|
A Biblical Method Of Handling Stress
by Greg Baker There are many different ways to reduce stress. This is but a single method among many. But if you take heed of it, it can help you. Step 1 - Be of a Single Mind A double minded man is unstable! One reason why we have so many problems is because we serve too many masters. When you have two bosses ordering you around that brings stress...because you must decide against one and the question is-which one? So often a person wants to please, say, his wife and himself at the same time. This brings stress when the two are not compatible. Another example would be when you must decide between your career and your family. It is because we want to please two masters (or more) that we bring stress into our life. The answer is simple. Be of a single mind. You must choose wisely, and I believe, you must choose according to principle, not desire. Serve one master. For anyone that is trying to please more than one person or thing, it divides your loyalty and often forces you to struggle in deciding which one to please first. Marriages suffer because of this. Christians struggle with pleasing God or pleasing themselves--and the average person wishes to do both. I've seen men beaten down with stress because he has gotten involved with more than one woman, and the stress of pleasing both is eating him up. You can call this a conflict of interest. It happens a lot. When face with a conflict of interest, go to step two. Step 2 - Change Your Perspective on Your Needs One of the reasons that we tend to serve two masters is because we often have the wrong ideas about what is important in our lives. Our priorities get all out of whack. Life isn't things. Life is relationships. In Matthew 6:25-30 we find several reprimands about the way we think. For example: Mat 6:25 - ...is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Mat 6:26 -...are ye not much better than they? (the fowls of the air) Mat 6:27 - Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? Mat 6:28 - 30 -... Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? The problem is that we don't have the right perspective on our problems. We need to realize what is really important, and as important as these other things are to us. I'd rather have great character than a new wardrobe. And as a Christian, I'd rather have a steady walk with God than a steady diet. But I'd rather have a steady diet than a big screen TV. People-relationships-ought to take precedent in our thinking over things. I believe that relationships are the source of our joy, not things. All though possessions can give you a measure of happiness, it is unsatisfactory. Get your thinking right and you'll be able to make better decisions. You'll reduce your stress. Step 3 - Have faith in God Some who may read this are not Christians. You may balk at this. But consider this: having something to believe in that is greater than yourself always reduces the amount of pressure that you carry. If, for example, you had to win a basketball game, but you could chose any four other players in the world, you'd probably chose the best. With these star athletes that you put so much faith in, your burden and stress about winning the game is significantly reduced. For the Christian, we have faith in a BIG God. I can't recount the number of times God has worked miracles on my behalf. My faith in Him is unwavering. It allows me to face any day, any circumstance, and carry any burden. If you have a big God, you will have something to fall back on. Remember, faith isn't the absence of doubt. It is trusting despite your doubts. Where's your faith? Trusting God can be one of the greatest stress handlers ever. God wants to do things for us, He wants to help us. All we have to do is put a little bit of faith into it. If you trust no one but yourself, you have undoubtedly discovered by now that you aren't perfect, that you fall short in many areas, and that you can't do everything. So if you figure on doing everything yourself, you probably labour under tremendous stress. This is why having a God is so wonderful. RESULTS: The wonderful results from having only a single mind are as follows: God who loves you will take care of you and add to you those things that you so desperately think you need. Don't forget...But my God shall supply all your need...(Philp 4:19, Mat 6:33). You will have singleness of propose. You won't feel divided, confused about which direction to take. God will not give you the spirit of fear, but the spirit of love, of power and of a SOUND MIND! (2 Tim 1:7). Clear thinking comes about as a result of knowing your priorities and having something greater than yourself to believe in. More at: http://articles.christianbaptists.com Or http://www.fitlyspoken.org for books on communication and social skills in relationships! Specifically, our books 'Fitly Spoken' and 'Restoring a Fallen Christian'. For editing and ghostwriting services: http://www.affordablechristianediting.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |