As Believers, we have a high calling in life. We are called to be peacemakers in the midst of chaos, light bearers in utter darkness, speakers of truth where only there are lies.

It’s easy… in theory. All of us desire to be those things, but life takes over, fear sets in, and sometimes at the end of the day, it’s difficult to feel like “more than a conqueror.”

What do I do to stay calm in troubling circumstances?

Have you ever looked back at a situation and said, “Wow! If I only knew what I do now… I never would have reacted that way.” We’ve been there. It happens to all of us. Still, how many times have you found yourself in a similar situation a few months later, only to behave the same exact way all over again? You know you’re supposed to be experiencing, “peace that surpasses all understanding” as a born-again Christian, but your actions say something far different.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

—Philippians 4:6-7

Is my issue really a self-discipline issue?

The fact of the matter is that we are truly in a battle against invisible forces. It’s not because of who we are so much, but because of whom we have chosen to associate with. The God of the universe has an enemy, and the best way to touch Him is by hurting us, His children.

In this world there is trouble… that is just part of life. It happens. It is unavoidable. Still, we have been given powerful tools that can change the direction of even the most terrible of circumstances, if we will only apply them…

So, yes, unfortunately we are responsible for our behavior. The good news is, that as you begin to place your faith in the hands of a loving Heavenly Father, He will begin to teach you how to make wiser choices for the journey.

Tools for success:

With any tool, it takes time to develop the skills necessary to be able to successfully use them. We want to encourage you to keep trying, if at first you don’t succeed… don’t give up!

• Repentance: God is known to us in three very different and unique ways. One as our Father, another as our Friend… but there is a third role that He plays in our lives that many are not as familiar with—He is our Judge.

When we come before Him and admit our failures, the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross can be applied to those wrong choices in our lives. True heartfelt repentance is a must-have in every Believer’s tool belt.

• Forgiveness: God states in His Word that we are required to forgive others of their sins against us. This is not always easily done. We all have been deeply wounded by people in our lives. It’s never easy to let go of those hurts, because the fear is that they may hurt us all over again.

Choosing to forgive is not about allowing yourself to stay in an abusive situation. But it is about walking away from the bitterness that is attached to a spirit of un-forgiveness.

What we sometimes forget is that while God is our Judge, He is also the judge for others as well. So, when we choose to forgive others, through the power of the Holy Spirit, this allows the Lord to take care of the situation, rather than us feeling that we must take matters into our own hands.

It’s never easy, but it’s always worth it in the end.

>>>ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH UNFORGIVENESS?<<<

• Fighting Spiritual Battles from a “Courts of Heaven” Perspective: We must understand that God has a legal system in Heaven. While many Sunday School classes may have taught you that we fight spiritual fights on a battlefield, the truth is that God’s system is much more democratic.

It says in the Word of God that we face the “accuser of the brethren” (see Rev. 12:10). Satan is much like a litigator in Heaven, pointing out the things in our lives that are out of line with God’s Word. There are specific ways that we can deal these areas, but they must be in alignment with Godly principles.

If you’d like to learn more about this topic, join us HERE.

• Don’t Go to Bed Angry: The Word says it like this, “Do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Eph. 4:26). Why is that? Because when we do not deal with anger from the previous day, it will return to us in the morning. If that process is repeated daily for some time, it breeds bitterness, which can develop into hatred, and finally into murder.

Whoa! Whoa! Did we just say that anger can turn into murder? Yes, that’s right. It might not be a physical death, but how many times have you found yourself gossiping about someone else that you are angry with? The things we share with others can often lead to the death of someone’s reputation. This is a type of murder in itself.

Not only that, but when we choose to end a day in anger, we are not acknowledging God in our day. We are choosing to focus our attention on problems we are experiencing, rather than turning our eye to Him in faith, thanking Him for the things that did go right. It’s a very simple concept, and when applied, it can have immeasurable results.

• Time in Stillness: “Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10). There is so much authority that comes from resting in His presence. It takes a lot of self-discipline to pull away and spend time with the Lord, especially when things are not going our way.

By choosing to meditate on who He is, even during the worst of situations, we gain strength for the day. This means setting down our phones, turning off the television, and stepping away from those ‘go to’ comforts that we’ve sought solace from in the past.

It means purposefully seeking His face—in silence, undistracted from the demands of day-to-day life. We promise, when you make time for Him, the burdens of life will become more bearable.

>>>IS YOUR MIND RACING AND YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE TO TURN?<<<

What if none of those work and I’m still feeling stressed and under pressure?

Friend, there is no one time fix for day-to-day stress. Each day, we must consciously choose to apply these biblical principles, and others like them, to hard circumstances… This is what walking by faith is really all about.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

—2 Corinthians 5:7

Walking by faith, is all about making a daily decision to believe that God’s Word will prevail, that His promises will come to pass, and that we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

—Romans 8:37

It is developing such an intimate relationship with the Lord that the old pressures and triggers that created havoc in our lives begin to fall away. It is because, by faith we know, and because He has proven to be faithful—He is… He really is!

We encourage you to seek out the principles of God. Begin to invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you about areas that need to be dealt with in your life, areas where the enemy has continuously devoured.

We challenge you to search it out for yourself. Find out what door is open and make this year the year that you decide you are committing fully to walking in the promises of God, even if that means laying down what you once thought was correct.

We love you here at Curt Landry Ministries. We have a group of prayer warriors who are standing by to pray with you in areas where you may lack understanding or feel overwhelmed. If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of these special prayer team members [CLICK HERE].