Calm: How to Manage Stress & AnxietySample

The Source of Peace

Reflect/Discuss

• How do you try to calm your own stress and anxiety?
• Have there been times when you’ve felt at peace when the situation is stressful?

Consider

We look to a lot of different solutions to get rid of our anxiety such as therapy, meditation, exercise, medication or entertainment. Some of these coping mechanisms are good and helpful for managing stress. But we should go to God as our first response, not as a last resort.

The Bible tells us to share all of our concerns with God, not just the ones we really need help with. It’s through continuously inviting God into our lives that His peace starts to transform us. It’s a peace so deep that it’s unexplainable, but can only be experienced when we have that constant connection with Him.

Act

• Make time with God a daily priority for you. Use a calendar or an app to track the days you spend in prayer and the Bible, and see how long you can go.
• The Bible verse talks about petition and thanksgiving as a part of prayer. Follow a model in your prayer to help you focus your thoughts. A popular one is A.C.T.S. - Adoration (praise God), Confession (admit your sins), Thanksgiving (what you’re grateful for), and Supplication (ask for what you need).