This is a guest blog post from Gracezyl Blanco. She gives some amazing advice we all need to implement in our lives. Don’t leave it as platitudes. Make sure you figure out how it can work in your life….
Yes, we all admit that our daily modern lives are very fast-paced and are both mentally and physically draining. In other words, it can get really STRESSFUL. Nowadays, we do everything in a hurry- we just grab breakfast with instant or ready-made pancakes/waffles and coffee, get inside the car with breakfast still at hand and drive on towards the work place. After work, there’s not much energy and time left to make a decent homemade meal so we just buy meals from the nearest fast-food restaurant, eat it and sleep. On the next day, we are bound to repeat the same activities.
Most of our lives are merely a work-home or school-home cycle with almost all our hours devoted to work or studying. I’m not saying that working and studying are bad, but overdoing it can lead to stress and eventually, it will take over our lives. Naturally, we work and study to be able to afford a decent and comfortable lifestyle in the near future. We need to invest in both if we want to buy the stuff we want or need and afford the little luxuries we want to experience in life. More so, we need to earn to support our families soon enough.
However, as a modern Christian, it is never an excuse to forget our duties to the Lord just because we are too busy with our own lives. Remember, everything is not in place (your work, your family and your achievements) if it weren’t because of Him.
Additionally, let us remember what is written in Luke 16:13- No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love theother, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Below are 7 ways to live a stress-free Christian life. They are just simple reminders for us to pause and contemplate what the Lord has done for our lives and appreciate Him for everything He provided.
1.) Time for a time out.
2 Timothy 3:16- All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.
Weekends are great days to spend some time with the family. Aside from that, it is also the best time to attend and devote an hour or two on attending a Church service. The Lord devotes all His time for us, why shouldn’t we? Learning about His love and words will deeply strengthen family ties too!
2.) Give Thanks!
1 Thessalonians 5:18- Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Even after a long and tiring day, think about the things you are grateful of. Your family, your job, the pizza treat from your boss and that colleague who helped you out on a certain task. Realizing how blessed you are will lessen the stress and you’ll find yourself more happy and eager about your day to day activities.
3.) Don’t hold grudges.
Matthew 5:43-48- You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?
Holding any kind of grudge or hatred is actually emotionally stressful. As humans, it is natural for us to feel angry when someone has done something really wrong on us. Sometimes, we go as far as taking revenge just to make the anger and frustration worth it, but is revenge really worth it? The best thing to do is to keep your ease, let go of the pain and anger and just let God deal with it. That way, you’ll be able to live a stress-free and lighter life.
4.) Offer everything to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58- Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
In whatever you do, remember that it’s not just for self-fulfilment but it is also for the people you love and care for the most- your family, your friends and God of course!
5.) Trust in His plans.
Jeremiah 29:11- “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Sometimes, God’s plans for us are not in accordance to our own plans and this can cause us distress especially if we are working so hard for it but the end result is still negative. However, we should not be discouraged, everything happens for a reason. Just trust that God has better plans for us than what we have expected, and it would be less stressful for you!
6.) Make a confession.
James 5:16- Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Sins and other troubles are heavy on the heart and mind especially if they are not confessed to anyone. Best to confess with your local priest or pastor at least every month just to clear off your mind from all the negativity that stress can bring. Your local priest or pastor can also help you out with practical advices and guidance for heavy emotional and personal problems. Confessing your woes and troubles will certainly leave you more light hearted and free from stress!
7.) Love yourself!
In the second commandment, God said ‘Love your neighbour as you LOVE YOURSELF’. So basically, it is implied that God expects us to love ourselves even though it is not explicitly said in the bible. As implied, you cannot love your neighbours or anyone for that matter if you don’t love and appreciate yourself first.
AUTHOR BIO
Gracezyl Blanco works alongside Churchgoers Choir Robes as a content writer and manager. Born and raised as a Christian, she continues to live and serve the Lord accordingly by attending Sunday masses and being active in her local bible study group at Jesus Our King Church. In her free time, she loves to sharpen her skills in Social Media management and read historical and fictional literature.
Wonderful inspiration
Thank you. Let’s keep in touch.
Great Post with 7 effective steps.
Thanks