Three Steps to Guard Against Anxiety
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6–7
Many of us will be experiencing fear and anxiety during this time. Here is a quick three-step meditation we can use, either for ourselves or with our young people, that helps to realign our hearts and minds with biblical truth and the promises of God. The aim is to bring our awareness of God’s presence into areas where we are anxious rather than pushing him to the side.
1. Awareness
Take a moment and really try to pay attention to your thoughts, emotions and feelings. Ask yourself, ‘is there anything I am worried or anxious about?’
If anything comes to mind write it down.
Try not to judge the feelings that come up, just write them down and sit with them.
Bring them to Jesus in your heart and mind.
2. Thanksgiving
Write any promise of God next to each worry. It might be a promise that directly relates to it or it might not. Just write what comes to mind.
Acknowledge your fears and thank God for his promise, ask him to fill you with faith in his word where there is fear. Ask him to keep speaking into your worries and fears.
3. Prayer and presence
Take a moment to invite the presence of God to meet with you in the midst of the worry and the promise.
Here’s an example:
Awareness
I am feeling worried my future employment at this time.
Thanksgiving
Matthew 6:25–26 says, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?’
Prayer and presence
Thank you, Jesus, that you say that you provide for me, that you care for me and that you know my needs. I welcome you into my heart again and ask for your peace where I feel anxiety. Show me how to trust you more.
If you’re feeling anxious and would like us to pray for you, just let us know. We’d love to support you.
Just send an email to info@onelifeleaders.com with the subject ‘Prayer request’.