2010: It’s Time to Begin!

It was my great honor to preach the Word of God to our daughter church, The City of Refuge, on January 10th of this new year. It was also my great honor to preach that very same Word of God gave me to our fellowship here at Cresthill on January 17th. It is once again my privilege and honor to share that Word with you, our readers, today. God’s Word for us is from John chapter 14, the 27th verse. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you.  I do not give to you peace as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (NIV)

2010 IS THE TIME TO BEGIN EXCHANGING STRESS FOR PEACE!

Today, I want to share with you 7 Biblical keys to unlock the secret of exchanging stress and burnout for peace and contentment.

Key #1: Get Up! (1st Cor. 6:19,20)

Diet and exercise are essential to preventing burnout as well as helping you to deal with your stress, add years to your life, boost you immune system, improve your appearance, brighten your mood and bless your life. So, get up from the table (diet) and get moving (exercise)!

Key #2: Rest Up! (Mtt. 11:28, 1st Peter 5:7)

Without sufficient sleep, our bodies become unable to handle the stresses each one of us faces each and every day.  For millions of Americans, the best medicine for burnout is a good night’s sleep! If you want to exchange your stress for peace you’ve got to REST UP!

Key #3: Laugh it Up! (Proverbs 17:22)

“Laughter is an instant vacation.” (Bob Hope)

“If we are sure of our God, we are free to laugh at ourselves.” (Madeline L’Engle)

“If you don’t think God has a sensed of humor, just look at the person sitting next to you – or just look at yourself in the mirror.” (Jimmy Painter)

Don’t take life so seriously! If you’ll just look, there’s a lot to laugh at, so LAUGH IT UP!

Key #4: Mix it Up! (Psalm 103:5)

God gave us good desires and good things to satisfy those desires! So, put down your spreadsheet and pick up that novel! Put down your blackberry and pickup that guitar hero that beats within the heart of all of us! Put down your laptop and pick up your wife/husband/significant other and DANCE! Take a walk – take a trip – just take something new that will take you somewhere new! Rearrange your routine! Mixing it up will maximize your performance at home, on your job, here in our church, etc., and will minimize your stress!

Key #5: Lift it Up! (Phil. 4:6-7)

Worry changes nothing except our blood pressure and life expectancy! Prayer changes everything! Even if God chooses to answer our prayer by not changing our circumstances, He will so change us so that we can overcome the stress of that circumstance and replace our anxiety with peace!

Key #6: Thank Up! (1st Chronicles 16:34)

Exchanging stress and burnout for peace and contentment can only be done when we develop an “Attitude of Gratitude.”  Try this – Compose your own personal list of reasons you should have an attitude of gratitude. Make a list of the things God has done for you – and be specific about it. Refer to your list daily. Update it regularly. And when you feel stressed out, burned out, left out, tossed out, forgotten and forsaken, take out your list and start thanking God for how good He’s been to you! Stop whining and start thanking and you’ll discover that your stress is gone and your peace has come!

Key #7: Think Up! (Phil. 4:8)

We must take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (2nd Cor. 10:5). We can control the way we think – it’s all about FOCUS! We have to focus on God and the good things of God with a laser-like aim! We have to take charge of our thoughts and think up, if we are going to exchange our stress for peace!

Conclusion:

1. Get Up!

2. Rest Up!

3. Laugh it Up!

4. Mix it Up!

5. Lift it Up!

6. Thank Up!

7. Think Up!

It’s 2010! Isn’t it time to begin to live that super-abundant life God promised us? Today is a day of New Beginnings! Today is a day of New Starts! Today is the day the Lord has made! Let us stop stressing and let us start blessing, and let us start living a life of peace!