From Stress to Joy

I was at an eye doctor appointment last week, and I happened across a little booklet entitled "From Stress to Joy". I thought, "ehh, what the heck, I'm gonna be sitting here for a little while anyway", so I started reading. Folks, what I read made me ponder my everyday life (which is usually what happens when I am paying full attention to anything of substance that I read), especially the part where you ask yourself some questions. For example:

• Am I turning this over to God and trusting Him, or am I worrying about it?

I wish I could say that I do turn everything over to him, but I don't. I am a crazy worry-wart (thanks Nanny for that phrase), and maybe slowly and surely I can let go of more and more. Who knows, stranger things have happened!

• Am I allowing God to work out His will, or am I doing my own will?

Hmmm, one could only imagine the answer to that question. I am definitely a "work in progress".

• Am I dwelling on negative thoughts, or am I asking Jesus to take them away?

I will admit, this is something that has been at the top of my prayer list. I would say that in the last 1 1/2 yrs, I have come quite a long way!

• Am I counting my blessings, or am I wanting more and more?

Wow, I think this booklet knows me too well! If you can tell me that there is someone out there who doesn't want something (whatever that something may be) more in their life - I would want to meet this person and have long talks. Don't get me wrong, I do count my blessings, but who doesn't want more? More time, more energy, more resources, more friends, etc.

• Am I looking for and claiming Bible promises for this situation, or am I hiding from truth?

I'll be the first to tell you, I wish I was one of those people that could take any subject and immediately flip my Bible open to a verse that applied to my situation. I find myself sometimes getting really frustrated with trying to relate scripture to my current situation (oh, how bad I feel to admit that I get aggravated trying to read the Bible!!!!).

• Am I spending quality time with Jesus, or am I so tired and overloaded that I miss out?

There are NO excuses for this question, and I know it. I absolutely DO NOT spend enough quality time with Jesus. But one thing that I do know right now, is that by recognizing that, I have opened up another window in my mind to make a more conscious effort to rectify this.

• Am I taking care of my health by eating healthfully, drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly? "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore you honor God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

This is one thing that I can say that I have been doing a much better job of lately. And that goes for my whole household.

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So needless to say, my goals are to give my burdens to Him, go to the Bible more often, pray more often, and to trust and obey. And in doing these things, I hope that I learn to hear more clearly and recognize when He is speaking to me.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8