Practical Application of Scripture Based CALMS

The Lord is near. 1 Do not be anxious2 about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And my peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [Ph 4:5-7] 1. Believe God is present and hears you and cares for you. Dear God, Here is a text I know that reveals your promise to be present. (Is 41:10 / Jn 14:25-27)

(Having difficulty? Go to The Presence of God in Getting to Know God.)

2. Tell God who you believe God to be Dear God, I believe that you are

(Having difficulty? Reread Gods letter to you in God in Getting to Know God, pp4-5.)

3. Tell God what you are anxious about Dear God, I am stressed about

(Having difficulty? Try to hear the thoughts that are creating your feelings of stress. )

4. Ask God to help you. Dear God, please help me with

(Having difficulty? Just use you own words as you have learned in class. Go over this booklet.)

5 Tell God what you are thankful for in this regard Dear God, I am thankful that

If, in completing this exercise, you become and stay thankful as commanded, the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will [now] guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

First, we must believe that God is near. It is crucial to know and believe that our God is the God of pure goodness. There is no shadow of darkness in our God. Our Gods heart is full only of pure goodness and radiant light. Moreover, our God is always working to bring about good and goodness, even from our sins and failures. (See GTKG p. 24.) 2 What is intended is not the good anxiety that tells us we might have a problem. Good anxiety produces energy (stress) and helps us get many necessary things done. Gods commandment be not anxious is in reference to looping anxiety. That is, that anxiety that is based on lies or, if it is a real problem, we do not put it to rest by naming it as a problem that has many solutions and handing it over to God in the process of the solution(s). We just keep fretting. God is commanding us: Trust me; do not to fret. [Ps 37: 1,7,8; Pr 24:19]

Let us Put Gods Sequence into Practice Once More

1. List an anxiety ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Believe our God of pure Goodness and Gentleness is present. Connect with Gods presence by faith in his word. Meditate for a moment on Gods real presence right now.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Tell God what you are anxious about.

Dear God, I am anxious about # 1__________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

3. Petition God to help you with this anxiety.

Dear God, ____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Finally, thank God for the many blessings you have receive:
Dear God, I am so thankful that I can talk to you, that I know you are pure goodness, that ___________________________________________that___________________________________ that ___________________________________________that___________________________________ that ___________________________________________that___________________________________
You should try to spend at least two minutes in thanksgiving.

5. Live into the peace of Christ. Christ Jesus himself is guarding your heart and mind. As Gods word is
true and as you believe in God and not your feelings, Gods peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. Meditate upon this truth that Christ Jesus is standing guard over your heart Now write your reflections and thoughts of thanksgiving to the Risen Lord: ___________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________

REPEAT THE EXERCISE 1. List another anxiety. ___________________________ Follow the same process as above on a separate sheet of paper

Other Texts To Process In The Future

Humble yourselves under my mighty hand and I will lift you up in due time. Cast your anxieties on me, your God, because I care for you. [1 Pe 5:7] Converse with God mentally or in writing. A furious storm came up suddenly on the lake and waves swept over the boat. The disciples woke Jesus saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown! Jesus replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid? Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. [Mt 8:23-26] Do not worry about your life, what you will eat, drink, or wear. Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? O you of little faith. Do not worry! Your heavenly Father knows your needs. Instead, seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. O you of little faith. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. [Mt 6:24-34] Converse with God mentally or in writing. When Elishas servant saw that an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city, he cried out. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" Elisha said: Don't be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them. And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. [2 Ki 6:15] Converse with God.

Having Listened To God, Speak To God:

Here, O Lord, are my anxieties, concerns, etc. I just wrote them in the notebook. They are in your hands as you commanded; it is good to know that they are in such good hands. I know you will help me seek first your kingdom and what is right in your eyes and that all these other things will be given me. Even my difficulties will find a solution in your wise, caring, and powerful hands.

Do you have Any Anxieties, Fears, Concerns, Worries?

It has proven helpful to many to write them down and then cast them to God as he has commanded.