Dear Friends….
Tis the Season…to be Stressed (I mean Jolly)!
Are you feeling more stressed than blessed this season? What a perfect opportunity to get tips from the first great psychologist…Jesus. That’s right. He invented stress management.
While here on earth, Jesus maintained peace in many practical ways and we can learn a lot from Him.
1. He started out His day in prayer and fellowship with God.
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35
2. He got His daily agenda and direction from His Father.
“So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” John 5:19
3. He stayed focus on what was important and not what was urgently trying to get His attention.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Luke 19:5
4. He put relationship first.
“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” John 14:14
5. He was not swayed by others opinions.
“Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” Mark 12:14
6. He was not in a hurry.
“So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days” John 11:6
7. He enlisted help from others and never travelled alone.
“He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases… and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.” Luke 8:1-3
8. He allowed other’s to take care of Him.
“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair.” John 12:3
9. He knew His purpose.
“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Luke 9:21-22
10. He said ‘no’.
“Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” Mark 1:37-38
These are a few ways Jesus managed stress. I would tell you more, but I’ve got to run….:-) Things to do. Ha Ha.
Seriously, His simple is profound. How about when you feel stressed, you follow His lead. Watch and be amazed at how His peace starts to invade your soul as you model after Him. It really will make a difference in your life.
“Don’t’ worry about anything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
May God’s peace be with you!
Blessings~ Angel