How to Manage a Stressful Past

The best way to manage a stressful past is to forgive the people who hurt you and release them from your mind because this will cut the cords of bitterness that had been binding them to your heart and reduce the tension in your life.

Therefore forgive those who hurt you and leave them in the past where they belong. Don't let them mar your present by carrying them into your future in your mind or heart. Let go also of the sources of disappointments and betrayals from way back so that you can relax in the present by Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. (Philippians 3:13)

To help you do this read The enemy releasing prayer and affirmation

Finally, forgive yourself for the role you played in the stressful past and ask God to also forgive you.

How to Manage "Unusual" Stressful Situations

At some point in your life you may find that “unusual” challenges are attacking your health, family, ministry, finances or some other aspect of your life.

You may find that as much as you try to solve those problems, your efforts remain essentially fruitless because you move 1 step forward only to be pushed back 2 steps by your circumstances.

After you repeatedly fail to solve your problems and continue struggling in the stressful situation, you may finally realize that there is more to your problem than meets the physical eyes. 

You may eventually discern that even though your problems are caused by people, there are wicked spiritual forces behind them.

Once you accept that you are engaged in spiritual warfare, understand that to win it, you need spiritual weapons for the Bible tells us that The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

These mighty weapons are truth, righteousness, the Gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 

They make up the armor of God and you need to wield them everyday if you want to win your battles with the devil and manage your "unusual stressful situations".

Click here to learn How to Put On the Armor of God

Encouragement Devotional :Refuse to Accept an Unacceptable Situation

This encouragement devotional - Refuse to Accept an Unacceptable Situation - is part of our Free Daily Devotions series.

Blind Bartimaeus sat by the roadside begging. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he began to cry out for help saying, "Jesus, son of David have mercy on me!" 

However, many people warned him to be quiet. But, Bartimaeus cried out all the more until Jesus heard him and healed him. (Mark 10:46-52) 

Therefore learn from Bartimaeus and refuse to accept an unacceptable situation because he refused to remain a blind beggar when he learned that Jesus was in his vicinity.

Emulate Bartimaeus and ignore the people who want you to accept a terrible situation when you know that Jesus can change it the way he ignored the people who were telling him to keep quiet and stop calling on Jesus so that he could remain a blind beggar. 

Even if you can't see a way out of your predicament (like blind Bartimaes) or your problems have conspired to shut you up, decide to refuse to accept the untenable situation. Cry out to Jesus as you Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) until your situation changes for the better.

Even if doctors cannot help you (as they could not help blind Bartimaeus) or the financial institutions can't help you (as they couldn't help begging Bartimaeus), do not give up on yourself and on your stressful situation. Çry out to Jesus all the more for He came that we may have life and have it to the full.

So, if your stressful situation is squeezing the abundance out of your life, reject it Come boldly to the throne of grace so that you may obtain mercy and find grace to help you the time of need. (Adapted Hebrews 4:15-16)

Click here to read Refuse To Be A Victim Joseph

Click here to read Refuse To Be A Victim Tamar

Click here to read Refuse To Be A Victim Woman with Issue of Blood