Stress

Stress is the condition that occurs when a challenge or threat or perceived challenge or threat forces a person to adjust or adapt. The challenge or threat may be real or imagined. An imagined challenge or threat exerts the same impact as a real challenge or threat. These challenges and threats may be called stressor events for they are the circumstances and conditions that challenge one to adjust or adapt.

In spite of numerous adversities [stressor events] the apostle Paul chose not to become distressed, "we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

What causes distress? Prolonged sin is one cause of distress. The Bible states the fact, "There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek" (Romans 2:9). Again and again, the bible teaches that prolonged sin causes distress (Lamentations 1:20, Zephaniah 1:17).

The Bible illustrates the fact that prolonged sin leads to distress (Genesis 32:6-7). Isaac and Rebekah gave birth to twin sons (Genesis 25:9-16). They named the older son Esau and the younger son Jacob. Isaac favored Esau and Rebekah favored the younger Jacob (Genesis 25:27-28).

It was customary for the father to give a special blessing to the oldest son (Genesis 27:1-4). Rebekah devised a plan for Jacob to steal the blessing from Esau (Genesis 27:5-10). Jacob did as his mother had deviously schemed (Genesis 27:11-17).

During the process, he lied about who he was and about what God had done (Genesis 27:18-20). When Esau discovered that Jacob had stolen his birthright, he prepared to murder him (Genesis 27:410. Rebekah devised a plan of escape for Jacob (Genesis 27:42-46).

Jacob left for Padda-aram and lived there for some twenty years (Genesis 28:5; 31:38, 41). For some twenty years he prolonged his sin against his brother Esau. This prolonged sin caused him much distress, "The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother Esau, and furthermore he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him." Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies" (Genesis 32:6-7).

Jacob's perceptions were invalid. Esau had forgiven him (Genesis 33:4, 8-10). Nevertheless, Jacob had become distressed as if his perceptions were valid (Genesis 32:6-7). His prolonged sin caused his distress. Make no mistake about it, "What prolonged sin did for Jacob it will also do for you."

Blocked Blessing

Jehovah God gave wisdom [the knowledge of how to properly apply and/or regulate the involved elements] to those who asked of Him (James 1:5). Wisdom differs from knowledge. For example one may have knowledge of all the ingredients of a cake yet not have the wisdom to properly combine them so that the cake is satisfying to the palate.

Jehovah God gave wisdom to those who asked of Him in faith without any doubting (James 1:6a). He refused to honor the request of those who asked not in faith but doubting (James 1:6b-7).To ask without faith is to doubt. To doubt is to be double-minded (James 1:7-8). Double-mindedness blocks the flow of blessings from God.

Decision Making

Are you ready to make decisions?
Jesus successfully endured His wilderness experience (Matthew 4:1-11). Thereafter, He entered His ministry, calling Peter and his brother Andrew to follow Him (Matthew 4:12-19a). Jesus gave them an eternal purpose for living (Matthew 4:19b-22).

People will give themselves for a noble or perceived noble calling. By nature, we need to participate in an enterprise that is larger than ourselves. God calls us to participate in an eternal purpose (Matthew 6:33).

Invest yourself into an eternal purpose early in life (Acts 2:14, 38, 3:1, 4:8-12, 19, 5:29, 8:14-20, 9:32-15:7). Invest yourself into an eternal purpose until the end of your life (2 Peter 1:12-15).

Life is empty when not participating in an eternal purpose. To fulfill eternal purpose, God calls some away from their personal enterprises. They left their personal enterprise of fishing. To fulfill eternal purpose, God calls some not away from, but beyond their personal enterprises.

God gave unlimited power to Jesus (Matthew 28:18). Yet, Jesus kept His life on course. He resisted every temptation to use His power in a way that violated His assigned eternal purpose (Matthew 4:1-11). You can remain focused on your eternal purpose. How do I avoid deterring options?

Learn to say yes when only saying yes leads you in the direction of your eternal purpose. Jesus said yes when saying yes led Him in the direction of His eternal purpose. Jesus said yes to the person possessing demons (Mark 5:7-10).

Learn to say no when only saying no leads you in the direction of your eternal purpose. Jesus said no when saying no lead Him in the direction of His eternal purpose. Jesus said no to the formerly demonic possessed man (Mark 5:20).
Your conscience mind makes your decisions. Your conscience mind contains information that has been assigned moral and/or ethical value. Your conscience mind consists of your belief system, the product of your accepted teachings. Your conscience mind must be developed (belief system) before the time when you must make a decision. God wants you to emphatically speak your decisions that lead in the direction of your eternal purpose.

What I say is what I get
The word of God is His power force working within the universe (Genesis 1:3, 6-7, 9, 11). I am made in His image; therefore, my spoken words program my life.

Through His Spirit: God engraved His word into the spirit of believers - their heart (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). Believers received the Spirit from God so that they would know the things given by God (1 Corinthians 2:12). God enabled the apostle Paul to speak persuasive words of power (1 Corinthians 2:3-4). His persuasive spoken words of power enabled the faith of the believers to rest on the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5).

Through my words: I speak that which comes from the fullness of the treasure of my heart (Matthew 12:34, 15:18, Luke 6:45). Therefore, when I speak I am speaking the very power force of God (Ephesians 3:20, 2 Samuel 23:1-2). My faith comes from hearing myself speak the very word of faith that I have heard preached (Romans 10:17, 8). The very words that I speak activate the very power of God that is within me (Hebrews 4:1-2).

My spoken words (of faith) program my life for life. God wants me to always speak faithfully about my faith, family, and finances. I must never, ever speak fearfully.

Abraham fathered Isaac (Genesis 21:1-7). Isaac fathered twin sons, Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25:21-26). Isaac blessed his son Jacob (Genesis 30:20-30, 31:22-25, 29). By what he said, Isaac intended to bless his son Esau (Genesis 27:1-4). But, by what he said, Isaac instead blessed his son Jacob (Genesis 27:4-29).

Because of what Isaac said to his son Jacob, God blessed Jacob (Genesis 28:10-22). But, because of what Isaac said to his son Jacob, in spite of the fact that he thought he was speaking his son Esau, God blessed Jacob (Genesis 35:9-13).

By what I say, I may bless others. I can never unsay what I have said (Matthew 14:6-10, Daniel 6:6-16). Spoken blessings are irrevocable (Genesis 27:30-37, 28:1-4, Numbers 30:1-2). Therefore, what I say overrules what I intend. God wants me to choose my words carefully.