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Tue 11/21
Story
Peace from the Inside Out
Based on a story by Shelby Spear
Shelby had always been a high-stress person. Her childhood trauma had left a lasting mark, and she often found herself worrying and planning excessively. She knew her fear-based thinking was holding her and her children back, but she didn’t know how to change.
One day, while praying, Shelby remembered a Bible verse that said, “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.” She realized that her problem was internal, and she needed to make some changes.
Shelby began by developing self-awareness. She started each day with contemplative prayer, a form of Christian meditation, to observe her thoughts and emotions without judgment. She also learned to question each stressful thought as it came, asking herself if it was leading her towards or away from inner peace.
Shelby also realized that she needed to become more childlike. Jesus taught that children are trusting, loving, and nonjudgmental. Shelby wanted to cultivate these qualities in herself, so she started doing things that would keep her living in the moment and appreciating the beauty of God’s creation.
In addition, Shelby learned the importance of breathing. She realized that when she’s stressed, her breath becomes rapid and shallow. To calm down, she started practicing slow, deep breathing. She also found that breath work helped her to focus during prayer.
Finally, Shelby created a “to-be” list alongside her to-do list. This list included inner qualities that she wanted to improve, such as love, kindness, patience, and gratitude. Shelby now measures the success of her day not by the number of tasks she completes, but by how well she embodies these qualities.
As Shelby made these changes, she found that her stress levels decreased and her peace of mind increased. She also noticed that her relationship with God deepened. She was finally able to let go of her fears and trust him to be there for her, no matter what.
Shelby’s story serves as a reminder that it is possible to overcome fear, anxiety and stress. By developing self-awareness, striving to live in a childlike manner, practicing slow breathing, and focusing on her inner qualities, she learned to trust God and live a more peaceful life.
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—Philippians 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
NIV
Reflect
How will you react the next time you deal with a stressful situation?
Shift my perspective to face the world with the faith of a child.
Use contemplative prayer to bring my worries to God.
Avoid burnout by slowing down and not overexerting myself.
May God’s love encourage and guide your steps today. We’ll see you again soon!
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