To increase stress, let others press you into their molds, try to please everyone, wing it and don’t sweat the details, try to do a lot of things at one time, do everything yourself because other people are a pain and get in the way, prayer time is a waste of time and work is the most important thing so don’t stop until you drop. The Bible tells how to reduce stress through character, margin, worship and obedience.
Character Counts
Don’t bear false report or join the wicked in being a malicious witness. Don’t follow a multitude in doing evil. Don’t be partial with the poor and needy. Don’t testify in a dispute that perverts justice. Stay away from a false charge and don’t kill the innocent or righteous since God won’t acquit the guilty. A bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just. Don’t oppress a stranger since you know their feelings (Ex. 23:1-9). Be honest and kind so you don’t pervert justice.
Margin Refreshes
Sow your land for six years and let it rest the seventh year so the needy and animals may eat. Labor six days and on the seventh day cease from labor so your animals may rest and slave’s son and stranger may refresh themselves. Don’t talk about other gods (Ex. 23:10-13). Refresh yourselves by resting on the seventh day and not talking about other gods.
Worship Rejoices
Celebrate a feast and have males appear before the Lord three times a year. Eat unleavened bread for seven days during Feast of Unleavened Bread since you came out of Egypt and received provisions. Eat first fruits of your labor from what was sown in the Feast of the Harvest. Gather fruit from your labors at the end of the year in the Feast of the Ingathering. Bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord your God (Ex. 23:14-19). Worship God regularly by celebrating His provision.
Obedience Protects
God will send an angel to guard and bring you into the place He has prepared. Be on guard and obey His voice since He won’t pardon the transgression of those who rebel. God will be an enemy to your enemies if you obey and do what He says. His angel will bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites in order to destroy them. Don’t worship or serve their gods by doing according to their deeds, but break their sacred pillars in pieces. Instead serve God since He blesses your bread, water and removes sickness from your midst. He sends His terror and hornets to bring confusion and drive out your enemies gradually, including the Hivites, Canaanite and Hittites. The extra time prevents desolation and allows you to be fruitful and take possession of the land. God will fix your boundaries from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines and from the wilderness to the River Euphrates as He delivers and drives out its inhabitants into your hand. You won’t make a covenant with them or their gods. You prevent the snare of sin and serving their gods when these enemies don’t live in their land (Ex. 23:20-33). Obedience to God’s word through the power of the Holy Spirit prevents entanglement by sin and false gods.
Consider the following questions:
1. Are you honest and kind (character)?
2. Do you take time to rest and recreate (margin)?
3. Do you give God credit for provision (worship)?
4. Do you listen to God’s voice (obedience)?
