Start with prayer. 

You might already know that God did not design us for constant stress and anxiety. 1 Peter 5:7 says “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for us.” Ask God to help you trust Him and turn away from worry. This past blog has five other Scriptures to help you remember to give your worries to God: https://myhope1007.com/what-to-do-when-you-are-scared-and-worried/

Consider therapy. 

There are many benefits to seeing a counselor or therapist, but one of the major ones is that they can help you identify what’s causing your worry or anxiety and come up with a plan to manage it. Talking through your thoughts and feelings in a safe space can help you see things from another perspective and work through any unresolved issues that may be keeping you stuck in a cycle of worry.

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Thankfulness.

Keep a running list of things you’re thankful for. Worrying can be overwhelming and cause you to lose perspective, so it’s important to take a step back and focus on the things that make you feel grateful. Make a list of all the positive aspects of your life – no matter how small – and review it regularly. You could keep a journal or keep the list on your phone so you always have access to it.

Form healthy habits. 

Worry can cause physical symptoms like muscle tension, fatigue, and insomnia, so it’s important to maintain an active lifestyle. Exercise releases endorphins that can improve your mood and help reduce the physical effects of stress. Take a walk or join a dance class; any kind of physical activity will help you take back control of your emotional state. Also, be sure to get enough sleep. Unhealthy habits stress your body and can aggravate or even be the cause of anxiety.

Look for healthy distractions. 

Worry often comes down to ruminating on things you cannot control or change. It can be hard to just “stop worrying,” so it helps to have something else to focus your attention on. Exercise, hobbies, or even just talking with friends can be a great way to distract yourself and create some distance from the source of your worry.

Practice relaxation techniques. 

One of the best ways to overcome worry is to focus on the present moment. Worrying about what might happen in the future is often a reaction to feeling out of control, so take a step back and try to identify what has you feeling overwhelmed. Once you have identified the source of your worry, envision handing those things over to God. Take a few deep breaths, resting in His presence. Train yourself to stop and do this every time you start feeling worried and you’ll start building new pathways in your brain that make it easier over time.

We hope these ideas help you live a less-worried life. Do you have any go-to anxiety busters? We’d love to hear from you!

For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7. 
God bless you. Stay hopeful!

The post How Do I Stop Worrying? appeared first on Hope 100.7.

Bible Study

How To Study The Bible, This 5 day plan will equip you with 3 principles of successful Bible study to turn your quiet time from a task to check off your list into an essential habit in your day. Provided by Faithspring.

Reading The Bible 101 In just 3 days, you can be encouraged to look at Bible study as a lifelong and joyful pursuit and find steps on how to begin studying the Word. Provided by Straight Truth Podcast. 

First Steps For New Believers, If you have recently made a decision to follow Jesus, you may be wondering, what do I do next? This 7 day plan walks you through the initial steps of learning how to understand what God desires, how to communicate with Him, and how to live a God-centered life. Provided by Need Him Global Ministries.

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Marriage

Moving Forward in Forgiveness, This 5 day plan will help you learn how to forgive hard things and move forward in your marriage. You’ll learn Biblical principles and practical steps to forgiving well. Provided by Awesome Marriage.

One: A Marriage Devotional by Jimmy Evans, This 52 day devotional can be read once a week or once a day for a more intensive investment. Provided by Marriage Today.

Daily Prayers For My Husband, One of the most loving things you can do to strengthen and protect your marriage is to pray. This 21 day plan will encourage and guide you as you pray for God to empower your husband to be the man He created him to be. Provided by DaySpring.

Anxiety

Facing The Giant of Fear, The Word of God says, ‘fear not,’ yet these days, it seems like we are faced with new things to fear constantly. This 30 day plan will help you find ways to overcome fear and live in peace. Provided by United Christian Broadcasters.

The Way Forward, Have you wondered how you can remain steady, unfazed, and resilient through the turbulent times we find ourselves in? This 5 day plan explores Biblical reminders and strategies to help us navigate the way forward. Provided by Hillsong Church. 

Overcoming an Anxious Mind, This 7 day plan will help you see that God can restore what anxiety wants to take from you and teach you how to lean into God to overcome. Provided by Connect with Skip Heitzig. 

Let us know if you use any of these plans, or if you find other devotions you love and want to pass on to your Hope family!

For more thought-provoking topics, tune in to Hope 100.7. 
God bless you. Stay hopeful!

The post YouVersion Bible Studies To Check Out In The New Year appeared first on Hope 100.7.