Overcoming Stress...A Meaningful Monday post.

No linkup tonight. Just the musings of a middle-school teacher who needs Jesus in increasing amounts the more I know of Him and love Him.
He has been opening my eyes to His perspective on things, but I'm still a human in the experience and revelation. I still need prayer and to pray frequently. I'm pressed but not crushed. And in the midst of being pressed, the fruit of the Spirit is growing in me and producing fragrance of Jesus and His work within. Someday, I will be completely surrendered to Him.

Days full of stress, I sometimes want to jump forward to that complete surrender day. But then, I realize, He's just a prayer away...really He's not gone, I'm just not looking or not listening because I'm looking at the stressors.
So today I drew a picture. A word picture.

It may be a little blurred, a little shaky, but so are we when we're stressed out. :)

First step when you're stressed?
Stop.

Take a deep breath. Inhale for 4, Hold for 4, Exhale for 4.

Truth.

Focus on what you know to be true. Solidify your response by cutting out emotional reaction.

Reflect.

What could have contributed to the stress? Is it truly directed at you, or is there more under the surface? Are you just an innocent casualty of somebody else's pain or stress?

Express.

Write it out, or if you need to, speak in the situation. (After you've stopped and taken some time to breathe.) Try to be objective and speak truth yourself.

Solve.

If there is a way to right the wrong, here's the place to do it. If you're being wronged, see if you can come up with a solution.

Send away.

If there is not a way to right the wrong, you need to pass it on. Don't hold on to the stress. It will eat you up from the inside out.


Do not worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
How many times have you brought something to God, telling Him how heavy it is, but kept holding it in front of Him instead of giving it to Him?? You are weary from holding out this burden in front of you in His direction, but you're not allowing Him to take it away from you and carry it for you??

Tonight, let's let go. Let it go. He's got this. He knew it was coming. He's more than willing to take it. If you don't have the power to change it, just let go.

One, two, three, four,

Gone.


:)
-Tammy