Stress Management: Peace that passses understanding

 Stress is something the I face almost daily. I know I am not alone is this area, but I wanted to let you know there is a peace that surpasses all understanding. I found this when doing my devotions and was lead to share.

Through prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving, you can realize a "peace...which surpasses all understanding" and know that this peace "will guard your hearts and minds" {Phil 4:6-7}. Your natural human desire for acceptance, status, and possessions can creat tension within. If you perceive tht your needs or desires are not going to be met, you may experience anxiety and stress. How can you "be anxious for nothing" in the face of such situations?

Managing stress for a Christian begins with understanding yourself and knowing what Scripture teaches about the nature of God. To understand yourself means to know your basic nature, the potential of your strengths, and the limits of your weaknesses. This is no small task, for self-deception can prevent clear descernment.

 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

Jeremiah 17:9-10

Pride and independance can block self -awareness. God Himself must give the self-awareness needed {jere 17:10}. Only  He can show clearly where change is needed and bring about that change in basic human nature.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

An understanding of the nature of God comes from His self - revelation in scriptures and in Christ {John 1:14, 18}. Knowing and accepting the unchanging nature of God produces stability and peace.

 "For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Malachai 3:6

 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Heb 13:6

Understaning the quality of His character inspires trust {I John 1:5}. Much of stress dissipates when you acknowledge your dependence upon God and submit to his leadership, recognizing that you are locked into time and space as finite creatures, while He is infinite, eternal, and omnipresent.

If we don't stop and take the time to listen to Him it's prideful adn because we are telling God things will fall apart because I'm not there. But if we do stop we tell God we trust Him because He is in control ~ Cameron

To learn Humility is to learn contentment in all circumstances. Humility is not in what we own or achieve, but in maintaining a teachable attitude, a willingness to bend to the will of the Father.

Jan Silvious

God Bless,

Saved By Grace Blog