We live in a technological age where we are constantly bombarded with all kinds of information and activities. The desire to stay peaceful and focused amidst the storms of life seems impossible without God’s aid.
Bottom line is, challenges regardless of whether you were anticipating them or not will always arise. The question is, who do you turn to and call upon when you get overwhelmed with the affairs of life? This is important because your first port of call during a crisis will determine how that story ends.
Over the years, I’ve trained myself to the point that it’s unlikely for me to receive any news and allow it to shake me to the roots or knock me off my feet. It’s not that I was born with this trait.
But some of the deep challenges and trials I’ve experienced in my life have taught me to not be hasty with my reactions. I’ve learnt to be more reflective in approaching any challenge that life throws at me.
Undoubtedly, the world we live in is full of distractions and chaos. Therefore, as Christians, we ought to anchor ourselves in God because he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Statistically, most Christians only go to God in the time of crisis. They request emergency prayer meetings and begin to dig into the word of God only when challenges hit them.
The stories of Saul and David from the scriptures are perfect examples of what it means to remain centred and grounded in God. When the pressure of life came upon them during their season of need, they each responded based on their level of connectedness with God.
Even though they occupied the same position as the king of Israel at a certain point in their lives, their reaction to crisis was as distinct as night and day.
Saul spent his entire life consistently ignoring God, his word, and his instructions. He cultivated no relationship with God and this singular act led to his dethronement.
On the other hand, David secured the throne through his daily quest in seeking God’s face. Over the years, as a son tendering to his father’s cattle, he cultivated the unique habit of turning to God for help. He daily sought God’s face and always maintained his active fellowship with God.
He knew God’s presence was always with him. His active relationship with God and ability to hear God’s voice secured him countless victories throughout his reign as the King of Israel and of course, a title as the man after God’s heart.
In the new covenant, we have unlimited access to God’s presence, we no longer need to worry about losing our access to God because he is constantly speaking to us. But have you made yourself available to hear from him?
You need to create and maintain a two-way communication channel with God, so that when the challenges of life arise, you have the assurance that God is with you, to direct you and to grant you irrefutable help.
Furthermore, God speaks at a certain frequency and for you to hear him, you need to get attuned to that frequency through your active communion and fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
Amongst the benefits of attuning to the frequency of God’s voice is the ability to easily dismiss other voices that bombard your mind with fear, distrust, doubt, panic, anxiety, condemnation, etc.
Fortunately, God’s voice is available to you always. Essentially your whole existence is dependent on how much you can anchor your mind on who God says you are, as it is a vital key to your peace and fulfilment of your destiny.
My point is, if you don’t cultivate the habit of hearing from God, and being able to glean from his wisdom during times of pressure, you will automatically default to what you know, which is inadequate.
So, do you know how to comfort yourself when you’re weary? Do you have a process? Do you have a routine? Do you have things that you do to calm your mind? Do you know to rebuke fear and receive comfort and instruction from the Holy Spirit that will help you move forward and overcome life challenges?
Now I’m going to share with you the three-step strategy that has helped me greatly over the years.
Have a go-to scripture
A go-to scripture is ONE scripture you don’t need a bible to find, a scripture that you have interacted with so strongly that it now defines your life and automatically gives you comfort during challenges.
For example:
When David showed up to fight Goliath, he was absolutely confident that he would defeat the giant. Why? He believed one thing – God was with him. He kept declaring this truth over and repeatedly until indeed, he defeated Goliath.
In the same way, you ought to have one scripture so rooted in your heart, that it becomes your go-to weapon against whatever comes against you.
Cultivate a listening habit
To cultivate a listening habit means to create time daily to not just hear, but to listen. Hearing is Different in what way? different from listening. To hear means you read and understand your bible. However, to listen, means what is the Holy Spirit telling you from what you’ve read.
Do you have a listening routine or meditation habit?
For example, by meditating on the word “Shepherd” in Psalm 23, I see that the Shepherd doesn’t just guide and provide for the sheep, he also protects them from wolves. This gives me confidence that God will protect me against whatever situation is causing me anxiety at that moment.
The more you meditate, the Holy Spirit will reveal truths about your life from that scripture. Don’t wait until a crisis before you learn how to listen to God. The comfort of God’s voice is REALLY what gives you the power to face the world.
Obey promptly
Be quick to obey whatever God impresses on your heart, no matter how ridiculous it seems.
Saul’s constant disobedience to God’s instructions was the start of his downfall.
David, on the other hand, had many opportunities to kill Saul but he didn’t because he chose to obey God. This is the reason God trusted him with the throne.
What are those things God is telling you to do? How prompt are you in responding to God’s instructions and directions?
If you keep ignoring or dismissing the promptings of the Holy Spirit, your heart becomes hardened and it becomes extremely difficult to hear Him when you need Him most.
For a more actionable process, click here to access a free PDF workbook that will guide you through a simple step-by-step process on how to eliminate anxiety and stay rooted in God’s peace, even during challenges and distractions.
Listen below.
