Nine Steps Toward Stress Removal

Nine Steps Toward Stress Removal
by Bishop Keith A. Butler

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Look at what God will do for you-you will live a long, healthy life-if you take the following steps to remove stress found in First Thessalonians 5:15-22:

"See that none render evil for evil unto any man." Forget about getting even. "Follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men." Do the right thing if everybody else does the wrong thing. "Rejoice evermore." Do what you have to do in order to throw that stress off you. Boast and rejoice. "Pray without ceasing." Don't give up in prayer. "In everything give thanks." You don't have to give thanks because the bill collector is chasing you, but you can give thanks while he's chasing you. Giving thanks in everything is God's will for you, and if you're in the middle of God's will, then you have God's power working for you. "Quench not the spirit." In other words, don't stifle what you know you should be doing because of the things that are happening that you may not understand. "Despise not prophesying [preaching]." Don't get mad at the preacher because he preached something that you didn't like. The preacher's job is to hear from God and to preach what God said you need. "Prove all things and hold fast to that which is good." Everything that looks good and sounds plausible right now may not be good in the end. Test it, try it, and weigh it to see if it's good. "Abstain from all appearance of evil." Stay away from everything that looks as if it can get you in trouble.

Prayer for Today

Father,
You are so faithful to give me direction. Thank you for giving me everything I need to live a holy, blessed, stress-free life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Selah: Think on These Things

• Romans 15:13
• Philippians 4:9

�For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged
sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it
judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is
hidden from God�s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the
eyes of him to whom we must give account� (Hebrews 4:12,13).