Morning Devotional
September  30, 2005
"Ouch!" (Part 6)     
    by Don Emmitte

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. (Philippians 4:13 NLT).

 

Today’s the last installment in our series dealing with the trials of life. A little review might be helpful.

 

§         First, trials are a normal part of life in a fallen world. You’re going to have them if you are alive.

§         Second, trials are not rooted in punishment for wrongdoing. God is not responsible for the evil that comes into our lives. There are consequences to poor decisions, but even then God gives us a way to be victorious through them.

§         Third, God’s desire for us is that we live above our trials and experience a positive life of joy and peace.

§         Last, the trials we face are not the end of our lives. They are temporary and will pass.

 

With those principles in mind, here are some real suggestions to help you in the midst of the trial you are facing.

 

§         Exercise your faith. Peace of mind comes to those who trust in God's power to lessen life's burdens through prayer.

§         Take some time off. I am not suggesting that you take a vacation necessarily, merely that you spend a few minutes alone each day to break the routine. This helps ease stress and gives you a better perspective of what's around you. Set aside time during the week for recreation, hobbies, or exercise. Regular exercise is an excellent way to reduce stress. Physical fitness gives you a feeling of well being by relieving tension and increasing productivity.

§         Consciously think positively. Having a positive attitude will help you assert yourself and feel more in control. You waste energy if you constantly criticize yourself or set unrealistic goals. Negative thoughts generally produce negative results. Instead of saying, "I can't," practice saying, "I can." You'll be surprised how much more you can accomplish. Positive self-talk is healing. It finds its source in the Holy Spirit. Trust it.

§         Laugh more. Laughter can be one of the best medicines for stress. Being able to laugh at yourself and the world can break tension and give you some relief from stress.

§         Talk to others. Suffering in silence only increases the stress you build up inside. Talk over your feelings and concerns with your family, a friend, counselor, preacher, or health professional. "Thinking out loud" like this not only relieves stress, but may also shed new light on your problems. Learn to listen and consider suggestions with an open mind.

§         Make decisions about your present condition. Most people have no idea how much stress they create for themselves by resisting change. They wait, hoping a situation will go back to the way it was. Why wait when you have choices and could make a decision? When it's time to change old habits and move forward, make your own change for the better.

 

Above all, realize that you CAN do everything through Christ. He is your strength!