STRESS LESS AND BE BLESSED Luke 21:34 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with . . . cares of this life . . . KJV Luke 21:34 34 But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with . . . worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose; AMP John 16:33 33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (NIV) Acts 14:22 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God, they said. (NIV) è STRESS - A mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression. A state of extreme difficulty, pressure, or strain. There are five underlying causes to stress; 1) Fear (2) Hate (3) Guilt (4) Inferiority (5) Insecurity Characteristics that cause people to stress; 1) Supersensitive to criticism. (2) Excessive awareness of our weaknesses. (3) Abnormal pride in achievements. (4) An unattainable ambition beyond our abilities. (5) A jealousy of the success of others. 6) Greed and covetousness. STRESS FACTS: 1) Many are destroyed by pressure, cares, and the stress of life. 2) Stress can cause emotional and physical pain, disease, heart attacks, divorce, etc. . . . 3) Stress can be defeated and used for good. 4) Stress will defeat you or you will defeat it and gain strength by it. STRESS CAN BRING POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE RESULTS. Negative - Goliath was Saul’s DEFEAT. Positive - The same giant was David’s VICTORY. 1 Sam 17:10-11 10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. (NKJ) DAVID OVERCAME GIANT SIZE STRESS BY; 1) Not getting INVOLVED with the stress and fear of others. 1 Sam 17:32 32 Dont worry about a thing, David told him. Ill take care of this Philistine! 2) Remembering his COVENANT with God. 1 Sam 17:26 26 . . . For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? (NKJ) 3) Rehearsing his past VICTORIES in God. 1 Sam 17:34-36 34 But David said to Saul, Your servant used to keep his fathers sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God. (NKJ) 4) Using his STRENGHTS and ABILITIES (not Saul’s). 1 Sam 17:38-40 38 Then Saul gave David his own armor-- a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. I can hardly move! he exclaimed, and took them off again. 40 Then he picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them in his shepherds bag and, armed only with his shepherds staff and sling, started across to Goliath. (TLB) 5) Confessing his VICTORIES before they happened. 1 Sam 17:37, 46-47 37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. Saul 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and Ill strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORDs, and he will give all of you into our hands. (NIV)
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 01:36:47 +0000
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