Stressed out of Your Mind? Top 12 Spiritual Tools (That Actually Work)
Do you feel like you’re going to crack under pressure? Are beginning to fear you might go ballistic on those you love? If so, you’re not alone. I got you! I’ve had a little too much experience in this department. But it’s given me decades of trial and error and experience of what really works to relieve stress, worry, and can even support you in grief. Here are my top 12 tools that actually work to bring peace when you’re stressed out of your ever-lovin’ mind.
In my experience, grief, worry, and stress affect the body and the mind and soul and heart. That said, the things I’ve found most effective combine both physical relief and spiritual/mental/emotional support tools.
Top 12 Spiritual Tools for Overcoming Stress
1.) Take a deep breath.
Breath prayer is even more effective. It’s a type of lectio devino I learned when we were in the International Anglican Church. Breathe in, “His mercies are new”. Breathe out, “And His banner over me is love.” Or Breathe in, “Surely goodness and mercy”. Breathe out, “Will follow me all the days of my life.” You can decide what phrase you focus on while you breathe.
-More on this in When Mountains Crumble: Rebuilding Your Life After Losing Someone You Love
2.) Stretch your calf muscles.
My brain-integration specialist and friend, Christine, taught me that this can help your body calm down, calming your physiological response to fight or flight. When I’m feeling the fight or flight kick in, I stretch those calves to kick it out. It seem to work for me! Can’t hurt to try it.
–Taking Spiritual Authority Over Cortisol Levels
3.) Forgive.
Often, our stress and grief and worry are a result of wounds from someone else. Christine also taught me to tap my chest in a waltzing pattern (1,2,3…1,2,3) while voicing my forgiveness out loud.
-How unforgiveness doesn’t bring justice
4.) Walk and talk.
This can calm you down quickly. Even being out on a cloudy day will still give you the feel-good hormones and Vit D that you need. While you walk, talk to God about it.
5.) Give thanks.
Don’t just feel thankful. Give your thanks. Write it down in a card and mail it. Show it in a thoughtful gift. Journal things you want to thank God for. This changes your brain chemistry and can help break off depression.
-Giving thanks vs. feeling grateful
6.) Praise God!
Stand up and lift your hands to the Lord. Superman pose. Giving all the glory and honor to God Almighty for who He is. Even when things are excruciating, praise Him anyways. And wait expectantly for breakthrough.
7.) Pray in your spirit.
We haven’t talked a whole lot about this yet but Apostle Paul encourages us to earnestly seek after and desire all the spiritual gifts God has for us. And one of those is the gift of tongues, or a prayer language. It’s like a perfect prayer between you and God. (This is one of the most powerful gifts I know of and, sadly yet not surprisingly, it’s the one that has the most confusion, accusation and anger against it.)
–Beginner’s Guide to Receiving Holy Spirit by Quin Sherrer
-Rice and Beans. A Modern parable on baptism of Holy Spirit. Part 1.
-Rice and Beans. A Modern parable on baptism of Holy Spirit. Part 2.
8.) Eat bread and take a nap.
Elijah did that twice and then ran in that strength for 40 days and 40 nights. Carbs are good for the soul and the combination of honey and butter will instantly ease a child’s tantrums and meltdowns. We learned this from an organic farm, the benefits to your body and brain from the fats and sugars of butter and honey. Plus, what a powerfully comforting and refreshing combination.
9.) Honor the Sabbath.
This is God’s built-in protection from burnout. He tells us to delight in it and trust me, when you’re whooped and pummeled all week long, you will quickly grow to love Sabbath. And you’ll praise God that He carved out an entire day to rest and recover and be renewed for the next week. Don’t wait until you’re about to snap to rest. Don’t work yourself to the bone and then rest. No. “Work from rest,” is a principle Sarah Mackenzie taught me in one of the best books on peace, family, and life I’ve ever read.
–Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace by Sarah Mackenzie
10.) Read God’s Word and listen for His voice.
Get quiet and be still. I like to do this in child’s pose with my eyes closed. Don’t run ahead of God. You can hear His Voice and He’s longing for a conversation with you. The conversation might include:
-Listening and Soaking in God’s presence
-Reading His Word (even if you don’t feel like it.)
11.) Seeking counsel.
First, make sure it’s wise and godly. And then have ears to hear and be teachable. Be humble and take heed. Don’t seek counsel from someone who will tell you what you want to hear. Seek counsel from someone who loves God’s Word, loves you too, and is a truth-speaker. We need truth-sayers in our lives!
12.) Encourage yourself in the Lord.
When David was accused, tormented, targeted and threatened, he “encouraged himself in the Lord” (1 Samuel 30:16). Do this by remembering God’s promises and also remember what God has done in the past for His people in the Bible and also in your own story and in the testimonies of others. We “overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony” (Revelations 12:11). It’s powerful.
-A direction and provision testimony
God has given us so many tools that actually work and bring life and healing to us. These are some of my quickest go-tos. There are so many more I turn to, but I must add that fasting is a POWER-HOUSE for breakthrough if you’re stuck in bitterness or need healing or direction. Fasting and prayer quickly brings heaven to earth. It’s hard to explain, but it works!
So if you are stressed out of your mind today, on the cusp of a nervous breakdown, you have tools in your pocket! And the more you practice using these tools, the better you’ll get at wielding their power.
If this resonated with you, here’s a couple other posts you might love: How to Find Perfect Peace and How to Walk on Water. And be sure to subscribe and join me!
Cheers! And peace to you!
Til next time… Toodle-loo, and Peace be with you.
If you want to walk in full forgiveness and the full power of the Holy Spirit, here’s a prayer to ask Jesus to wash you clean and lead you in a new life.
If you decided to give your life to Jesus today, please let us know so we can share in your new joy! And seek out someone in your area who loves Jesus and walks in humility who can help show you the way.
If you have any questions, you can drop in comments below. That’s what I’m here for!
Thank you for sharing these wonderful tools with your readers! I will definitely start putting many of these into practice!