want or need to know. When anxiety happens, you feel “stressed out”, the feeling is like a kitten with it’s hair all sticking out.
For me, I feel like every muscle is tight and like I’m gripping my hands tightly. I notice my jaws and teeth clenched as well. You can’t reason or talk it away. It is had to even focus your thoughts.
What I’ve learned is my own 6 step method to help me quiet my mind and begin feeling some peace.
- If possible, turn off noise such as TV or the Internet and set your phone to silent
- If possible go off by yourself, such as outside, your room, a quiet chair in the room. ( If your children are small and with you, this one is harder to achieve.)
- Close your eyes to decrease visual distractions.
- Take a few deep breaths in and out each to a count of 4 or 5. Feel the tension in your body start to ease.
- Once you feel more relaxed, recite the verse above as a prayer asking for God to provide you His peace that He is speaking of. (It is not necessary to repeat the total verse if you don’t have it memorized…or you can write it down on a small card or note.)
Now, just close your eyes again and think about what God means by the verse concentrating on breathing the verse in and breathing the verse out.
Focus on letting your muscles relax beginning with your eyes, jaws, shoulders, and the rest of your body all the way to your toes.
Practice these steps a few times before you are anxious. You can feel your anxious thought or stress gradually decrease. This will allow God to work in your life providing you the peace that Paul in Philippians describes.
This method is a form of Bible meditation that works. You can even substitute your own favourite verse. The verse I use is Psalms 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.” In fact I have a poster by my prayer chair saying just that verse.
If you aren’t able to do this when you feel stressed or anxious, try doing it when you have a few minutes in the morning or lunchtime and/or bedtime.
Wishing you God’s Peace.
Prayer for Peace
Father God,
Please help me to find Your peace that you promise in Your Word. Let the Holy Spirit inside of me teach me to find times when I can turn to You and Your Word. Show me that You are my peace and my refuge in times of trouble.
Be my God and my Helper
In Your Holy Name,
Amen.
Susan
Susanssoul4you.com on WP
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