Easter Prayer Experience: Day 3
It's So Easy to Feel Stressed
Marcel Farrington
Getting ready for Easter at the workplace can be stressful, especially if we find ourselves in conflict with customers, colleagues or the boss. God gave us things like exercise, healthy food and vacations to help us manage everyday stress, but there is more that we can do to actually begin feeling that peace that Jesus wants for us and not just at Easter.
Faith is your best tool for defeating stress and from being or getting stuck.
“Work hard and cheerfully at whatever we do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” -Colossians 3:23
Easter is a great reminder of Jesus power over death by resurrecting from the dead on the third day. He died a horrific death and paid the ultimate sacrifice with His life so that we could have the hope of eternal life with Him. His victory is our victory! It’s important that we remember that our lives are not our own but the Lords. This can be hard to remember at times when we’re working.
Here’s a couple of things that have helped me:
Tool #1
| Prayer |
We develop a relationship with anyone by talking to them; Jesus is no different. Prayer helps you build your relationship with God. Bring Him your worries, concerns and stresses in daily prayer. God doesn’t want us to stress out, and we get a lot of advice to that effect in Scripture.
“Do not be anxious about anything.”
- Philippians 4:6 says,
“Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
- Matthew 6:27 asks
And who can forget the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:41), where Jesus tells Martha to slow down? “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. . .
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 4:6-7
Tool #2
| Gratitude |
Stress is often caused by worrying over something you want. It’s fine to want things, but make sure to Take time to thank God for the things that you do have like your family, health, friends, work, home, clean water, Church, clothing, car, flowers, sunshine, fresh air and more. As you cultivate the virtue of gratitude, you may find yourself wanting less, and therefore stressing out less. Maybe even try smiling a little more too.. I like to call it cheesing.
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
- Romans 12:1
Tool #3
| Whistling |
What? Yes, whistling. Years ago when I worked in a machine shop on occasion I would be whistling one of my favorite spiritual songs and sometimes was asked why I was so happy. It was because Jesus changed everything for me. Who knows this might be your opening to share your hope in Jesus.
Take a Moment to Pray
“ Father in Heaven I praise You for Your goodness and mercy that you have shown me through Your Son Jesus. Help me to continually be filled with Hope and Joy as I serve You, my Family, the work place and in my Community each and every day. May you help me to be bold in inviting people to an Easter service and to always share the hope that you have given me.”
Here is a link to a song. I hope you find as meaningful as I do about God’s love for us.