02 Mar 2010, Posted by spittingimage in General, No Comments.

Men & Stress – Life’s way of Biblical Application

MEN & STRESS

If you Google the topic, “Men & Stress” you will find an
article that has a list of ways that men can relieve stress and maintain a
healthy life. I was reading this and
found in very interesting when I took the same bullet points and apply it to
men striving to walk by Faith. Here is
what I came up with the words that stated “stress” have now been replaced by
the word “Sin”. Please see below:

· Maintain a healthy diet . Your
body will not be able to handle SIN and will be more susceptible to the
negative effects of SIN-if you're malnourished. You should eat regularly and
choose foods that have important health benefits: fruits and vegetables that
are rich in vitamins; whole grains that provide your body with complex
carbohydrates and fiber; and lean meats and low-fat dairy for good sources of
protein to keep your muscles strong. BIBLICAL APPLICATION: Read the Bible Daily. Eat it, memorize it and apply it to your
everyday life.

· Exercise regularly. If
it 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 a
man's daily routine, he was able to relieve any SIN by sweating it out. When the body works hard
during exercise, it produces the same physical effects as if it were
"fighting" an imposing stressor. Because so many men today lead such
sedentary lives, SIN can build up and take its toll on our health. Be sure to
get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise on most if not all days of the week, and
practice some form of strength training on at least two nonconsecutive days. BIBLICAL APPLICATION: Pray
Continually. The more you exercise in
prayer the less likely you are to fall into greater temptation and the benefits
of prayer are endless.

· Limit or avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. Stimulants like caffeine and nicotine cause your heart rate
to increase and, as a result, make SIN worse. All three-caffeine, nicotine and
alcohol-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 fully
rested. Smoking and other tobacco products also increase your risk of heart
disease and some types of cancer. BIBLICAL APPLICATION: Read Galatians Chapter 5 and avoid sexual
immorality and the ways of the Sinful Nature

· Don't use recreational drugs. Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, as well as some
over-the-counter drugs like cold medicines and decongestants, can lead to
symptoms of anxiety due to side effects or withdrawal from the drug. Drug
addictions can also put a strain on the relationships in your life, which can
lead to prolonged SIN. BIBLICAL
APPLICATION: Don’t use drugs and avoid
temptations- the Bible is clear when you encounter temptation and sin – IT SAYS
FLEE.

· Prioritize. If you're like most men,
your life is busy. Learn how to prioritize all that you have to do. Have
reasonable expectations and set achievable goals and deadlines. It's not
reasonable to think that you can do everything for everybody. BIBLICAL APPLICATION: Not much to change here – this is spot on to
godless chatter (and idle time)

· Unplug. We live in an age
where we are always accessible-e-mail, cell phones, Blackberries. Remember that
these devices are intended to help us, not trap us. Sometimes it's okay to not
answer 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 answer
e-mails. BIBLICAL
APPLICATION: We all need quiet time to
spend with our Father in Heaven. Pray
and meditate and yield to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our daily lives.

· Stay connected. Seems
contradictory to the previous recommendation, but it's not. Staying connected
means keeping in touch with the people who make up your support network:
family, friends, neighbors-anyone who serves as a confidant or makes you feel
relaxed and happy. When life gets hectic, it's easy to let these relationships
go unattended. Avoid this pitfall by setting up regular time to be with your
family and go out with friends. BIBLICAL APPLICATION: We all need community and we should all help
carry each other’s burdens.

· Develop hobbies. Think of hobbies
as entertaining (and safe) distractions. Play golf, go fishing, join a book
club, work on cars, go hiking, take up gardening-find an activity that you like
doing and stick with it. BIBLICAL APPLICATION: Find a mentor (an Elijah) and also find a
mentee (a Timothy)…This is called discipleship.

· Think positive. As cliché as it
may sound, maintaining a positive outlook can help reduce stress. Try to stop
negative thoughts before they get out of control. BIBLICAL APPLICATION: If God is
for us, then who can be against us.
Purify your hearts and repent of unrepentant sin.

· Practice relaxation techniques. There
are many different relaxation techniques you can do to reduce SIN. Some include
meditation, guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing… BIBLICAL APPLICATION: Read the
Bible, Pray Continually throughout the day, find quite time and sharpen
yourself with other godly men – as Iron Sharpens Iron…