"STRESS MANAGEMENT...
GOD'S WAY"

With the Thanksgiving holiday now past we find ourselves smack in the middle of the busiest and most stressful season of the year. There are guests for which to prepare, meals to fix, travels to plan, decorations to hang, and gifts to purchase. I have a little problem with this season in that it is supposed to be a calm and quaint attempt at an idea of "Chestnuts Roasting On The Open Fire," "Desk the Halls," "Sleigh Bells," "Here Comes Santa Claus," etc. etc. Instead, it becomes a season of abnormal rushing, preparing and spending (sometimes what one doesn't have) for something that is too soon over. This leaves many stressed to the max with feelings of inadequacy and guilt because they cannot seem to measure up to the requirements put forward in high-pressure TV ads, magazines, newspapers and so on.

Life is much too complicated, and we are much too vulnerable in our humanity to ever escape the inevitable battles with stress. But for Christians, stress does have a positive side. It can be a reminder that, maybe, our lives have drifted away from God; and that we need return to dependence on Him for our strength.

There are many practical disciplines that a Christian can and should exercise to avoid stress. Getting enough rest, a proper diet, regular exercise, and keeping a balance between work, personal time, family time, and holiday time, are all practical ways the Bible teaches us to regulate stress in our lives. However, from a spiritual standpoint, stress relief for a Christian begins and ends with these three basic disciplines:

Prayer - "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Meditation - "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

Praise - Praise and worship will take our minds and thoughts off of self, off our problems, and refocus them on God.

Let's all have a happy, healthy, safe and stress-free holiday season.