I want to give you a five-step plan
to help avoid Holiday stress. Paul was writing about living a joyful,
spiritual life in this passage, and if we will do so, we will remove
stress from our lives and be more content.
First step is Rejoice. Choose to be a joyful, upbeat, positive, hopeful person. See the glass half-full instead of half-empty. Remember, joy isn't the absence of pain, but the presence of the Lord.
Second step is Pray Continually. If we will live our lives in a continuous dialog with God, we will keep everything else in perspective. Micah 6:8 tells us that God wants us to walk with him. Prayer is how we do that.
Third: Always be Thankful. Paul says, "for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I believe Paul is saying to be thankful in all circumstances because whatever circumstance you are in is God's will for you. In other words, God is always up to something good and we must trust that he knows what he is doing and is always at work in your life.
Fourth step: Don't Smother the Spirit. Don't resist God's influence in your life. Live by faith and not by sight. Know the Word and do what it says. Jesus says you are wise if you hear his words and put them into practice. Obedience to God's Word will reduce stress.
Fifth: Avoid Every Kind of Evil. How much stress do we bring into our lives when we fall into sin? Evil influences are all around, tempting us. But remember, sin always takes us farther than we wanted to go, keeps us longer than we wanted to stay, and costs us more than we wanted to pay. Jesus said to be "shrewd as snakes, but innocent as doves." We will live joyful, less stressful lives if we will live wholesome, godly lives, full of grace and full of the Spirit.
First step is Rejoice. Choose to be a joyful, upbeat, positive, hopeful person. See the glass half-full instead of half-empty. Remember, joy isn't the absence of pain, but the presence of the Lord.
Second step is Pray Continually. If we will live our lives in a continuous dialog with God, we will keep everything else in perspective. Micah 6:8 tells us that God wants us to walk with him. Prayer is how we do that.
Third: Always be Thankful. Paul says, "for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I believe Paul is saying to be thankful in all circumstances because whatever circumstance you are in is God's will for you. In other words, God is always up to something good and we must trust that he knows what he is doing and is always at work in your life.
Fourth step: Don't Smother the Spirit. Don't resist God's influence in your life. Live by faith and not by sight. Know the Word and do what it says. Jesus says you are wise if you hear his words and put them into practice. Obedience to God's Word will reduce stress.
Fifth: Avoid Every Kind of Evil. How much stress do we bring into our lives when we fall into sin? Evil influences are all around, tempting us. But remember, sin always takes us farther than we wanted to go, keeps us longer than we wanted to stay, and costs us more than we wanted to pay. Jesus said to be "shrewd as snakes, but innocent as doves." We will live joyful, less stressful lives if we will live wholesome, godly lives, full of grace and full of the Spirit.
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