Word for Today, Wed, 16 Jun 2004: Setting Priorities Help Manage Stress
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Here is a message from Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven
Life. He writes about seven practical ways to manage stress.
I'd like to highlight the fact that to realize that we cannot
handle our lives on our own is a major step in our personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
____________________________________________________________
THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE Daily Devotional
June 16, 2004
Seven secrets of stress management
by Rick Warren
"Then Jesus said, 'Let's get away from the crowds for a while and
rest.' There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and
his apostles didn't even have time to eat."
(Mark 6:31, NLT)
Do you ever feel like your life and schedule is out of control?
You can't eliminate stress, but you can manage it. Jesus Christ
experienced enormous stress and pressure, yet it didn't seem to
disturb his peace of mind. In spite of opposition, constant
demands, and little privacy, his life reflected a calm sense of
balance.
What was his secret? A closer look at his lifestyle reveals
seven key "stressbusters":
Identification: Know who you are (John 8:12) - Eighteen times
Jesus publicly defined himself. There was no doubt in his mind
as to who he was. If you're unsure of your identity, you'll
allow others to pressure you into their molds. Trying to be
someone you're not causes stress!
Dedication: Know who you want to please (John 5:30) - You can't
please everyone. Even God can't! Just about the time you get
Crowd A happy, Crowd B will get upset with you. Jesus never let
the fear of rejection manipulate him. No one can pressure you
without your permission.
Organization: Set clear goals (John 8:14) - Jesus said, "I know
where I came from and where I am going." Preparation prevents
pressure but procrastination produces it. You work by either
priorities or pressures.
Concentration: Focus on one thing at a time (Luke 4:42-44) - You
can't chase two rabbits at the same time! Jesus knew how to
handle interruptions without being distracted from his primary
goal.
Delegation: Don't try to do everything yourself (Mark 3:14) - We
get tense when we feel it all depends on us. Jesus enlisted 12
disciples. Don't allow perfectionism, or the fear that others
may do a better job, keep you from involving others in the task.
Meditation: Make a habit of prayer (Mark 1:35) - No matter how
busy Jesus got, he found time to get alone to pray everyday. A
daily "Quiet Time" is a great stress decompression chamber. Use
this time to talk to God about your pressures and problems,
evaluate your priorities, and discover the rules for successful
living by reading the Bible.
Relaxation: Take time to enjoy life (Mark 6:30-31) - Balance is
the key to stress management. Work must be balanced with fun and
worship.
Point to ponder: Stress is inevitable - but you can still have
peace of mind.
Verse: "Then Jesus said, 'Let's get away from the crowds for a
while and rest.' There were so many people coming and going that
Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat." (Mark 6:31,
NLT)
What will you do about it: For the next week, concentrate on this
list of seven stress-busters. Take one a day, read the
corresponding scripture, and start to incorporate those habits
into your life.
Prayer: Ask God to strengthen you and teach you to handle the
stresses that come your way.
-PDL.com-
Rick Warren is the author of The Purpose-Driven Life and pastor
of Saddleback Church in California.
=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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