Three Ways to Stay Calm and Focused by Lisa Burkhardt Worley, D.Min.

Yikes! I am teaching a college class for the first time in my life, and my completed syllabus was due on Monday. Adding to the difficulty was learning the school’s online system before uploading the syllabus. With the clock ticking and other scenarios hovering, I had to figure out how to stay calm and focused on this task.

Isaiah 26:3 promises, You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You (NKJV).

So the first way to stay calm and focused is to give the project to God. And that’s what I did. I knew that the LORD had called me to teach this class, so I gave the preparation back to Him as an act of worship. I trusted that He would work through me to complete the task.

Panic tried to creep in a couple of times. Because of that, the second way I remained calm and focused was to rebuke any anxiety that might be hovering. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. So, in the name of Jesus, I cast out any anxiety that wanted to distract me.

And the third and most important way I maintained calm and focus was by praying. Some try to downplay prayer, but it is the most powerful weapon that we have to fight life’s battles. John 15:7 says, If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. I try to live my life with my Heavenly Father at the center, so I confidently asked him to provide a strategy for the class and prayed that I would not leave any stone unturned.

I completed the syllabus well before the deadline and was approved within 24 hours. However, I take no credit for this. I could not have done this without the hand of God on my work. He provided the direction and supernatural peace in the process.

What task is taking away your peace? Follow these three steps, and you, too, will remain calm and focused.

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Our devotional, Treasure just won another major award as we received a Henri Award from the Christian Literary Awards for “Best Devotional Book!” It’s the third literary award we’ve received for Treasure and we are thankful to God! Lane Jordan Burday and Lisa Burkhardt Worley, along with the POP Team, combined their talents to write the book, which is full of wonderful inspiration. You will be inspired by the messages, and receive daily treasure as God will speak to you through His Holy Spirit. To buy Treasure just click on the Amazon link that takes you directly to the page and check out our new e-book. https://tinyurl.com/2uj9sn5x.