Saturday, September 7, 2024

Speaker: Barb Roose I Author, Speaker, Literary Agent

Bottom Line: Take your stress to God instead of taking it out on those closest to you.

John 16:33 (NLT) "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

If you want to be stronger than your stress, then Jesus has to be the core of your strength.

Where we focus on problems, Jesus leads with peace.

Your stress reaction is your responsibility.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLT) We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

Satan wants you to confuse your reaction with your relationship, in hopes that you will destroy your relationship with your reaction.

Stress Clarity Exercise (p.31):

________ is not the cause of my stress.

Even though I feel _________ because of ____________, I will not blame my reactions on it/them.

Use God’s weapons instead of relying on your willpower.

Surrender Prayer: God, I can’t. But you can. I will let you. Amen.

Hands Up/Hands Down Prayer:

Hands Down Prayer: God, I’m home and about to walk into my house and be with the people I love. I need to surrender my frustrations about ___________________, my disappointments over _______________, and my anger about _________________.

Hands Up Prayer: God, I recognize your presence with me right now. I would like to receive your peace. I ask for you to give me patience with/for ________________. I pray that my words and actions convey your peace, grace, and love to those I love.

Additional Verse: 2 Timothy 1:7

Resources:

Barb’s NEW Stronger Than Stress book and Bible study

Receive Barb’s Happy Monday Weekly Devotional

Stress Clarity Exercise – Stronger Than Stress book, page 31

American Psychological Association Survey 2022 on Stress

American Psychological Association Survey 2023 on Work in America