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Good morning. This is Chris Witts Morning devotions, The topic of stresses written about a lot. Everyone gets overwhelmed and stressed out. Sometimes you can read blogs and articles almost everywhere about stress.

The stress management guru, public speaker and the author Donald Tubesing said, “stresses like spice in the right proportion. It enhances the flavour of a dish. Too little produces a dull, bland meal, but too much may choke you”, and I think that’s a pretty good definition.

Two types of stresses

There are two types of stress, good and bad. Obviously, no one wants to have bad stress. Our challenge is to learn how to master stress, not to let it take over our life. A certain amount of stress is good. Why is that? It creates positive energy and helps you focus. It’s possible to live a full and busy life and to avoid too much stress.

A common cause of stress is having too little time to accomplish what you have to do. We create stress for ourselves because we can’t say “no”, and we end up taking on additional responsibilities even when we know we don’t have time for them. There are many reasons people can’t say no they may fear conflict or rejection, so try to understand why you find it difficult to say no.

You have to know and accept your limits. You don’t have to respond with a blunt no learn how to phrase your no in ways that let people down gently. And, of course, talking to others that you trust is a great help. Expressing your feelings to others can help you to reduce the stress levels. So when you feel stressed, take a break and call a friend, and that reassuring voice will help you feel nurtured and help you to understand the problems in their true perspective. If you don’t want to talk to someone in the family or friends, talking to a counsellor may help you. And if talking to someone else is not an option, then give yourself a little pep talk as well. The research suggests that every thought and emotion can release chemicals into our bodies, and the negative self that we do is damaging. Tell yourself that you can deal with the situation. Everything will turn out fine. Make it a priority to do something that you enjoy.

Some people enjoy pursuing hobbies like music art or gardening. Other people find enjoyment in solitary activities, meditation or walking. So don’t give up on your favourite activities because of the stress in your life. Take a break, listen to some relaxing music or pull some weeds out of the garden. That could be just what you need, because that break, however short, will enable you to return to a stressful situation with a different perspective and a renewed state of mind. I believe that through prayer, faith and a bit of wisdom, we can learn to live a balanced life with or without stress. Life, of course, is going to be negative sometimes, so accept it that way.

Hoping in God

Martin Luther King used to say, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step”. Jesus said in John, Chapter 14 in the New Testament, “I am leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart and the peace I give as a gift that the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid”, he said. God is bigger than you are. He knows all about your stress. And the Bible also says “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength”, not relying on others for their approval.

Hoping in God is believing in a supernatural power because he can meet your deepest need. Putting your faith in a loving God means that he will never steer you in the wrong direction. I think that dealing with stress is like meeting storms. They may blow up suddenly, and that’s why you need to develop a solid base for your life. Take to heart the Psalmist’s words: “I cried out to the Lord in my distress, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears”. That 34 verse four.

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Your situation may not change suddenly, but God’s peace will keep you safe day by day. Do you reach out to the trusted friends when life gets a bit too tough? Really, Life is not meant to be lived in isolation. We can lose our way, but a good friend can make all the difference. It’s all about another perspective and a perspective that’s not our own. When we admit we can’t make it on our own, God comes with his divine strength. The Bible says that humility is a great thing that freezes from many anxieties One Peter five verse six says, “humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand that he may lift you up in due time”. It’s all about submitting to God and allowing him to sort out your problems.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, We do admit that stress gets in the way the pressures get us down. And, Lord, I ask for your help to de-stress in the best way, allowing you, Lord, to bring your calm, bring your peace and your blessing in our lives. Today and every day Amen.

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