The Best Antidote to Stress, Worry, Fear, and Anxiety

The best antidote to stress, worry, fear, and anxiety is joy—real joy that flows and bubbles up from your heart.

No matter how bad things may look or sound, there is always something to be thankful for.

No matter how difficult a problem or challenge may seem, you can choose to respond with joy. Smile, laugh, and say to the problem, “You are not going to steal my joy. I choose to rejoice today and always.”

How You See Things Matters

Whenever you encounter a problem, how do you see it?

• A huge mountain

• A small challenge

• A minor inconvenience

• A massive obstacle
  

Your perception determines your reaction. This is why it’s important to shift your focus and shrink the problem in your mind. No matter how big or small the issue is, you are still bigger than the problem, and you can speak to it and command it to move.

Focus on the Goodness of God

God is bigger than every problem you face.
He promised to make a way for you—even when there seems to be no way.
Trust Him completely.

Have a Carefree Attitude

After you have prayed and done all you know to do, cast ALL your cares on God—not some of them, but all of them. Cast everything over to Him because He cares for you. Then adopt a carefree attitude.

Having a Good Laugh

A simple way to spark joy is to laugh. You can:

• Watch a clean comedy

• Spend time with friends or family

• Get active in sports or exercise

• Look in the mirror and smile

• Recall a fun memory and laugh about it
  

Laughter shifts your focus from the problem to the goodness of life.

Positive Affirmations

Whenever anxious or troubling thoughts arise, say:

“I cast my cares over to God. He cares for me.
I refuse to worry or be anxious.
My situation is far better than what someone else may be facing right now.
I am grateful for my life.
I am grateful I can speak.
I am grateful I can walk.
I am grateful for my beautiful face and smile.
I am grateful for my children (if you have children).
I am grateful for what I have.
I am grateful, Lord.”

Gratitude shifts your atmosphere.

Praise & Gratitude

When we release praise and gratitude for what we have and for what is going well, our focus shifts from sorrow and regret to anticipation and hope. We begin looking up to the great and mighty God who is bigger than any challenge.

Reciting Scripture

Psalm 121 is one of my favorite passages. Reading and reciting it at least three times a day strengthens hope and joy. When you know God is watching over you, everything changes.

Psalm 121 (NKJV)

God the Help of Those Who Seek Him
A Song of Ascents.

1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Quiet Meditation

Find a quiet place and meditate. Repeat the following gently and slowly:

• Jesus, I love You.

• I know You love me too.

• I receive Your peace now.

• I release all my cares, worries, stressful situations, problems, or concerns to You now.
  (Name each one and say: “Jesus, I release this to You.”)

• Holy Spirit, I welcome You.

• Holy Spirit, fill me with the peace of God.

• Holy Spirit, touch me, refresh me, strengthen me, empower me, encourage me, comfort me, counsel me.

• You are my Comforter, Counselor, Helper, and Teacher.

• In You, Lord Jesus, I live. In You, Lord, I move. In You, I have my being.

• I am in the presence of God.

• I am before the throne of grace.

• I receive mercy and grace now from You, Jesus.

• I am in the heavenly places.

• I am in Christ.

• I am seated in heavenly places.

• I am safe and secure from harm or danger.

• I am covered and protected by the blood of Jesus Christ my Lord.

Take as much time as you need. The more you practice this, the lighter your burdens will feel and the freer your mind and emotions will become.

You can take your meditation further by doing what God told Abraham: see the answer. Connect your mind and emotions to the answered prayer and give thanks.

Scriptures for Strength and Joy

Mark 11:24
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Genesis 15:5–6
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Genesis 13:16–17
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Ephesians 5:19
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Acts 17:28
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Ephesians 2:4–6
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Written by - Paula Simeon
Date: 7/17/2013