Is it even possible to live a life, free of stress?  A life devoid of anxiousness and worry, can it be done?  Have you ever thought about a world where everyone lived a life of serenity?  I would love to be a ‘cool, calm and collected’ someone.   Life throws us the unexpected; sin comes at a high price, whether by our own hand or that of someone else.   We want people to be good, to do right.  Deception, greed and selfishness rule instead.  But then what do we expect? Have we looked in the mirror lately? It is easy to see the evil in others, usually because it exists in us!

In spite of life’s disappointments, and trials, it is possible to live a life free of worry, perhaps not completely free, because we are prone to be anxious.  But as we draw closer to the Lord, the time spent in that worry and anxious state will start to diminish. Remember, this Christian living is intentional, keeping our eyes fixed on the Lord and His precious Word is necessary to live a stress free life.   

So what are we to do, when life throws us disappointments in people or in circumstances?  Start by reading the following scriptures listed.  The Word of God needs to be an integral part of our daily lives.

Here are 10 steps to living a life free (not totally, because of us) of worry: 

1. Pray –(I Thessalonians 5:17) commit the people, the circumstances to the Lord.  Tell Him of the frustrations, perhaps the bitterness and anger associated with the stress.  Allow Him to replace these emotions with peace, joy and contentment.
2. Read the Bible–  (Psalm 119:105) Here are a few helpful passages that help relieve my mind and settle my thoughts: Psalm 27 (my all time favorite), Psalm 1, and 121 (Benny’s favorites).
3. Trust the Lord throughout this disappointment– (Proverbs 3:5,6)  He holds the universe together and causes all of creation to work, He is more than capable of holding and keeping us together.
4. Be ready to forgive or perhaps ask for forgiveness– (Matthew 6:15) Asking for forgiveness is uncomfortable, but necessary in order to be at peace.
5. Remember whose child you are– (I Peter 2:9) We are children of the Alpha and the Omega (the Beginning and the End)
6. Talk to a friend– (I John 1:7) A mature, godly person may not always say what we want to hear, but they will ensure that the Word of God is the authority on any given advice.
7. Listen to a friend’s problem–(Philippians 2:2) Because our problem has consumed our every thought, we’ve magnified it in our heads, listening to others allows us to put it in perspective.  Also helps us to remember, there are others with bigger issues.
8. Begin a prayer journal– It is easy to forget the faithfulness of the Lord, after a time.  Keeping a journal helps in memory retention.
9. Be thankful– (Philippians 4:6) It is hard to find anything to be thankful for during this time, yet in order to be content and at peace, thankful we must be.
10. Take every stray thought captive– (Philippians 2:5) Remember living a stress free life, depends on us.  Well, that’s because we lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus, only to take it back up again.  Be aware of the thoughts while we live life.  When we find ourselves dwelling on the problem again, surrender it back to the Lord.  This we may have to do several times, but that’s okay.  Peace and contentment isn’t far behind.

In II Peter 1:3, we are reminded that the Lord has given us ‘all things that pertain to life and godliness’.  Let us hold on to the promises of the Lord.  Happy Thanksgiving!