“Stress is epidemic in the western world. Over two-thirds of office visits to physicians are for stress related illness. Stress is a major contributing factor either directly or indirectly, to coronary artery disease, cancer, respiratory disorders, accidental injuries, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide; the six leading causes of death in the United States.”
I had this great day on Thursday three weeks ago meditating on what the Australians (Aussies) and New Zealand people (Kiwis) say when I was there on vacation visiting my children in 2009, as far as “No worries mate.” They have a less-stress attitude about everything in life compared to Americans who live in the fast lane. Many Europeans go on 3-month vacations. I was thinking about how Jesus said, “Don’t take a thought….don’t even take the thought to worry.” In other words, to trust the Lord like the Bible says:
I’ve been a person that thrived on stress up until I lost my husband un-expectantly and now I’ve been looking for ways to reduce it in my life.
I know what it is to have a lot of stress with raising seven teenagers in my life, including two step-children full time. At the same time I worked a full-time job and attended college part-time taking computer programming and animation classes. Some stress have been circumstances in my life such as having two miscarriages, losing two jobs to re-engineering, going through a divorce, a daughter shot in a drive-by shooting, losing three close family members to cancer and then losing my husband suddenly in front of me. That induced post-traumatic stress syndrome in my life.
Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought of the things for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:34
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:27
That whole day I was meditating on not having a worry, and then one of my daughters gave me some bad news that evening. Then the next day, I had another wonderful day and I had this thought in my mind at noon time on my lunch break, “This day is too good to be true something will happen.” In about an hour, I got a phone call from another daughter of some bad news. I heard this scripture lately and I thought it was relevant. I took the bad news to God in prayer.
He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7
For the widow in famine with her son, she believed she was going to eat her last cake and oil and die and Elijah said --- “do not be afraid.” Elijah and Jesus said not to take fear. (As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread--only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it--and die. Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.) and Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32
Doubting Thomas was a little negative as far as when Jesus said let’s go to Lazarus after he died.
Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." John 11:16
I like what this one faith minister wife said “When I am dead, I will have told you that I was sick.” Standing on God’s word to me is not denying that the circumstances exist. I thought there was a ball and chain called my feelings in life and since I’ve not been a moody person, but very even keel in life that I had a good control over my feelings, but that is not what ball and chain the enemy likes to pull only. I heard this song, “Feelings come and feelings go, but feelings are deceiving, I’ll put my trust in the word of God, for nothing is worth believing.” So I will go to a Bible study or social whether I feel like it or not, it has nothing to do with what I feel like doing anymore.
But what I found it’s not only my feelings to do something that get attacked to stop me from doing an event, the enemy pulls on my circumstances. I’ve learned to give thanks in all negative circumstances.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:18
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:8
It is what I’ve seen with other widows too. Let’s heap up the car and house maintenance, have somebody’s tire bounce across the road and hit your car, have a widow’s purse stolen twice in the office, people that say rude comments or acting rude when they come to my single socials or boating events, do rude things without saying “excuse me,” and then put grief on those of us with spousal loss because we did not go through these negative circumstances in the past. It’s to keep us “downtrodden” in life and the enemy will use events and all the people he can to keep the downtrodden ----down and trodden over.
Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland. Jeremiah 12:10
For a little while your people possessed your holy place, but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary. Isaiah 63:18
They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Luke 21:24
The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. Isaiah 41:17
To be an “overcomer” or more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)---what is an overcomer? We are overcoming something to be an overcomer. Paul certainly had enough circumstances in his life to overcome. Being an overcomer is overcoming bad circumstances.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
"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." John 16:33
What is your mountain? Worry, relationship problems, people's hard hearts, job difficulties, loneliness, depression, teenage rebellion, sickness, fear, financial trouble, car problems, maintenance on your house? Your mountain today may not be the same mountain tomorrow. Speak to your mountain to be moved and cast out of your life (Mark 11:23-24).
When I first became a Christian, I had some serious problems and the Lord gave me this scripture about my circumstances:
“It’s not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit says the Lord.” Zech 4:6
…this mountain will be removed!
God’s spirit is working on our behalf.
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