Find Peace and Conquer Chronic anxiety in 7 steps using Psalm 118.
Dear Zikora,
About a year ago before I made this entry, I entered a very difficult season in my life. I have faced many challenges before, but this time, it was because of the series of mistakes I made as a result of my disobedience to God. You were very little then and really did not understand what I was going through. However, you knew I was sad, and sometimes you would ask: “are you going to cry again?” or “please don’t be sad”. I will tell you all about it when you are older. Remind me by asking me to tell you of that summer when I drank my tears for breakfast, lunch, and supper.
That said, back to today. This morning. After saying my morning prayers, I am led to read Psalm 118. As I read this chapter, I am immediately reminded of the significance of today even though I had completely forgotten the series of events that happened just the year prior. This chapter reminded me to give thanks to God for the gift of God’s goodness and steadfast love to me. It reinforced for me that God has always being on my side, even when I didn’t realize it. Even when I didn’t believe it. It is a poignant reminder of how God stood by me and gave me victory on all sides. I am grateful that I got this reminder this morning and I am even more glad that I get to share it with you.
Moving on, here is what I want you to do if you notice that you are still (or constantly) worried or anxious about something. Look back and remember a time when something worked out for you, even though it did not work out exactly the way you had expected. By reminding yourself of how God helped you in the past, you will be encouraged and reminded that God can help you again now, and always.
Psalm 118 is not just a reminder for the past, it is reinforcement for the now, and an encouragement for the future. Put this chapter in your arsenal, it is very valuable. And did I mention that it helps with chronic anxiety? My darling, it does!
Check out How to Cure Acute Anxiety (part 1): A Simple ABC Guide using Psalm 23.
Here we go, the step by step how to!
1) Practice Gratitude:
In the first few verses of Psalm 118, we are called to give thanks to God for God’s goodness, and steadfast love to us. Look back intentionally at all of God’s goodness and be genuinely thankful. And yes, God has been good to you. You can start by thanking God for the gift of being alive, the air you breathe, God’s unending love for you, and for that positive thing that suddenly or randomly happened to you etc). We are again commanded to give thanks to God even at the end of this chapter. Thus, start and end with Gratitude!
”Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”…Psalm 118 vs 1.
”Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”…Psalm 118 vs 29.
2) Verbally Affirm God’s strength and Love for You:
My darling, it is not enough to just remember God’s power, goodness or God’s steadfast love in your life, you must say out loud to yourself that God loves you and that God’s love for you never ends. Keep saying it until you believe it. This chapter instructs us 4 times starting from verse 1- 4!
“Let those who fear the Lord say, His steadfast love endures forever” …Psalm 118 vs. 4.
Also verbally affirm this verse:
“The Lord is my strength and my song,
He has become my salvation.
Glad songs of salvation are in the tent of the righteous:
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
The right hand of the Lord does exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!” …Psalm 118 vs. 16.
3) Bring your Requests and Worries to God in Prayer and Thank him:
Trust completely that God will do what is best for you. In the same prayer, believe that your prayers have been answered and thank God for answering your prayers. Here is an example of how you can pray, be as specific as you want:
“Save us, we pray, O Lord!
“O Lord, we pray, give us success!”…Psalm 118 vs 25.
Then;
“I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone
This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes”… Psalm 118 vs 21-23.
We are also commanded to praise God as we bring our request, that is what the following verse means:
“The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!
“You are my God and I will give thanks to you;
You are my God; I will extol you”... Psalm 118 vs 27-28
4) Don’t let Shame and Guilt stop you:
Now did I mention that the anxieties and worries I was dealing with were caused by the mistakes I made because of my disobedience to God?
The truth is that we will always make mistakes and disobey God. And yes, there is punishment and discipline for when we sin against God, but don’t let your sin stop you.
Here is how the psalmist acknowledged this and prayed to God for forgiveness and for help in being righteous. This is the prayer and I want you to do the same:
“The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation”…Psalm 118 vs 18-21.
5) Trust God completely and stop looking to people for help or sympathy:
God is fully on your side, he understands and always has your best interests. Other people or institutions may make the same claim, but they have their secret agendas wrapped in the beautiful lies they tell. Remember this:
“Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
The answered me and set me free.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
The Lord is on my side as my helper, I shall look in triumph on those who hate me”
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man,
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes”
…Psalm 118 vs. 5-9.
6) Confidently Declare Positivity and God’s words over your life:
When sadness and worry overwhelm you, or even before this happens, keep reminding yourself of God’s love, and promises for you. Choose to be happy no matter what. Choose Joy because you don’t fight alone. Practice steps 1-5 and keep repeating these verses to yourself:
“I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord”…Psalm 118 vs 17.
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes“…Psalm 118 vs 22-23.
“This is the day the lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it”…Psalm 118 vs 24.
7) Share your Testimony and stories of God’s goodness in your life with Others:
Contextually speaking, psalm 118 is a testimony that the psalmist is sharing about how God delivered him (Psalm 118 vs 10-16). In sharing his story, the psalmist’s faith in God is renewed, the story stays fresh in his mind, and those listening are enriched, encouraged and learn how to trust God with their anxiety. And it is what you should be doing too.
I promise you, there is no better way of reminding yourself of God’s past goodness and of his unending love for you than by sharing your testimony with others. Also, doing this will instantly shift your perspective, strengthen your faith, and ease your current worries.
I know it does for me, and I know that once you get into this habit, it will also work for you too. I didn’t write Psalm 118, but Psalm 118 vs 5, 10-16 is my exact testimony. Every single word was as it happened exactly for me. Lets take a look:
“Out of my distress I called on the lord
The lord answered me and set me free”…Psalm 118 vs 5
“All nations surrounded me; in the name of the lord I cut them off!
They surrounded me, the surrounded me on every side;
In the name of the Lord, I cut them off!
They surrounded me like bees;
They went out like a fire among thorns;
In the name of the Lord I cut them off!;
I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, But the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and my song,
He has become my salvation.
Glad songs are in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
The right of the Lord exalts.
The right hand of God does Valiantly!”…Psalm 118 vs 10-16.
So, there you have it, the 7 proven steps to conquer worry and anxiety according to Psalm 118. I hope you practice because I know it works!
This was such a wonderful way to start my day. You woke up while I was still making some notes and we went outside to soak in the sunshine. It was while you were cuddled up in my lap and I was making more notes that I realized that I would share this with the world as well!.