Reduce Your Stress in 2015

Medical science has tried to teach us for years about the connection between stress – especially the self-induced variety – and health. Those who seem to meddle in affairs of which they have no business often experience heart disease, blood pressure disorder, anxiety, gastrointestinal problems, and/or neurological complications. Go figure. Their minds will not allow their bodies to fully rest.

The Bible has this to say about reducing our stress level:

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you. – 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Three very simple practices help reduce stress in our lives, or at least free us from concerns that are not ours to own. First, lead a quiet life. Paul is not referring to verbal quietness, but instead the absence of non-verbal “noise” in our lives. In today’s lingo we could paraphrase him by saying, “Chill Out!” Some people seem to thrive on strife; they look for it and if they cannot find it, they produce it. If your life is like mine, you have enough on your plate without taking on extra-curricular issues. I have a saying I try to use to help me not get my plate too full: “It’s not mine to own.”

A second helpful practice is to mind our own business. I am learning to divide things into three categories: (1) things I cannot control, (2) things I can control but shouldn’t, and (3) things I need to control. We do ourselves harm when we concern ourselves with things that God did not assign to us. Nosey. That’s what the old folks used to call it. I have observed that people who put their nose where it doesn’t belong usually go around with said nose out of joint quite a bit.

Then finally we can unburden ourselves when we work with our hands. A little contextual background is helpful here. In the first century Greek culture to which Paul wrote, only slaves did manual labor. Greeks considered it beneath their dignity to do “grunt” work and hired people to do it for them. Paul’s encouragement then was for folks to humble themselves and actively involve themselves in serving others. When we serve others rather than meddle in their business we gain a more healthy perspective on them . . . and ourselves.

One final note: Paul encourages us to “make it your ambition” to put these practices into play in our lives. Maybe this little reminder will help you:

“Don’t sweat the petty stuff . . . and don’t pet the sweaty stuff!”

Motivation For A Frustrating Day

This blog is for the husband/dad or wife/mom who selfishly gives even when the rest of the family seems ungrateful and oblivious to the effort.

This blog is for the employee who goes above and beyond the call of duty yet the supervisors, bosses, and customers only respond with complaints.

This blog is for the pastor who serves tirelessly only to be opposed at every turn by the very ones he loves and desires to lead.

This blog is also for the church servant who gives precious time to serve the Lord only to hear the criticism of those who sit by and do nothing.

Why bother? Why do it? Why continue giving your best, putting your best foot forward when it doesn’t seem to do any good? There is ONE very good reason – you have an audience of ONE.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. – Colossians 2:23-24

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

Hang in there, weary brother and sister. Don’t let the naysayers distract you. Don’t let the nuisances dishearten you. Don’t let the negative Nellies discourage you.

The only ONE who matters notices what you do and He will make sure you reap what you sow. Thank Him for the ability to “DO” whatever it is you do and look for ways He can gain glory from your effort. Give your effort to Him and know that even if no one else notices you, even if no one else appreciates you, even if no one else affirms you, He does.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. – 1 Corinthians 15:58

The Simplicity of God at Work in Us

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And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6

One of the reasons followers of Jesus lose hope is that we forget that God is at work in and around us.  Specifically God is doing a GOOD work.  What happens to us may not seem good, feel good, or appear good, but because God IS good and because God IS sovereign, what is happening to us IS good.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28

Another reason we lose hope is that we fail to recognize WHERE God is at work.  He has begun a good work IN you, not to you, around you, for you, or about you… IN you.  God is much more interested in our holiness than our happiness, more interested in our character than our comfort.  God is in the process of conforming is to the image of Jesus.

For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. – Romans 8:29

Since God is working IN us, what then becomes our role?

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. – John 15:4

Each day, spend time in God’s Word allowing Him to use that word to interpret our circumstances (not vice-versa) and to transform us into who He wants us to be.  

Yes.  It really is THAT SIMPLE.  Dig into God’s Word, observe our lives, learn how to apply God’s Word to the circumstances of our day, and over time God transforms us into the image of Christ. No shortcuts.  No gimmicks.  God’s Word applied to everyday life.  We do our part, God does His part.  We bear fruit and God receives glory.  I encourage you to start today.  Let the good work begin.

By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. – John 15:8