You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
- Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
Anxiety is a killer of creativity. It stifles initiative and breeds inaction. Yet we can change our focus, reduce our stress, and become fruitful. The Word tells us to keep our mind, or focus, on Father God. Then we will have peace and success. Here are three steps to make it happen.
1. Stop looking at where you don't want to go.
How often have you said something like “Oh no!” or “What am I going to do now?” when something goes wrong? When we think about something not going the way we want it to go, our minds jump to the worst possible outcome and start spinning out stress-inducing scenarios of what might happen. We get so caught up in these negative thoughts that we can’t focus on anything else. What we focus on will expand in our lives. If you keep focusing on what is not working or going wrong, this will continue to be your reality. Change your focus and reduce your stress. Focus on what you want to happen in your life and not on what you don't want to happen.
2. Focus on your source, Father God, and His love.
Focus on the promises of God's Word. Relax and remember that you’re not alone. Focus on the good things that Father God has already provided in your life, whether they be relationships, opportunities, or anything else. If you want to stop worrying about so many things, ask for help from Him. God loves you and wants the best for you even more than you do, and He is more than capable of answering your prayers. Yet, God does not force His children to do the right thing. We must use our free will and take action.
3. Stop trying to do things alone.
God allows us to be in partnership with Him. By accepting His offer, we have the peace we desire along with productivity and success. The partnership allows our focus to be on God's love and not on our human limitations. When you give up trying to do things on your own and hand them over to God, He can multiply what little you have into much more than you could ever imagine for yourself.
There are times in our lives when we feel overwhelmed with stress and don't know how to get back on top. God wants us to relax, let go of the anxiety, and enjoy life. We can do this by changing our focus to the love of Father God.