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Managing Stress Like Jesus: Listen to God - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - November 11, 2018

Managing Stress Like Jesus: Listen to God
By Rick Warren

“News about Jesus spread even more. Many people came to hear him and to be healed . . . but Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray” (Luke 5:15-16 NCV).

Over the last few devotionals, I’ve shared with you four of the stress management principles from the life of Jesus:

  1. Identification: Know who you are
  2. Motivation: Know whose approval you are living for
  3. Vocation: Know your calling
  4. Concentration: Focus on what matters most

The fifth principle is particularly important. It’s the Principle of Meditation. To reduce your stress, you need to listen to God.

Jesus did this over and over in the New Testament. For example, the Bible says,“News about Jesus spread even more. Many people came to hear him and to be healed . . . but Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray” (Luke 5:15-16 NCV).

Jesus, who literally had the weight of the world on his shoulders, spent time alone with God. As the pressures on Jesus increased, he got away to talk with God. Jesus had a habit of quiet times where he went away to reflect, to renew, and to recharge.

Noise is stress. That’s why you must create intentional times of quietness and solitude in your life.

If you always have noise in your life—the television is always on, the radio is always on, and the earbuds are always in your ear—you won’t have the spiritual and emotional resources to handle stress in your life.

So let me give you a suggestion. Start your morning with good news. Don’t fill your mind with negativity right off the bat.

Spend time with God. Open your Bible. Find out what God wants to say to you.

If you want to lower the stress in your life, develop a daily time with God where you listen to God—and let that set your mood for the day.

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For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!


Preparing Your Heart for Christmas Calendar and Booklet

Request our brand-new Christmas resource for THIS WEEK ONLY!

The weeks leading up to Christmas are so full of excitement and preparation that December can be kind of a blur. Before you know it, you’ve missed the true meaning of Christmas.

That’s why Pastor Rick created the Preparing Your Heart for Christmas calendar and devotional.

This two-part resource includes a calendar with a special door for every day of December that opens to reveal an inspirational word and Bible verse. Use it with the companion daily devotional guide to help you and your family draw closer to Jesus and prepare your heart for the real celebration.

This brand-new resource is our gift to thank you for your donation to share the hope of Jesus for THIS WEEK ONLY. So act now to be sure to get yours by December 1!

Preparing Your Heart for Christmas can help you spend the holidays . . .
• Worshipping instead of worrying
• Slowing down and reconnecting with God
• Expressing gratitude for the true meaning of the season

Don’t wait! Give a gift by November 12 and request your copy of the Preparing Your Heart for Christmas calendar and devotional for yourself or as a special gift for someone you love.

This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.