FROM STRESSED TO BLESSED

Re-Alignment Spiritual health Physical Health Mental Health Emotional Health Financial Health Relational Health Vocational Health

Chronic Stress Worry Hurry Crowds Choices Loss of Privacy Conflict Fear of the Future

7 Antidotes - Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd so I have all I need. He makes me lay down in lush green meadows. And he leads me beside calm, quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the right paths for his name’s sake. And even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. And you anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy [love] will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Antidote #1 – Look to God to Meet All My Needs Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd so I have all I need.” Romans 8 “Since God did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us, won't he also surely give us everything else we need?”

Refocus on God I can stop focusing on expecting other people to meet my needs. And I refocus on God. Isaiah 30:15 says this, “The sovereign Lord says only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.’”

2. I need to obey God’s instruction about rest.

The ‘Chronic state of Alarm’ ‘Always ON’ syndrome E.g. System crash, emails: instantly delivery, instant replies? ‘Dangers of being outer-directed by technology’ Connectivity (tech tools) Vs. Connection (relationship & community) People who work with technology are particularly susceptible.

Sabbath ‘rest’ Exodus 34:21 “Six days are set aside for work. But every seventh day you must rest completely. Even during your seasons of plowing and harvest you must observe a Sabbath day of rest.” Psalm 23:2 - “He makes me lie down.”

“My best, requires rest” 3 Things on the Sabbath: Rest my body Refocus my spirit (worship) Recharge my emotions

3. Recharge MY SOUL WITH BEAUTY Psalm 23:2-3 “He makes me lie down in lush green meadow and leads me beside calm quiet waters. He restores my soul.”

You Need Beauty! Get outside every day   Start the day with God not the media. The first seven minutes of your day set your mood every day. Intentionally put beauty around you.

Philippians 4:8 You'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things that are true and noble, reputable and authentic and compelling and gracious— the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly.”

4. Go to God for guidance Make God your number one source of guidance. James 1 - “If any man lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally and doesn’t condemn them or criticize them.” “He guides me in the right paths for his name's sake.”

5. Trust God in the Dark Valleys Stress due to LOSS Results: Grief & Fear “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and your staff comfort me.”

Shadows Shadows are scary Shadows cannot hurt you Shadows are bigger than the source Turn from the Shadows and face the light!