Conquering Stress God's Way

 

INTRODUCTION: Our lives have become one continuous stream of activity, communication and information input. Sometimes, two or three of these are occurring at the same time. We deal with duties, expectations, and deadlines, all conflicting with little things that we desire to do on our own. Our mind becomes a jumble. We may even lose the ability to focus on the task at hand because we are dealing with a dozen additional things in our minds as we work. Sleep comes hard and leaves filling like we were wrestling all night. We come to the end of ourselves. How did we get in this fix? What are we to do now? What is God’s way through this mess?

I.                   HOPE THOU IN GOD (Psalm 42:11)

A.      Recognize Your Condition

1.        Cast Down – you have lost the battle

2.        Disquieted – you have lost your peace

B.      Question Your Condition

1.        This is not the natural condition of the saint of God

2.        Why? ; there is a reason you are in such a state

C.      Focus Your Attention on God

1.        This begins by getting your attention off of yourself

2.        Focus on God/Christ as:

a.        Your hope of the future – Colossians 1:27 Your cause for praise

b.       Your health in your soul – Colossians 3:4

II.                TAKE YOUR REQUESTS TO GOD (Philippians 4:6)

A.      Cast Your Care Upon Him – 1Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

B.      Give Him Your List of Needs – “let your requests be made known unto God.”

C.      Bathe Your Prayer in Thanksgiving – “with thanksgiving”

III.             FACE THE STORM WITH FAITH (Mark 4:35-41)

A.      Remember that He has Sent You (v.35)

B.      Remember that He is With You (v.38)

C.      Remember that Fear is Conquered by Faith (v.40)

IV.            RECKON YOURSELF TO BE DEAD

A.      This is Not Your Life (2Corinthians 5:14-15)

B.      The Life you Live is That of Christ (Galatians 2:20)

C.      Yet Our Stubbornness Requires Us to Die Daily (1Corinthians 15:31)

V.               ONE THING IS NEEDFUL (Luke 10:38-42)

A.      We Become Cumbered with Serving (v.40)

B.      We Become Displeased with Others (v.40)

C.      We Fail to Sit and Listen at Jesus Feet (v.39, 42)

CONCLUSION: Are you able to focus on the task at hand? Do you know the peace of God that passeth understanding? Are you able to read God’s word and receive His truth? Can you think about one thing at a time? Can you forget the world and fall to sleep at night? Can you take an hour or a day off without taking it all with you?

 

Send Page To a Friend Join the Learn the Bible mailing list Email: