Some tips for surviving Stress

Last weekend I preached through this text. The sermon’s well over but God doesn’t seem quite finished with his message in my life.

God has a habit of living out scripture in my life, and all week I’ve kept coming back to this text.

…because life is a little stressful lately.

A little about me.

I am prone to worry. I internalize it, and bury it, and while I like to pretend its gone, it rarely goes anywhere. In my fears and anxieties, if I am not very careful, I return to old bad habits of dealing with the stress. Fortunately, I can see the cycle(s) but it wasn’t always that way.

Stress, worry, fear, all lead to sin and death. Maybe not physical death, but soul death.

Chances are if you are breathing you know what I mean…

We were meant for so much more. …like Joy and Peace and Fulfillment.

Anyway, this is the text, and I will follow it up with some tips I see:

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. (Philippians 4:4-9 MSG)

A friend once described to me that in our head all day, most of us have a soundtrack running. Unlike Ally McBeal though, ours plays old tunes of self doubt and self loathing. …things we heard a parent say. …maybe something from a teacher, or a coach, or a mentor. Painful things.

Things like …nobody really loves you…you are going to fail…you’ve never been good at anything…you quit too easy…

Under pressure (think stress) we hear that self talk …and it robs us of joy.

I’ve been using this text (and the following tips) to create a new soundtrack.

1. We were meant to revel in Him

We were meant for something more. Jesus said, “I came to give you joy …complete joy.”

2. We need to take our eyes off ourselves.

When we focus inward, our pain, stress, and fear is all we’ll ever see. When we begin to see/help/love others it gives our struggles and fears perspective. It doesn’t make them go away, but it certainly helps to knock them down a few notches in importance.

3. Prayer is intended to replace worry.

When you pray you place all that stuff at his feet. You put your problems in his hands.

And by the way, you don’t “thank him for what he’s already done.” Nowhere in scripture are you promised you’ll get what you want. Instead… Thanksgiving is prayer’s posture.

Prayer is meant to connect us with him. In that connection we find peace. Paul actually says God gives us his peace. …and last time I checked he doesn’t worry about much.

4. You have to listen carefully for what is true.

Too often we think that soundtrack in our head is truth. It’s not. Thinking on “those things” allows us to hear how false the voices in our head are.

…and yeah, you can find truth and beauty, and God all over. I recommend checking out the next sunset. …but that’s probably only because I like to sleep through sunrises.

5. You have to do something.

You can sit around and pout all you want, but its not really going to help much. A buddy of mine says you get 24 hours. Then it’s time to get moving.

Put what you know to be true into action, and get your behind moving.

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