Title:

Stress Free

Objective:

Discuss why it is important and how to be free from stress

What:

What is stress?

Stress: a physical, chemical or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation

Synonyms: strain and pressure

Signs of Stress

¤        Forgetfulness

¤        Temper

¤        Cynicism

¤        Sense of helplessness

¤        No sense of accomplishment

¤        Constant illness

¤        Constant fatigue

¤        Disease: High blood pressure, heart disease, migraines, etc.

Why:

Why is it important to be stress free?

To remain in the peace of God

 *Stress is an enemy because it moves us from the peace of God and into fear (see message Fear Not!, Archives)

¤        John 14:27

¤        Philippians 4:7

To live in good health

 *Stress causes sickness which is against the will of God for us

¤        Psalm 103:3

¤        Psalm 147:3

¤        Matthew 10:1

To keep our faith operative

 *Stress blocks our faith and without faith, it is impossible to please God.

¤        Hebrews 11:6

When you are stressed, you move into fear, fear cannot exist with love (perfect love casts out fear) and faith works by love

     Stress › Fear › Inoperative Faith

¤        1 John 4:18

¤        Galatians 5:6

How:

How do I become stress free?

Causes of Stress

¤        Not having certainty in a situation

¤        Unresolved conflict

¤        Unrealistic comparisons with others

¤        Unconfessed sin

¤        Lack of order

Reduce/Eliminate Stress

Have certainty in situations by knowing the Truth.  What did God say?

¤        Isaiah 46: 9-11

Focus your attention on the Word of God

¤        Proverbs 4:20-22

Understand that situations and circumstances will come to distress you, but keep your head

¤        John 14:1 (read King James Amplified version)

¤        John 16:33

¤        Psalm 34:19

Resolve conflict

¤        Matthew 5:23-24

¤        Ephesians 4:26

Don't compare yourselves with other, it belittles God's creation (you) and what He has done in your life

¤        2 Corinthians 10:12

¤        Psalm 139:14-15

¤        Jeremiah 1:5

Confess sin

¤        1 John 1:9

¤        Psalm 32:5

Get order, remove disorganization and untidiness

¤        1 Corinthians 14:40

Conclusion:

God loves us immeasurably.  Anything that hinders us from communing with Him, from returning to Him if we have strayed away, or coming to Him for salvation if we have never made that decision; He wants to remove that hindrance.  Stress is a distracting hindrance that pulls us from our heavenly Father and puts our minds in a state of fear and terror.  Just as parents love their children and want to protect and keep them, so is God.  Trust His Word and know that He loves you.  And when feeling stressed out, turn to Him and be revived.

Definitions taken from:

Greek lexicon based on Thayer's and Smith's Bible Dictionary plus others; this is keyed to the large Kittel and the "Theological Dictionary of the New Testament." These files are public domain.