Danger of overextending yourself (3)

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. - Psalm 103:5

Two days ago, we started looking at the dangers of overextending yourself. Yesterday, we identified signs of stress but today, we will examine causes of stress and how to handle it.

Causes of Stress as researched by wise Christians

• Unforgiveness
• Uncertainty: The Bible is the book of certainty.
• Overwork: Put limits around your life. You cannot be all things to everybody. And the more you keep unbelievers around you, the more you overwork yourself.
• Financial challenges
• Wrong mindset
• Unfulfilled dreams
• Family troubles
• Too many work deadlines. No time to relax
• Business greed and covetousness

Types of Stress

• Physical: Too much hard labour, you must shed useless load
• Emotional: Too much challenge on the mind
• Mental: Too many mental activities, too many calculations. Let office work remain at the office.
• Nutritional Stress: (Food deficiency in nutrients). Too much protein will over-labour the kidney. If you have enough, do medical check-up once in a year.
• Psycho-spiritual Stress: Beware of places you go to. This includes psychological abuse, demonic afflictions, and maltreatment from false prophets.
• Traumatic Stress: Death of a loved one.

Long term stress can lead to degenerative diseases. As Christians, we have God's word as advantage. Do not push yourself too far. Meditate on scriptures. Put the word in your heart and in your mouth. Speak the word to your problem; make use of the power that is at work in you. It has been found out that people who attend church regularly tend to live longer.

How to Handle Stress on a Day to Day Living

• Decrease obligation (especially for extroverts). Do not promise what you cannot deliver. Observe the time of Sabbath, have time to rest.
• Plan your life: Be orderly, Delegate when necessary. Shun negative emotions, anger, envy and jealousy.
• Eat living food, close to nature.
• Do regular exercise.