​15 November 2016
Alleviating Stress & Pressure
Psalm119:143
As pressure and stress bear down on me,
I find joy in your commands.

Believers are obviously not exempt from pressure and stress; we experience it all same as anybody. In fact, Jesus doesn’t sweep us up to heaven away from stress and pressure the moment we follow him. Rather, he sustains us in order to show everyone how thriving is not dependent upon our circumstances but in whom we place our trust. AND we also have God’s Word – his instructions. And living the way he prescribes actually alleviates stress. Did you know that? Here’s just one example:

Ephesians 4:25 (as well as the 9th Commandment) says...
Stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

When we speak the truth, we never have to worry about what we’ve said. Telling lies, even little harmless ones, requires a certain amount of juggling, and juggling is stressful. My husband says, “Lies chain us to yesterday,” and he’s right! We can’t be free to live today if we constantly have to remember what we said to whom and why. But if we are constantly telling the truth, we are actually FREE! 

Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32).

We can look at God’s instructions and see that all of it actually leads to freedom and away from stress and pressure. Like when Ray Comfort gives the illustration of the passenger in the airplane who knows the plane is going to crash but holds tightly to his parachute pack regardless of the flack from the other passengers who are unaware the plane is going to go down. Flack from others for following Jesus can be factors contributing to the stress and pressure we experience, but the freedom God offers by living the way HE PRESCRIBES outweighs it all.

​Dear God,
Help me to cling to your instructions as your Word encourages me to do so. Thank you that I have found out for myself by experimentally obeying you and finding all this to be absolutely true. Thank you that
living the way you prescribe strengthens my resolve to follow you and makes me free in every way. Thank you! I love you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

e​14 November 2016
Words that bite butts
Ephesians 4:29
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

After the results of our recent presidential election, this verse is not only timely but also helpful. Using intimidation, slander, and harsh words will never win people over. I do not understand using such tactics as political strategies. Political ideas must be debated not shut down with name calling. For some reason, the person who does not see eye to eye with Obama has been labeled a racist for the last 8 years. And now, the ones who didn’t vote for Hillary are labeled immoral, women hating, alien oppressing, white supremacist bigots. I didn’t vote for Obama or Hillary and I am none of these things.

The bottom line is that our country is indeed divided. That means, when we go to work, school or even the mall, half the people there do not see eye to eye with the other half. It is completely unproductive for either side to sling mud. If one side wants to persuade anyone from an opposite viewpoint, simply explain why. Explaining the merits of your ideology is more productive than demeaning the ones you wish to convert. However, no one really does this, and here’s why – our leaders themselves never say things that are good and helpful...

Within days of being elected, our last leader did not lead. He used intimidation and harsh, unhelpful words when he said, “Elections have consequences, and at the end of the day, I won.” This offended the half of the country that did not vote for him, and it did noting to prepare his “side” for the spot they’re in now.

To everyone trying to win arguments on Facebook today with belittling, name calling, and rage, take God's words to heart instead, (Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.) so that your own words won’t one day bite you in the butt.
​
Dear God,
I pray for all who are distracted by what is being said in the news and social media. Let us continue to work hard, lead a quiet life, and mind our own business. Help us to have constructive conversations that do not erupt in violence. But I pray that when they do that you will continue to protect us and equip us to defend those who can’t defend themselves. Thank you for showing us how to live by your Son, helping us through your Holy Spirit, and teaching us real right from real wrong in your Word. I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.