Living a Stress Free Life
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A businessman shared that he felt guilty if he took time off from work for fun and recreation. I somewhat identify with him. Early in my pastoral ministry, some people tried to put a guilt trip on me if I spent time with my family or having fun. The values of our western culture would have us to believe that the busy, publicly active, nose to the grindstone person in business, work, or ministry is the most successful or spiritual person. In our culture there are multitudes of people who live stress-filled lives that end in burn out, disease, or their world coming apart at the seams. |
A couple of decades ago Gordon MacDonald wrote a book that became a phenomenal best-selling book – Ordering Your Private World. The book directed readers to bring order to their personal life by inviting God’s control over every segment of their lives. If the private world of a person is in order, it will be because they are convinced that the inner world of the spiritual must govern the outer world of activity.
No one was as busy as Jesus and his disciples during his earthly ministry. How was Jesus able to live such an energized, stress-free life with all the crowds clamoring for his attention. We see his secret source of power in Mark 6:31. “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Come yourselves apart into a desert place and rest awhile’: for there were many coming and going and they had no leisure so much as to eat.” Going apart for rest and renewal was a regular part of Jesus’ life. (Matthew 14:13, 23; 17:1; 10:17; Mark 9:2) We must either learn to “come apart” or we will eventually come apart.
The following are some reasons we must be determined to make time to “come apart” with the Lord.
First – to RE-CHARGE our inner batteries. One of the most useful technological tools that I use is my cell phone. But unless I periodically re-charge the batteries it is useless to me. We need to get alone, apart from our business, to be recharged spiritually, mentally, and in all aspects of our life. Jesus regularly plugged into His heavenly Father and so must we. (Luke 6:12; John 15:1-5).
Second – for RE-CREATION. What is recreation? According to The New Oxford American Dictionary – “an activity done for enjoyment when one is not working; the action or process of creating something again.” We all need a wholesome, fun outlet. Times of recreation restore creativity and vigor. God created us to enjoy Him and His beautiful creation. Recreation makes you a fun person to be around. A lack of regular, balanced, re-creation makes one dull and depressed.
Third – to RE-ORDER our priorities. Coming apart with the Lord helps to keep our priorities in order. What are the priorities in your life? Where does your family, marriage, spiritual, and physical well being rank? (Matthew 6:33; Romans 12:1-2)
Fourth – to RENEW our mind and spirit. Only as we come apart to be renewed by meditating on God’s Word, praying, and worshipping God can we be renewed and live stress-free lives. Certainly we will have troubles, trials, and testing in life, but we can be renewed like an eagle as we come apart. (Isaiah 40:27-31; Romans 12:2; Joshua 1:8: Matthew 11:28) The church is a way God gave for renewal.
Fifth – REPENT for wrong priorities, neglect, and sin. If you find yourself running on empty instead of full – repent. We need to keep clear accounts by repenting of our sins and living right. Repentance brings refreshing. (Acts 3:19).
King David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me . . . restore unto me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:10-12 NKJV).
by: Cliff Sanders