Well, fellow love revolutionaries, we have completed our first mission - to transform. Now, we begin a new focus.
Today we will begin a study is based on a talk I give to corporate groups, employee mental health days, church groups, women's events - you name it, and why? Because we all let stress get the better of us at some time.
And, we all live more joy-filled, effective, and spontaneous lives when we focus on the same three areas of our lives that make a huge difference in reducing the effects of stress, and increase the experience of being in our blessings.
There are many names for these areas, but I call the areas Authenticate, Recuperate, and Activate, and to have real joy and peace, we need to address all three. And we will.
I call this study Stress Less, because that is what it is all about, creating, experiencing and living with less stress. It's a bible study because the source of stressing less is God. His desire is for you to love Him, love others, and to love yourself. Three areas, see?
Loving yourself, remember, is to treat yourself lovingly, which will in effect, decrease stress and increase joy. You can't love yourself without loving God (and receiving His love) and you can't love others without loving yourself. It's a circle and each area affects the other. So we are going to make this easy and make it second nature over the course of the next few weeks.
After the first time I presented this talk at a Tri-County Action/Head Start employee mental health day, I was amazed at how many people responded emotionally, and with such gratitude, for the fact that the talk is infused with scripture, and messages of God's love and intention for each of our lives. And this was a government agency, not a church group I was speaking to. Obviously, no matter what walk of life we are in, where we work, or what we even believe - we need this message!
So, we are going to learn exactly what God says about habits that increase stress, and how He provides the only answer that will create a life that is joy-full and stress-less. Amen to that!
I will leave you today with a quote and a scripture that will set the tone for our continuing series:
Whatever you are going through today, no matter what is leading you to focus on stressful situations, I want you to know that you are never alone, never without resources, never on your own. Read now Jeremiah 29:11-14.
'I know the thoughts that I think towards _____, says the Lord, thoughts of _______ and not _______, to give you a _________ and a __________. Then you will ________ on Me and go and ______ to Me and I WILL _______ to you. And you will ______ Me and _______ me, when you search for me with all your heart. I WILL be ________ by you, says the Lord." (New King James Version)
Is it easy to stop worrying? No, but it is a simple act to change your focus, if that's what you decide to do. Eleanor Roosevelt said "Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product." Meaning, you don't get to happiness without taking action that leads to happiness.
So, how do I change my focus when I am stressed? That's Jeremiah 29:11-14. Seek Him, tell Him, trust Him.
Do you remember what Joyce Meyer said about faith? She said we must choose to believe that God is working on it, even when we don't see an instant change in our circumstances.
Step one- seek God's help, advice, and comfort. Then trust He is working on it.
Until tomorrow - love, Karen
Photo by Andrey Kiselev, courtesy of http://www.photoxpress.com/
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