MEN & STRESS
If you Google the topic, “Men & Stress” you will find anarticle that has a list of ways that men can relieve stress and maintain ahealthy life. I was reading this andfound in very interesting when I took the same bullet points and apply it tomen striving to walk by Faith. Here iswhat I came up with the words that stated “stress” have now been replaced bythe word “Sin”. Please see below:
· Maintain a healthy diet . Yourbody will not be able to handle SIN and will be more susceptible to thenegative effects of SIN-if you're malnourished. You should eat regularly andchoose foods that have important health benefits: fruits and vegetables thatare rich in vitamins; whole grains that provide your body with complexcarbohydrates and fiber; and lean meats and low-fat dairy for good sources ofprotein to keep your muscles strong. BIBLICAL APPLICATION: Read the Bible Daily. Eat it, memorize it and apply it to youreveryday life.
· Exercise regularly. Ifit seems like men suffer from more SIN today than they did generations ago,it's probably true. When hard work in the form of physical labor was part of aman's daily routine, he was able to relieve any SIN by sweating it out. When the body works hardduring exercise, it produces the same physical effects as if it were"fighting" an imposing stressor. Because so many men today lead suchsedentary lives, SIN can build up and take its toll on our health. Be sure toget 30 minutes of aerobic exercise on most if not all days of the week, andpractice some form of strength training on at least two nonconsecutive days. BIBLICAL APPLICATION: PrayContinually. The more you exercise inprayer the less likely you are to fall into greater temptation and the benefitsof prayer are endless.
· Limit or avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. Stimulants like caffeine and nicotine cause your heart rateto increase and, as a result, make SIN worse. All three-caffeine, nicotine andalcohol-can disrupt sleep, which is important in helping the body resist SIN.Most men need between seven and eight hours of sleep each night to be fullyrested. Smoking and other tobacco products also increase your risk of heartdisease and some types of cancer. BIBLICAL APPLICATION: Read Galatians Chapter 5 and avoid sexualimmorality and the ways of the Sinful Nature
· Don't use recreational drugs. Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, as well as someover-the-counter drugs like cold medicines and decongestants, can lead tosymptoms of anxiety due to side effects or withdrawal from the drug. Drugaddictions can also put a strain on the relationships in your life, which canlead to prolonged SIN. BIBLICALAPPLICATION: Don’t use drugs and avoidtemptations- the Bible is clear when you encounter temptation and sin – IT SAYSFLEE.
· Prioritize. If you're like most men,your life is busy. Learn how to prioritize all that you have to do. Havereasonable expectations and set achievable goals and deadlines. It's notreasonable to think that you can do everything for everybody. BIBLICAL APPLICATION: Not much to change here – this is spot on togodless chatter (and idle time)
· Unplug. We live in an agewhere we are always accessible-e-mail, cell phones, Blackberries. Remember thatthese devices are intended to help us, not trap us. Sometimes it's okay to notanswer the phone or wait to respond to an e-mail. If you're feeling overwhelmed,unplug and set aside an hour or two each day to return phone calls and answere-mails. BIBLICALAPPLICATION: We all need quiet time tospend with our Father in Heaven. Prayand meditate and yield to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our daily lives.
· Stay connected. Seemscontradictory to the previous recommendation, but it's not. Staying connectedmeans keeping in touch with the people who make up your support network:family, friends, neighbors-anyone who serves as a confidant or makes you feelrelaxed and happy. When life gets hectic, it's easy to let these relationshipsgo unattended. Avoid this pitfall by setting up regular time to be with yourfamily and go out with friends. BIBLICAL APPLICATION: We all need community and we should all helpcarry each other’s burdens.
· Develop hobbies. Think of hobbiesas entertaining (and safe) distractions. Play golf, go fishing, join a bookclub, work on cars, go hiking, take up gardening-find an activity that you likedoing and stick with it. BIBLICAL APPLICATION: Find a mentor (an Elijah) and also find amentee (a Timothy)…This is called discipleship.
· Think positive. As cliché as itmay sound, maintaining a positive outlook can help reduce stress. Try to stopnegative thoughts before they get out of control. BIBLICAL APPLICATION: If God isfor us, then who can be against us. Purify your hearts and repent of unrepentant sin.
· Practice relaxation techniques. Thereare many different relaxation techniques you can do to reduce SIN. Some includemeditation, guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing… BIBLICAL APPLICATION: Read theBible, Pray Continually throughout the day, find quite time and sharpenyourself with other godly men – as Iron Sharpens Iron…