1. Worldly Ideas (not all bad provided not in conflict with
Bible).
Stress can best be
described as emotional, physical or mental tension. We feel it in
our bodies and brains. Others may notice changes in how we act.
Stress is a healthy part of the human experience but can get out of
hand. Difficulties that overwhelm us at
work, school, family life, finances,
relationships, or our own health issues can trigger an unpleasant
stress response. Changes related to COVID,
economics, travel
restrictions, increasing product demand, quarantining, friends and
family being sick, school, work, routine, and
health in the past year have resulted in high stress levels for
many in our communities.
Common signs of stress
include irritability, anxiety, headaches, insomnia, fatigue, body
aches, lack of goals, and poor decision making. Long term stress
without adequate relief can cause health difficulties, including
high blood pressure or exacerbation of preexisting concerns.
Substance use and disordered eating patterns can increase during
times of stress. Fortunately, there are several things you
can do to help. ..
-
When you notice
signs of stress, practice deep breathing. An easy and effective
technique is 4/4/4/4- breathe in, hold with lungs full, breathe
out, hold with lungs empty- do each to a count of
4.
-
Another technique
is visualization. Visualize a calming scene. You may have a place
picked out, or you can use a variety found online. Imagine as much
detail as you can.
-
Exercise creates
brain chemicals that lift our mood and lower stress levels. While a
run is nice, don't forget that even a short stroll or a 3 min
stretch is more helpful than nothing.
-
Talk with others-
even if you don't want to spill the tea, simply making small talk
can be soothing. Connection keeps us out of fight/flight
mode.
-
Research has
shown being outside has a positive effect on mental health. Even 5
mins is beneficial- spend as much as you can. Take a break
outside.
2. Honor the
Sabbath
Scriptures related to
this
Ex 16:26 "Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh
day, the Sabbath, there will be none.”"
Ex 20:8 "“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it
holy."
Ex 20:10-11 - "but the seventh
day is the Sabbath of
the Lord your God. In it you shall do
no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male
servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your
stranger who is within your
gates. For in six days
the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all
that is in them, and rested the seventh day.
Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed
it"
Ex 31:16-17 NKJV - “Therefore
the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the
Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It
is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever;
for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the
seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”
Lev 16:31
"It is a sabbath of solemn rest for
you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a
statute forever."
Lev 25:4 "but in the seventh
year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the
land, a sabbath to the Lord. You shall neither sow
your field nor prune your vineyard."
Lev 25:8 Year or Jubilee "And
you shall count seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven
times seven years; and the time of the seven sabbaths of years
shall be to you forty-nine years."
155 results on search term
"sabbath" in NKJV
Jesus corrected some abuses
by the Pharisees who had lost the spirit of the law, He said that
He was lord of the Sabbath, and that it was OK to do good on the
Sabbath, like healing. He also said that the Sabbath was for
man, man was not for the Sabbath.
In Romans Paul spoke of
Gentiles being grafted in.
Since God said this command to
honor the sabbath was a perpetual covenant, a statute forever, and
we are grafted in, I believe God is commanding us today to honor
the sabbath. I personally don't agree with the change from
Saturday to Sunday and don't see a justification for that in
scripture, but my main point here is that one way, God's way, to
handle stress and the pressures of work is to honor the Sabbath and
take one day a week where you do no work.
3. Primarily think on God and
His Word.
Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your
mouth, but you shall meditate in
it day and night, that you may observe to do
according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your
way prosperous, and then you will have good
success."
Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed
is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the
[a]ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight
is in the law of
the Lord,
And in His law he
[b]meditates
day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the
[c]rivers of
water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper."
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 -
NKJV
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in
God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every
high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of
Christ,
Col 3:2 NKJV Set your mind on things above, not on things on
the earth.
Phil 4:8 NKJV “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble, whatever things
are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things
are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there
is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on
these things.
Meditate - I understand the meaning is similar to the action
of a cow chewing the cud. a cow has 4 stomachs. They chew
grass, swallow, spit it back up, chew, swallow, spit it back up,
etc.
4. Trust in Him (Snuggling up
to God)
Matt 11:28-30 NKJV "28 Come to Me,
all
you who labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from
Me, for I am
[f]gentle
and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. 30 For My yoke
is easy and My
burden is light.”"
Prov 3:5-6 NKJV "Trust in
the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall [a]direct
your paths."
Ex 33:17 - So the Lord said to
Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for
you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”
John 10:11 "“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives
His life for the sheep."
John 10:2-4 "But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of
the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep
hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads
them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes
before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his
voice"
Luke 12:6 " “Are not five sparrows sold for
two
[b]copper
coins? And not one of them is forgotten before
God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many
sparrows."
Rev 2:17 "“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the
hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on
the stone a new name written which no one knows
except him who receives it.” "
Deut 31:8 "And the Lord, He is the One
who goes before you. He will be with you, He will
not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor
be dismayed.”"
1 Peter 5:7 "casting all your care upon Him, for
He cares for you."
5. Do Battle with What
You Don't See
Eph 6:12 "For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the
heavenly places."
Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O
God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in
me,
And lead me in the way everlasting."
from “Liberating the Bruised” by Dr Joe Albright
Morning prayer “Lord, I submit to you my will; my rights; my
life; my family; my ministry; my finances; my needs; my desires; my
direction; and my flesh. ‘Lord, search me, try me, see if there be
any wicked way in me.’ Remove those things that need to be removed
from my life and bring into my life those things that need to be
brought in. For, I confess to you that you are all I have and all I
want and all I need.
P92-be an iconoclast "a person who attacks settled beliefs or
institutions"-if they don't align with God's word, not only is that
displeasing to God, but it can be a huge source of stress for you
that you weren't even aware of
6. Connect with friends and mentors - avoid isolation
Prov 27:10 "Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s
friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your
calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than
a brother far away."