Week 3

Day 1

Preventing Stress and Burnout

Figure out what’s stressing you. Avoid the stress, but don’t avoid the responsibility. Figure out what part of the responsibility is causing the stress.

For example, it is extremely stressful to me to clean bathrooms. (It’s far more stressful to me to have a dirty bathroom, though!!) I believe the main reason it is so stressful to me is that it takes so long to do. I can’t stand it when people spend 10 minutes cleaning a bathroom and then want to pretend it’s actually clean. No, no, no! Every little nook and cranny, corner, light fixture, cabinets, outlet, towel hangers in the bathroom REALLY need to be cleaned, in addition to the sinks, tub and toilet. And for heavens sake, save the toilet for last!! I’ve actually seen someone clean the toilets and then clean the sinks. GROSS!!!!!!!!!!!!! So! I cannot avoid the responsibility of cleaning the bathrooms because, for health reasons, it really must be done. But if I allow myself to resent the time it takes, I will put it off and then I will pout when I actually start doing it. If, however, I thank God for giving me an indoor bathroom and a family to share it with, it changes my whole outlook. I can be truly thankful, even as I scrub the tub. I avoid the stress, but not the responsibility.

Are you building stress for yourself by not acting responsibly in the first place? What I mean is this… You have a big test or work project coming up and you’ve known about it for a few days. So you think, “Oh, I have plenty of time to work on it.” and you put off actually working on it. You watch tv, play games, goof off with your friends, etc. Those aren’t bad things but now you find yourself in a time crunch because you didn’t plan well. Work on being responsible so you don’t cause yourself stress.

Burnout comes when you stay in a state of stress for too long. We try temporary things to help us de-stress, like food, or watching tv and playing games. Then we are amazed when we go right back to being stressed. Do you know that Jesus, Himself, had to get away sometimes and just spend time with God? In Mark 6, John the Baptist has just been beheaded. Jesus was heartbroken and needed some time alone with His Father. He and His disciples went out on a boat to go to “a quiet place” for some time alone. But when they got there, the crowds had run ahead of them and were waiting on them. The people needed Jesus and He gave of Himself freely. Then later that night, when the people had gone home, He send the disciples on ahead of Him and finally got the time He needed alone with God. He had to have been exhausted! He had been teaching and traveling all day. And knowing the hearts of the people, I’m sure He was also burdened for/by all of them. He probably would have loved to have gotten on the boat with the disciples and just gone to sleep. But He KNEW He needed time with God, so He sacrificed sleep and time to make sure He had it. If God Himself needed time alone with God, how on earth do we expect to make it in this world if we don’t spend daily time with God?! Get away from everyone else, if at all possible. This is NOT for show, to make people think you’re “all spiritual”. And this time should be guarded with as few distractions as possible. This is your time to hear from God and learn His heart so you won’t be stressed and experience b burnout in the calling He has called you to. Take time to rest in His arms!

Get enough sleep. It’s not healthy physically, emotionally or spiritually to not get enough sleep. Take care of yourself. It’s necessary!

Make time for friends, too. Time with Jesus is non-negotiable. Do not trade it for time with friends!!… or anything else! Time with friends does not have to be daily, but you really don’t want to lose your friends because you’re always too busy.

Day 2

Starting Your Walk with Christ as an Adult/ Making it Your Own

What does it mean to walk with Christ? Walk with = get along with/have a close bond. It starts with a simple prayer. God, teach me to walk with You.

Walking with God sets you apart from others. There’s something different about you. It doesn’t necessarily require big, amazing things from you. But people will be able to tell that there’s just something different. And if they spend time with you, it wouldn’t be long before they know that it’s the Jesus within you. Walking with God is more important than anything you could ever “accomplish”.

So I would say that the first outward step in walking with Christ is inviting others into that walk with Him. If we’re serious about our relationship with Jesus, then we want others to experience it, too!

Quit putting off being serious about your relationship with Jesus. We think that one of these days we will get serious about the things of God… after we’re a little older… after we’ve experienced the unholy, ungodly things that the world tells us is our rite of passage… after we’ve got that sin under control (insert eye-roll emoji here!). How much time have we already lost? Are we spending so much time pushing it off into the future that we’re missing the blessings God wants to give us here and now?

Maybe you feel like, with everything you’ve done wrong/against God in your life, that you need to “make it up to Him” first. Let me set your mind at ease. You cannot earn God’s forgiveness and you can’t earn His love. Does that ease your mind? It should! Because you can’t earn it because He gives it freely. You don’t have to do any prep work to walk with Him. He’s already done all the work!

We, as humans, can’t bring perfection to our walk with Christ. All we can do is come to Him daily and let Him do the work of drawing us day-by-day, step-by-step closer to the person He created us to be.

God already knows all your flaws and weaknesses. Repent of your sins and let Him work in your life. You simply cannot start a new walk with Christ if you try to hide your flaws from Him. It won’t work, anyway. I don’t know if you’re like me or not, but I really love a step-by-step approach to… well, pretty much anything. Give me a checklist and I am a happy girl. But I’m actually thankful that God doesn’t do things this way. How sweet it is to learn throughout our lives that we can trust Him to show us the next step at just the right time. He has NEVER failed me and you can trust that He will never fail you. He’s never wrong and He’s always good.

Don’t ever try to walk alone. Number one, you can’t walk with Christ if you’re walking alone. Duh! But also, if you’re trying to begin a strong, solid walk with Christ then you need to find people who are already walking with Christ and walk alongside them. Forget about if they’re the same age or not. We can all learn from each other, whether the other person is older of younger than we are.

Day 3

How to Combat Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare = the conflict in the spiritual realm that affects you in the physical realm

We spend all kinds of time and money trying to fix physical problems, when the problem might not be physical, but spiritual. We need to go deeper, let God find the problem and let God fix it.

Stop fighting in your own strength. The Bible says to stand firm. It does not say for you to fight the battle. God will do a much better job at fighting than you ever could!

In Tony Evans’ sermon “How to Overcome Spiritual Warfare with the Armor of God”, he points out that Jesus has rendered him (satan) powerless. He says that Jesus took a gun and gave satan a cap gun!! satan has no real power, not in relation to God, but we keep giving in to him! Let’s not be afraid of a cap gun!!

Hebrews 2:14&15 – Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.

We are not trying to locate victory. We are to declare victory. Let’s look at the spiritual armor of God. Six pieces of armor but they don’t look like armor that a soldier would have worn. They look more like EVERY DAY clothes:

Truth like a belt around your waist – Prepare for action – tucking a long robe into a belt so it won’t get in the way. We gird our loins with truth by reading, studying and knowing God’s Word. We stand firm against satan and his demons. We don’t fight the battle ourselves, pick ourselves up and then get ready for the next battle, in our own strength. That sounds exhausting!
Righteousness like armor on your chest – The breastplate was a piece of armor that covered the chest, protecting the heart from arrows and the sword. We put on the breastplate of righteousness by always remembering, and being aware of, the blood that Jesus shed for us and the righteousness that we are given by His blood.
Your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace – Maybe you’ve heard the question, “You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?”. How do you walk your walk in every day life? Your preparation is knowing Jesus and His Word. I am continually amazed/flabbergasted/heartbroken by people who say, “I just don’t know the Bible very well.” It’s their excuse and they’re sticking with it. You don’t have to stay there! Don’t be content to stay there! Spend time reading God’s Word and learning about Him. You’re never too young and you’re never too old. The gospel, of course, is the good news of the kingdom of God. This peace is more than just a calm feeling; it is God’s victory over evil. Because of His victory over evil in our personal lives, we can hear His voice, know His will and walk the path He has for us. Peace is a powerful weapon! satan doesn’t know what to do with the person who is walking in God’s peace. Take the time to really get to know the Prince of Peace. His Name is Jesus.
Take up the shield of faith. A shield was handheld armor one used to protect themselves from blows from a sword or other weapon. It could also be used to hit the enemy with force. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of our faith. He is the One Who enables us to have peace in the first place. As we spend time with Jesus, and walk with Him daily, our faith grows as we see that time and time again, He is trustworthy. He has NEVER let us down! And when we struggle to have faith, we can tell Him that. He already knows, anyway. Ask for faith for each situation. He stands ready and eager to do the work on perfecting our faith. Our faith will protect us from doubts. We’ve already seen, from experience, that God is real, and God is good, and God knows what He’s doing and is right, even when it hurts.
Take the helmet of salvation. Do you put on a helmet when you play football, softball, baseball, etc.? What is the purpose of it? It is to protect your head, and ultimately your brain. Salvation through Jesus can protect our brains. Especially as we memorize Scripture, God can bring it to mind to help us fight spiritual battles and lies from the devil. None of these pieces of armor will do you any good unless you are walking in salvation; unless you have repented of your sins and trusted only Jesus to be the Savior and Boss of your life.
The Sword of the Spirit. – A sword is used for striking the enemy. A sword is used both offensively and defensively. It requires a lot of training to get the maximum benefit. We need to train extensively to get the maximum benefit from the sword of the Spirit. We know from 2 Timothy 3:16&17 that Scripture is written by man, but inspired by the Holy Spirit. So I think it is safe to assume that the sword of the Spirit is the Bible. And how can you use it if you don’t know what it says? Hebrews 4:12 calls God’s Word a sword. How does the Bible describe it? (living and active and sharper than a double-edged sword) gotquestions.org says, “The Roman sword was commonly made in this manner. The fact that it had two edges made it easier to penetrate, as well as to cut in every way. The idea is that of piercing, or penetrating; the Word of God reaches the ‘heart’, the very center of action, and lays open the motives and feelings of those it touches.” “The more we know and understand the Word of God, the more useful we will be in doing the will of God and the more effective we will be in standing against the enemy of our souls.”

Many physical battles have been fought to gain power over a territory. Spiritual battle is for control over people’s souls. One thing that battles with God for our soul is the world. Pay attention to how you are influenced by the world. Have you given society’s definition of success a higher place than you’ve given God? Has your physical appearance become an obsession for you? 1 John 2:16 – “For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions – is not from the Father, but is from the world.” Ask God if you are putting too high a placement on things of the world over Him. Then listen.

Sometimes we can’t blame the world or the people around us. Sometimes the blame falls squarely on our flesh – our own sinful desires. Romans 7:21-23 – “So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me. For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.”

Ask God to show you where your own sinful desires are getting in the way of your relationship with Him. Then listen.

satan is real and he is always looking for ways to distract you and lead you astray. he is cunning and crafty and there is literally no good in him. Learn to recognize his lies and lean into God. Stand firm against the devil and let God fight the battles. Thank God for the protection only He can give.

If you know me, you know I’m a huge fan of Sight and Sound Theatres (look them up!!) and especially of the show “David”. At one point David is so excited because he believes Saul has changed and David is no longer in danger. I want to leave you with the quote from the prophet, Samuel (in the show), as he lets David know that things are not as they seem. He says, “True heart change only comes from time spent with God; a daily intimacy with Him”. If we want to begin to understand what God wants from us, how He wants us to live our lives and how He has given us the armor to protect ourselves from the things of the world, our flesh and satan, we must spend real time with God every day. Don’t just dip your toe! Dive in, heart first!!

Day 4

Dealing with Rejection from a Job

Remember, there’s just as much opportunity in not getting the job as there is in getting the job. For the Christian, we can absolutely trust the “process”. If we have been praying for, and seeking, God’s will for our lives, then we can trust that not getting that job is in our best interest. It is not a surprise to God that we didn’t get the job. He’s not wringing His hands, moaning and saying, “What am I going to do now?” He knows and does what is best for you, so when you don’t get the job, thank Him! There is just no telling what heartbreak He saved you from in not getting the job. There is also no telling what joy He has in store for you when you get the job He has for you, in His time.

Be genuinely glad for the person who did get the job. Pray for them to do well because all of society benefits from people doing their jobs well.

Learn from “being rejected”. Figure out how you could have done better and begin implementing ways to do better next time. Don’t let that loss go to waste!

Not getting the job doesn’t automatically mean there’s something wrong with you or the way you interviewed. It could mean a plethora of things. It could mean that the company hiring had different needs than what you were able to give. Maybe one of the other candidates had other qualifications or experiences that the company thought would be helpful to them. Maybe they already had an idea of who they wanted and were just going through the motions of holding interviews.

When an actor/actress goes in for an audition, there is so much more at play than whether or not they are a good actor/actress. If the company holding the auditions already know who someone in their cast will be, they are looking for a compatibility and chemistry between the two actors. Sometimes it is a similar situation when someone is conducting interviews. They are looking to see if they think you will come in and seamlessly work with the other employees they already have.

The candidate who got the job may not be better than you; just different.

Day 5

Contentment – For Such a Time As This

Let me say it simply. Slow down. Be in the moment.

The best way to start this habit may be to practice solitude and silence. Spend that time with God, letting Him change you from inside out. Let Him change you so much that contentment just becomes who you are, not something you’ve decided to be.

After you’ve simply rested in God’s presence for awhile, you begin to realize that God doesn’t give anyone too much to do. It takes a lot of faith to realize that if I have too much to do, I may very well have gotten outside of God’s plan for my life.

In his book “Rest”, William C. Martin says, “If you’re working more than 50 hours a week, you’re not doing it for God no matter how eloquent your rationalizations. Take a long prayerful meditative look at your calendar: who are you trying to impress? God? Give me a break. Your congregation? Possibly. Yourself? Bingo.”

Most of us wear our busy-ness like a badge of honor. “Oh, you think you’re busy? Walk a mile in my shoes. I’m so busy I can’t see straight. You’ve probably heard and/or said a similar sentiment. And it’s almost always said with pride. Like maybe we equate our busy-ness with importance. I’m guilty of it. I’d be willing to bet you are, too.

He goes on to say, “Now cut some big chunks out of each week for family, rest, meditation, prayer, and flower-sniffing. And when you’ve done that, you will be more sensitive to the path of God.” And I bet you’ll be more content, too!!

In the past couple weeks I have said no to good things that were not the good things God had called me to do. Do you have some of those things you need to start saying no to? You are responsible for what you do with your time. Saying yes to a good thing that God doesn’t want you to do can be a detrimental as saying yes to a bad thing.

Here are some verses to help us remember that God wants us to rest, and He wants us to rest in Him.

Psalm 46:10 csb – “Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
Luke 10:38-42 csb – “While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, ‘Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.’ The Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Romans 12:2 csb – “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
Matthew 11:28-30 csb – “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
John 14:27 csb – “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.”
1 John 2:16 csb – “For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions – is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
Philippians 4:6 csb – “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”