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| Transcending stress in my daily life |
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I saw where a Christian publicly posted the following quote yesterday: "Most days I feel like I'm drowning in stress, exhaustion and meaninglessness. It's refreshing to put aside cynicism and bitterness toward "this life" to reflect on the promises and truth of God's word."
To feel that much negativity toward "this life" sounds like a problem with focus to me. While I wouldn't say "most days" in my own case, I agree that it is far too easy to lose sight of God and get mired in the cares of this world. But like Paul, I want to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith, never losing sight of what is truly important.
Key to keeping sight of the goal is to begin each day alone with God. This practice gives us strength to maintain our focus, and even insulates us to an extent from that which would otherwise distract and discourage us.
Yesterday I experienced a renewed focus and insulation in a tangible way. I was meditating on Psalm 33 on the bus ride to work, and the text aroused in me an adoration of God deep in my heart. As I began to spontaneously praise Him (there in silence), I looked out the window at the vast cloud streaked sky, accented by the colors of the rising sun, and I was intensely awed. Taking in the morning sky in its vast splendor I felt small and insignificant, and yet I was overwhelmed by the sense that I was at the center of God’s attention for those few moments. Unspeakable joy! What a magnificent way to start the day!! This experience remained imprinted in my mind the rest of the day, and seemed to empower me to transcend every stress and difficulty which came along thereafter!
God is so incredibly good!! I desire to start each day with praise and adoration, perhaps accompanied by a gaze upward. In doing so, I know the Father will lift my spirits from whatever might weigh me down… 33:6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breathe of his mouth. 33:18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love; Psalms 33:6,18 NIV |
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| To add a comment to "Transcending stress in my daily life" |
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| March 23, 2007 |
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Amen my friend! You have put into words what gets me by, day by day. I too am working toward the ultimate goal, but God is still present in this world. His beauty abounds in this wold. You just have to look for it and allow it to lift you up. Thanks for this post. |
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| May 11, 2007 |
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| Beautiful, Mike! |
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| July 13, 2007 |
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| Very nice post, and very positive and uplifting! |
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| July 13, 2007 |
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Don't forget, you're the center of God's attention 24/7. We just don't normally "feel" it. ;) 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, |
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| July 13, 2007 |
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| Wow! That is my feeling of day to day life. I try to focus on the moment. I often times find myself just gazing and seeing God's greatness. |
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| July 14, 2007 |
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| GOD IS AWESOME! |
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| July 14, 2007 |
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| Good post. Thanks for sharing. |
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| July 16, 2007 |
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Wow, that was beautiful. Starrin this one for sure. I have a similiar experience when I'm sittin in a tree stand, and the sun's just comin up. The birds are singin, and a majestic 12 point buck gracefully strolls out from the brush. POW! |
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| July 18, 2007 |
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| Mullet, thanks!! And wow, that sure was a "tame" comment of yours by redneck standards! (hehe) |
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| July 18, 2007 |
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Stress can get you down if it is negative. Positive stress is good such as exercise. I am working a kinda stressfull job in a restaurant serving the food to the guests inside and out on drivethrough. You guessed it...fastfood. Well, let's call it family dining posing as fastfood. Culver's it is. I work only two hours as a runner. Some of you might wonder how that can be so stressfull. It can. Maybe it is me and maybe it isn't me.(my currunt attitudes) |
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| July 18, 2007 |
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| Hey eckertman, I can see how working @ Culver's can be stressful, esp. if you're introverted like me. Thing is, for me a good morning devotional or time of prayer beforehand can really relax me around people, it takes my mind off my discomfort and puts it squarely on God -- and all the joy that comes from that! ~mike |
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| February 04, 2008 |
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| :) I sure did like this one..You sure are great at this and I know stress all to easily, boy is it a pain. |
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