By anxiety, I mean that non stop anxiety that seems impossible to control, not just the I have a test today kind even though that would count too. For people with PTSD, General Anxiety etc., it is not like they can just easily turn a switch off and poof the anxiety is gone.
It also does not help much when someone throws out a cliché or just quotes a bible verse. Philippians 4:6 is wonderful but merely quoting it to someone with PTSD or anxiety is kind of like saying be warm and filled to someone who is hungry without giving them food.
Philippians 4:6 says:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
But how do we apply that. I would like to share something I have been doing. Breathing exercises and grounding exercises to bring us into the present moment are helpful, but even more helpful for me is to do breathing exercises while listening to worship music.
By doing breathing exercises while listening to worship music, I can also at the same time give my concerns to Jesus by praying. Try it sometime. While listening to worship music, breathe in deeply and slowly and exhale slowly. At the same time pray over the day, or the hour, or the moment.
There is one song I listen to each morning first thing. It is Come Alive by Lauren Daigle. Living with chronic illnesses means there are mornings I wake up with fatigue as in no energy for the day fatigue. I also tend to wake up with pain every morning. As I listen to Come Alive, I do breathing exercises while also praying over my day and asking Jesus to help me be a blessing. By connecting the breathing exercises with worship music, it also helps with renewing our minds.
Thank you for reading. God Bless.
Jesusluvsall's Blog 
I love that song. It is so “centering”
It is a good one
Thank you for this, brother Matt. I tend to be on the more anxious side but have far less reason to be so than you do! Frankly, I am inspired how a chronically ill person can keep going on in the Lord’s power. May he continue to bless your teaching journey!
Thank you David. Jesus gives strength
I tend to be on the anxious side sometimes and am going to remember this to apply it then. Thanks Matt.
Blessings Manu. We can always be honest with Jesus when we are anxious
Praying and listening to worship songs really help to ease our mind from anxious thoughts.
God bless you with strength of body and spirit every day.
Thank you little sister. How are things in the Philippines?
I was just working on a draft post about anxiety when I decided to take a break and came across your post here. I have often used music to calm me and put my focus in the right place. Thanks for sharing this tip!
Music helps me a lot
GREAT advice!! My therapist taught me to feel my breath from my gut rather than my chest..you’ll know you’re doing it correctly if you place a hand on your chest and one on your gut, then as you learn this breathing technique you’ll notice your hand on your gut will/should rise and fall while the hand placed on your chest remains still. It’s so therapeutic to me. I love your idea of adding in the worship music!! Thanks for posting this Matt!
Thanks for the tip little sister. I am glad and proud of you for benefitting from therapy
Me too!!!🙌
Thank you for sharing Matt, my daughter who is chronically ill also do different types of grounding for herself, being in constant pain is never an easy thing. It is nearly impossible for anyone to get an appointment with a therapist here in America people are on a waiting list for a year, and so many don’t take insurance anymore.
Sadly it depends on where someone lives for getting appointments. Where I live it is not difficult
I am glad to hear that
Thank you also for this practical lesson on how to overcome anxiety. You are an inspiration to me. God bless 🙌 you.
Thank you for your kind words little sister 🙏
You are welcome 😊
I love the idea of connecting the breathing exercises and the worship music. I am a worship song writer. I have had a few similar ideas. Blogging through my pain and copying the Bible word for word into a notebook have been great helps for me. I would like to see more about the breathing exercises. Maybe I will try some box breathing while singing “This is the Air I Breathe”
This is the Air I Breathe is a wonderful song
It was as if you are directing this post to me❤️💜
Thanks so much 🌹
I am glad it helped. Blessings