10 Ways for Christians to Overcome Worry.
655 views
6 Ways to Release Stress.
We are currently living in a capitalist society where money and power rule. Therefore, many of us have become workaholics and often overlook signs of tiredness in order to stay on track. I am not saying that people should stop working hard to achieve their goals. However, there is a slight problem we do not know how to manage our stress, which is definitely not a good thing!
Christians are not immune to worry. Thankfully, we have the tools needed to fight against it. I’ve found the following tips helpful when worry begins to invade my thoughts, robbing me of peace.
- Listen to praise and worship music. Praise and worship music can help drown out the voice of worry. Listening to it is a great way to bring your focus off of your problems and onto God. Pick music that is upbeat and encouraging and don’t be afraid to crank it up!
- Read Scriptures on worry. The Bible addresses the subject of worry, and in fact commands us not to worry. If you don’t know which verses cover this topic, use a concordance to find some. The words you’ll want to look up in your concordance are fear, worry, hope, peace, etc.
- Memorize Scriptures on worry. Once you’ve found verses that speak to your heart about worry, begin to commit those verses to memory. That way, when worry begins to sneak up on you, you can immediately fight against it with the Scriptures already hidden in your heart and mind.
- Pray, committing all of your worries to God. When we pray, amazing things happen. First of all, we invite God into the situation we are worried about, and that means that we’re not walking through the situation alone. Not only will He help you, knowing He is with you will give you peace, which will immediately lessen your worries.
- Write in your journal about your worries. Sometimes when we write down our worries we can see more clearly that we are not thinking objectively. Other times a possible solution to a problem might emerge as you write. If nothing else, writing our worries can release them from our minds, especially when you use your pen to form a prayer, releasing your worries to the Lord.
- Discuss your worries with a friend. Sometimes friends can help us to see things more objectively. Just voicing your concerns to someone else who can share the burden will make you feel less overwhelmed. Your friend may also be able to help you to see things more objectively. Make sure your friend is one who understands life from a biblical perspective.
- Remind yourself that God is in control. Scripture states that if God is for us, no one can be against us. Knowing that our loving, gracious Father controls all things will help you rest and bring peace to your heart.
- If there is something reasonable you can do to reduce worry, do so. Sometimes we are worried for no reason, but other times there are things we need to do to alleviate the worry. For instance, if you are worried that the electricity is going to be cut off because you haven’t paid your bill, call the electric company to see if there is something you can work out with them until you have the money to pay them.
- Develop an attitude of praise. It’s almost impossible for praise and worry to happen simultaneously so when you feel worry coming on, begin to praise the Lord. Say things out loud such as, “God, I praise you for your goodness. I praise you that you are in control and that you love me and want only good things for me. I praise you that you control the wind and the sea and that this problem facing me is nothing compared to your power and might.”
- Remind yourself of God’s protection and provision in the past. One of the best ways to combat worry is to remember God’s faithfulness in your life. To help you do this more effectively, keep a journal where you write down stories of God’s goodness, care, provision, protection, etc. Reading it when you are worried will increase your faith and decrease your fear.
Stress has been linked to mental/emotional (depression, anxiety, and anger) and physical illnesses (weakens the immune system). Therefore, it is more than important that you constantly work on reducing your stress level in order to maintain your overall health. The bottom line is, if we are not healthy there is no money or power that will make things better. So, take care of yourself. Below, I have added six stress releasing tips.
Exercise: even if you go for a walk for 15-25 minutes four days a week it will help your body to get rid of adrenaline and produce endorphins (a natural tranquilizer). Not to mention you will not only feel better, you will also look the part.
Yoga: Many ramble that practicing yoga is the best way to manage or release stress. It focuses on breathing techniques, exercises, connecting with the universe on a spiritual and mental level. If this option seems interesting to you I suggest you do some research in order to learn the principles and decide if it is for you.
Stretch: People often stretch before and after a workout. However, learning stretching and flexing exercises to use as a way to relieve tension on many different areas of the body can help a great deal.
Massage: We all know how massages can help us relax and release tension. Prices start around $40 for 30 minutes; it all depends on what extra relaxation techniques you would like to add to the massage such as aromatherapy, oils, etc. There are also different types of massages so this will also affect the price. I actually found a therapist that charges $33 for a 30 minute session. It sounds pretty good to me. We waste money in so many different ways so investing on a massage once in a while will not kill our pockets.
Laugh it off: Rent a funny movie and laugh out loud. Go out with friends or host gatherings. Tell everyone to bring a platter. Remember the key is to release tension not, add to it. Use paper plates and plastic cups to reduce the amount of work.
Take a break - Take time to relax, sleep, and maybe even take a vacation if you can. Your body does not only need it; you deserve it… [read more]
If you liked this tutorial, add us to:
Digg.com | Netscape.com | Del.icio.us | Reddit.com | Stumbleupon.com | Google.com | Yahoo.com
Related posts:
- No related posts found.