Developing A Stress-Handling Strategy

INTRODUCTION:

Stress is triggered by:

1) A Threatening Situation

2) A Major Change In Our Lives

Your perspective will determine and dictate your behavior. It will influence and affect how you react to various situations or crises.

And if we over-assess, or mis-assess the consequences of any certain happening, it leads to an over-reaction on our part. What often happens is that certain situations catch us off guard. That’s what triggers stress.

What we need is a plan, a strategy, proper reactions embedded deep into the fiber of our person, our spirit, which will automatically arise in our hearts as directional reminders, as to how we should react to the circumstance.

In Philippians 4, we see 5 areas of life in these 8 verses.

1. IN MY RELATIONSHIPS…

A. KEEP SHORT ACCOUNTS

These two women were apparently having a disagreement and were "not in the same mind."

“I urge Euodias and Syntyche to iron out their differences and make up. God doesn’t want His children holding grudges.“ Phil. 4:2 (The Message)

The truth is, it’s not always possible to fix things in some relationships, because you cannot dictate the other person’s response. The Bible is very real about this.

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Rom. 12:18 (NIV)

B. KEEP SEPARATE ACOUNTS

Don’t make innocent people pay for what someone else did to you. Don’t become so stressed out about other problems that innocent bystanders end up paying for it.

The second area of life that we need to handle stress in is:

2. IN MY ATTITUDE PRESET IT TO JOY

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Phil. 4:4-5 (NIV)

"In thy presence is fullness of joy."

Psalms 16:11

A preset attitude to joy is one that is determined to enter God’s Presence. In His Presence, one doesn’t have a care in the world. Everything pales in comparison to experiencing the manifested presence of God.

3. IN MY REACTIONS OFFLOAD ON GOD

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7 (NIV)

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Pet. 5:6-7 (NIV)

4. IN MY CIRCUMSTANCES LOOK FOR THE GOOD

“Think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.” Phil. 4:8 (NCV)

“Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” Prov. 4:23 (NCV)

5. IN MY LIFESTYLE FOLLOW JESUS

“Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.” Phil. 4:9 (NLT)