Make Room to Destress

 Happy Stressful New Year

One of the most exciting days for me is the very first day of a brand new year. There’s just something about a new year that brings fresh vision, a clean slate, and a ‘do-over’ mentality for the many things that crashed and burned in our lives the year before. There always seems to be that defining moment in a year where we throw our hands up and say, “I can’t wait for this year to be over!” Sometimes, a whole year may not go our way, and, to be honest, we’re often ready to hit the ‘do-over’ button on January 2. A new start doesn’t always mean that every domino is going to fall in our favor for 365 days. In fact, we will most likely see many of the same stresses and ‘mess-ups’ that we experienced months before. But, if we change our lifestyle and thought process about stress and get to the root of what causes it, we can live a life fulfilled this year.

Today’s Scripture

“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath.” - Psalm 39:4-5 NLT

Media

Dealing With Stress – Chris Hodges, Lead Pastor of Church of the Highlands

Tip from Steven

We are so busy due to too many choices, social pressures, and the belief that we can do and have it all. But God has a unique design for each of our lives. Our energy is spread thin in many different directions instead of being focused on what is truly most important. As believers, we must get a new perspective and run the race marked out for us. For each of us to run our individual races, we must regularly take inventory, make tough decisions, and focus on what matters the most. When our focus turns to what matters most (God, people, and eternity), we find relief in the rest. In order to focus our time and energy on the right things, we will need to say “no” to some other things. But just know that it is better to get the right things done, rather than more things done.

Study Suggestion

Read Psalm 39:4-5 again, as well as Psalm 90:12. As the scriptures encourage us to do in Psalm 90:12, ask God to show you how to number your days, to recognize how few they are, and to show you how to spend them as you should. Set aside time to regularly take inventory of your life. How are you doing in these particular areas: Faith, Marriage, Family, Work/Job, Ministry, Social, Attitude, Finances, Physical, and Travel? Keep track and write them out at the end of every month so that this time next year, you can watch your progress.