After my 13 year old friend went to the Kids Church I sat with tea and a pen and journal at the ready. This week I have been stressed with school and Avon as I emailed my friend. So I was all ears.
Ahhh its snowing!!!(a bit) This is great.. music, tea, snow and blogging! Perfect.
Secrets of Stress Free Living
1. Know who you are. It is the principle of identification.
John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the wold. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness for they have the light of life’.”
Life can be stressful. Jesus had enormous stress that would cause any of us to cave in but Jesus was always calm. If you don’t know who you are people will try and tell you who you are. You will allow people to manipulate you. We wear a mask. You know who you are when you know WHOSE you are. WE are put into the world for a reason. He has a plan for all of us.
2. Know who you are trying to please. The principle of Dedication.
John 5:30. “By myself I can do nothing. I judge only as I hear and my judgment is just for I seek not to please Myself but him who sent me.”
Know who you are dedicated to. You can’t please everybody. As soon as you please one group of people they will soon be once again displeased.
JESUS can’t even please everybody! You don’t need to please everybody.
If you don’t know who you are trying to please you will be stressed. You will give in to competition, criticism and conflict if you don’t know who you want to please. If it pleases God, it is the right thing. When you know who you are it reduces pressure.
3. Know what you want to accomplish. The principle of organization.
John 8:14. “Jesus answered, ‘Even if I testify on My own behalf, my testimony is valid. I know where I came from and I know where I’m going.'”
You have to plan your life. Jesus had a plan. He followed it all the way to Calvary. Have priorities. If you don’t set what you want to do for life then others will do it for you. You’ve got to plan! Have you accomplished anything today? Ask yourself. Preparation causes us to be at ease. Preparation reduces stress. Having clear goals simply simplifies life. Take time to pray to God. Think, is this actually how I want to spend the next day? The next 24 hours of my life.
4. Focus on one thing at a time. The principle of concentration.
Luke 4: 42, 44. v.42 “At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to Him where He was, they tried to keep Him from leaving.” He was going to leave, but they tried to keep him from leaving. “But He said, ‘I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also because that’s why I was sent.'” v 44 “And he kept right on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.”
He didn’t allow himself to be distracted from what God wanted him to do. He concentrated on it. Everyone was trying to trick him. Jesus was a master of concentration and focusing on the goal. When we do too many things we get confused.
(Went to the bathroom.. then I saw a friend that I haven’t seen in 2 years so we were talking for a while but I will write you the given notes for number 5 and some of 6)
5. You don’t try to do it all yourself. Mark 3:14
“Jesus went up into the hills, and called to Him those He wanted and they came to Him. He appointed twelve, designating them apostles that they might be with Him and that He might send them to preach.”
6. Make a habit of personal prayer. The principle of meditation.
Mark 1:35. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went out to solitary place where He prayed.”
Be still and know that I am God. Prayer releases stress in the morning. When you hear/see bad news that gives you stress. We have our own problems and we’re bogged down with other peoples stress. Instead, go to the author of good news.
7. Take time off to enjoy life. The principle of relaxation and recreation.
Mark 6:30 “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all they had done and taught. Then because so many people were coming and going and they didn’t even have a chance to eat, Jesus said to them (the twelve disciples) Come with Me by yourselves to a quit place and get some rest.”
You know you are busy when you don’t even have enough time to eat (Unless your on a diet 😀 ) Jesus could handle stress because he knows how to rest and just talk to God. God has designed you to have rest. You need time to talk and enjoy life. Jesus survived stress because he enjoyed life.People say Christians are boring. Its the EXACT opposite! We are excited about what God has planned for us. Jesus was probably the most joyful person to hang around with. Balance is the key to stress management. Imagine what Gods plans are for you. “Its better to have loved and lost then never to have loved before”. It’s true. You must focus on one thing at a time. Make a habit of personal prayer. Take time for yourself. Have fun! “Come unto those who are wearied and burdened”.
Give your stress and give your life to God. He is the Prince of Peace.There is no way to live without stress without the Prince of Peace. “I want to give you rest”. ” I want to give you inner peace”. You can overcome stress with the Prince of Peace. The world is trying to live without the one who made us. Without the Prince of Peace.
What do you need? You need transformation. You need to be born again. A new way of living. Let God transform you from the inside out. You start to see things differently. Who are you? You are Gods child. He made YOU for a purpose. You are unique. There is no one else like you. Relax and be yourself. If you don’t know your purpose, spend time with Him. It will become clear. Don’t worry about tomorrow, focus on today. Commit to spending time with God. Tell him your stress, take time to enjoy life. “I will give you rest.” He says. We need peace instead of our pressure. We need him to be the manager of our life. We are loved by him.
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