Solutions to Summer Stress

I've noticed that many of us are stressed in the season of summer. We can farewell as long as there is no stress. But we forget that we are problem solvers. In fact, the bible says that we are over comers, which literally means "problem solver." Don't you think we will have some problems to solve this season even though it is summer? We are called to overcome. We are destined to successfully solve in stressful summer seasons. If you are tempted to cave in and quit, this might help you. Not the only things, but four simple solutions you can use to help you solve stressful situations this summer.

1: Center Your Attention on God

Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you." 

When we look at the circumstances, it never changes things. If you're at all like me and others like me, it just frustrates us. In fact, the more you think about the problem and the scenario, the weaker we become. Instead of believing our situation can have a positive outcome, many of us begin to doubt that we will ever overcome. This is why we need to center our attention of God.

2: See What's Possible in God

We have heard or read that "All things are possible with God (Luke 1:37)." We even mentally accent to the fact. But we often forget to apply it to our own personal situation. I sometimes look at what isn't working and what isn't changing and what is taking too long to accomplish. This makes me feel overwhelmed with feelings of weakness. Today I am reminded of Joel 3:10. It says, "Let the weak say, I am strong." This changes everything. Let's hold our "sights" on to the possibilities in God. He is the solution.

3: Pay Attention to What God Is Saying

I often forget to listen to the still small voice of the wonderful Holy Spirit. Look at this jewel in what Isaiah 55:3 says: "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live."

It's through prayer and paying attention to what the Word says that helps me walk through the fire, flood, stressful summer situations and other adversity.

4: Talk About What God is Doing

I digress quickly to conversing about negativity. I want to be better but it's true. I love what the psalmist confidently declares. Notice Psalm 105:2 says, "I will talk of all his wondrous works."

Amazing! What a confident person? I sure don't "feel" like talking about what God is doing is stressful circumstances do you? What if we committed to talking about what God is doing instead of what He is not doing? What if remembered that our faith grew in the dark and difficult moments? Be encouraged today to follow these simple solutions to summer stress. We can live in a new and improved way. 

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What Steps Can You Take?

If you don't know his story,

·         Samson was actually called by God and set apart from birth to help deliver the Israelites from the oppressive hands of the Philistines.

·         Samson was given a supernatural strength in order to do what God called him to do.

·         As so common with men that have so much potential, Samson again and again makes bad decisions.

Three issues to think about:

1.   Samson had a problem with lust; 'I want it', as he pursued a Philistine woman, something he was forbidden to do.

2.   The second problem Samson has is entitlement; 'I deserve it', as he did things and touched things that were forbidden in his Nazirite vows.

3.   The third problem we see is pride; as he puts himself around alcohol. Again, something he wasn't supposed to do, as he says, 'I can handle it; I want it, I deserve it and I can handle it!'

The wises thing Samson did was Cry out to God.

When Samson was Thirsty he cried out to God in Judges 15:19-20

Let's read it. 19 Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi. 20 Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines (Judg 15:19-20).

Let's pause for a moment. If you're not careful, you can read just right past verse 20, that is really an amazing verse. In fact, it's kind of like the first really good news we see in this whole story, because in one verse it captures twenty years of apparent faithfulness. Samson had just had an experience with the Living God as he was revived and refreshed and all of a sudden now, he's on the right track doing what he was created to do, and one verse summarizes it:

...for the next twenty years he led faithfully as a judge over Israel.

He was on the right track! Samson was the leader of 20 years of peace, prosperity, relative freedom.

This looks like he put his problems behind him. But he ignored and covered his weaknesses.

Watch though tragically, a guy who is doing things well; honoring God, serving Him, as many of you may be right now. By the end of this study today, we're going to see a guy with so much God-given potential making poor decisions, ending up with his eyes gouged out, his hands shackled; he's the laughing stock in front of the enemies, the Philistines. And it raises the question, how could a man with so much strength, with so much God-ordained potential, mess up his life so badly? And the answer is our key thought for the day if you're taking notes is this:

SAMSON DIDN’T RUIN HIS LIFE ALL AT ONCE. HE RUINED IT ONE STEP AT A TIME.

One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. 2 The people of Gaza were told, "Samson is here!" So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, "At dawn we'll kill him." Judges 16:1-2

Samson walked to Gaza—Philistine headquarters. This was Public enemy #1. His walk to Gaza is 25 miles from Samson’s home town Zorah.

Stupid enough to risk so much for a quick fix or little high or little hit?

Countless men do it every day.

He basically walked 25 miles: This was about 56,250 steps that lead him to destruction. We have seen men take step after step to sexual addiction, bankruptcy, affair.

SAMSON’S SMALL STEPS lead TOWARD HIS BIG DESTRUCTION

Are you moving toward the Lord or away from HIM?

What needs to improve in your life right now?

Day 21 – Get on the Road to Wisdom!

So don’t let anyone or anything stop us from living in the principles of God. We have God’s promise: More and more increase is ours for the taking, for both us and our children. But first, we have to decide we’re going to live the way of abundance He has planned for us in His Word. We must decide to put the Lord first in our time, our attention, and our money. We must become a good steward of our own finances. We must operate in the law of sowing and reaping and be diligent to engage in honest work.

Finally, we must live by faith so we can please God!  The Word says that God is pleased when we trust Him enough to obey His Word. And He delights to see the produce in our lives as we help others and seek His Kingdom! He is glorified when we bear much fruit indicating we are his disciples (John 15:8). By helping others we are fulfilling the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

Please mark these verses in your Bible.

JOB 8:7 - Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end should GREATLY INCREASE.

DEUTERONOMY 6:3 - Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that you may INCREASE MIGHTILY, as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you, in the land that flows with milk and honey.

PSALM 115:12-16 - The Lord has been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. 13 He will bless those who fear the Lord, both small and great. 14 The Lord shall INCREASE YOU MORE AND MORE, you and your children. 15 May you be blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth. 16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth he has given to the children of men.

PSALM 71:21 – You shall INCREASE MY WEALTH, And comfort me on every side.