“STRESS is a 6 Letter Word!”

Written by Nadeen Pagano

7-11-08

So, do I have your attention?  Are you dealing with some major stressors in your life today at this very moment in time?  Chances are, yes!  With the demands of work, relationships, church, home, and finances we’re all stressed at sometime or another.  Most recently, I found those stresses not only hard to bear but they were sucking the joy out of my very being.  Sure, I tried to handle it on my own for a while and as you can imagine that didn’t work.  I began to seek answers from the Lord, His Word, close friends, and family.  Here are some helpful tips I discovered:

1. Keep your mind focused on the Word by memorizing scriptures like Isaiah 61:3, Psalm 30:5, Psalm 23, Psalms 118:1, and any scripture that speaks to your soul.  Don’t just talk about doing it….but really commit to memorizing it!
2. Pray.  Talk to the Lord about whatever matters to you.  He is waiting and listening and will speak to your heart like no other.  Spend some time alone with Him daily.
3. Get proper rest.  That’s easier said than done.
4. Make healthy food choices.
5. Exercise.  Increase your activity level a little each week.
6. Get organized!  There are tons of books to help with that.  Find what works for you.
7. Clean your home!
8. Keep a journal.  This will be a treasure to your loved ones when you are gone.
9. Keep an appreciation journal.  Each day write down 5 things that you are thankful for.  It’s encouraging to see the simple day to day story it tells about your thought life.
10. Laugh………..it is good medicine!
11. Serve others with a smile!
12. Have a forgiving spirit.  You never know when you may need to reap the forgiveness from others for yourself.
13. Start a budget and live within your means.
14. Be kind to others even when they are unkind to you.
15. Get up on time and start with prayer so you can start the day unrushed.

There are many more things that can be added to the list that will promote a stress free life.  Sit down and make a list of your own.  Come up with a plan of action.  Stick to it and watch how God can use you more effectively to accomplish what really matters most in your life.  You don’t have to change overnight, but if you take small steps and stay focused on your new plan you will begin to see progress.  Perhaps you could get started by changing one simple obstacle and one difficult obstacle at a time.  Figure out what works best for you and do it.  It’s not really how you start, but rather that you start today.  Your worthwhile reward will be eliminating that nasty six letter word…..STRESS!  The joy of the Lord will be your newfound strength and those closest to you will reap the benefits as well.