Daily Bible Lessons for You #1 ~ Stress
To effectively overcome stress, you need to think about your physical health, the way you interact with others, and your goals and priorities in life...that is, what you consider to be truly important.
This is a personal review of some practical principles from the Bible that can help you to deal better with and overcome stress, maybe perhaps even reduce it.
Try to Live One Day at a Time
Matthew 6:34 (NLT) ~ "Never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties."
Daily anxieties are a part of life but do not increase today's anxieties by adding tomorrow's to them. Make sense? Try to live one day at a time. Stress can cause anxiety. So try this:
#1 Recognize that some stress might inevitable. Fretting over things you prevent or control increases your stress.
#2 Understand that quite often things do not turn out the way we may fear they will.
Set Reasonable Standards
James 3:17 (NLT) ~ "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical."
Do not become a perfectionist. Avoid setting unrealistically high standards for yourself or others. So try this:
#1 Be modest, set reasonable standards, and know both your limitations and those of others. When you do this, you will reduce stress all around and even encourage greater success.
#2 Keep a sense of humor. When you laugh, even when something goes wrong, you relieve tension and brighten your mood.
Know What Stresses You
Proverbs 17:27 (NLT) ~ "A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a discerning man will remain calm."
Negative emotions can cloud clear thinking, so try to stay calm. So try this:
#1 Identify what stresses you, and note your response. For example, when you feel stressed, note your thoughts, feelings, and behavior, perhaps even making a record of them. By becoming more aware of your response to stress, you may be able to deal with it more effectively.
#2 Think of ways to eliminate stressful things from your life. If that is unrealistic, look for ways to reduce their impact, perhaps by managing your tasks or time more efficiently.
#3 Try to see things in a different light. What stresses you may not stress someone else. The difference may be in viewpoint.
Consider three suggestions:
▪️ Do not be quick to assume bad motives. A person may cut ahead of you in a line. If you attribute his act to rudeness, you may become upset. Instead, why not assume that his motive was good? You might be right!
▪️ See the positive side of a situation. A long wait at a doctor's office or an airport is easier to bear if you use the time to do some reading or catch up on work or play a game.
▪️ Keep the big picture in mind. Ask yourself, 'Will this problem be a big issue tomorrow or next week?' Distinguish between minor or short-term issues and more serious ones.
This is a personal review of some practical principles from the Bible that can help you to deal better with and overcome stress, maybe perhaps even reduce it.
Try to Live One Day at a Time
Matthew 6:34 (NLT) ~ "Never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties."
Daily anxieties are a part of life but do not increase today's anxieties by adding tomorrow's to them. Make sense? Try to live one day at a time. Stress can cause anxiety. So try this:
#1 Recognize that some stress might inevitable. Fretting over things you prevent or control increases your stress.
#2 Understand that quite often things do not turn out the way we may fear they will.
Set Reasonable Standards
James 3:17 (NLT) ~ "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical."
Do not become a perfectionist. Avoid setting unrealistically high standards for yourself or others. So try this:
#1 Be modest, set reasonable standards, and know both your limitations and those of others. When you do this, you will reduce stress all around and even encourage greater success.
#2 Keep a sense of humor. When you laugh, even when something goes wrong, you relieve tension and brighten your mood.
Know What Stresses You
Proverbs 17:27 (NLT) ~ "A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a discerning man will remain calm."
Negative emotions can cloud clear thinking, so try to stay calm. So try this:
#1 Identify what stresses you, and note your response. For example, when you feel stressed, note your thoughts, feelings, and behavior, perhaps even making a record of them. By becoming more aware of your response to stress, you may be able to deal with it more effectively.
#2 Think of ways to eliminate stressful things from your life. If that is unrealistic, look for ways to reduce their impact, perhaps by managing your tasks or time more efficiently.
#3 Try to see things in a different light. What stresses you may not stress someone else. The difference may be in viewpoint.
Consider three suggestions:
▪️ Do not be quick to assume bad motives. A person may cut ahead of you in a line. If you attribute his act to rudeness, you may become upset. Instead, why not assume that his motive was good? You might be right!
▪️ See the positive side of a situation. A long wait at a doctor's office or an airport is easier to bear if you use the time to do some reading or catch up on work or play a game.
▪️ Keep the big picture in mind. Ask yourself, 'Will this problem be a big issue tomorrow or next week?' Distinguish between minor or short-term issues and more serious ones.
26-30, M
