Paradigm shift, yes. Let me explain. So ‘how do you think’ when it comes to a pressure situation? I just came up with about 10 different scenarios and typed them out…then deleted them. There were too many. There are too many variations and too many situations that are all relevant to each individual. How do we shift our mindset to handle each situation so we can say, “Who me, worry?”
Perspective
Viewing things our way is usually a tainted perspective. For most of us, we must take a stressful situation and do a paradigm shift because, to be honest, we usually just make it more stressful with our actions or our words.
Consider: What goes through your mind, and sometimes out of your mouth, in stressful situations?
Does it line up with the mindset of Jesus? Jesus is among us, living with us today in our everyday walking around life. With that mindset, does that change how we handle stressful situations? It should.
Covey has great insight into the paradigm shift in his book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Upside Down
The Kingdom of God and the laws/guidelines that govern it are backward to the ways and laws of the all too common Worldview.
Our way of thinking ALWAYS comes up short. That’s why a paradigm shift is necessary.
A Kingdom view helps us to NOT avoid the situations, but to AVOID the stress.
Did you catch that? We can avoid stress, but there will always be pressure situations that can cause stress. Anything that doesn’t align with your expectations can cause stress.
Expectation (noun): a belief that someone will or should achieve something or behave a certain way.
People, which include me and you, will fall short from time to time. Even the scripture points this out in Romans 3:23 stating that we’ve all fallen short. When our expectations aren’t fulfilled, we get stressed.
Need I say that stress will make us physically sick? It can kill relationships because our mindset has the wrong foundation or perspective. Paul, the author of these next verses, faced pressures that we don’t ever want to find ourselves in, but these verses give us insight into how to handle adverse situations…
Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
So, How Do You Think when it comes to stress?
I want to say, that I don’t expect you to read each of these as I did put a little description under each for a shortcut – even though I always told my employees that there were no such things as shortcuts. 😊 When we apply the following scriptures about What We Do, then we can say, “Who me, worry?”
Psalm 31:1-24
Turn first to the Lord, and pour out your heart to Him.
Exodus 14:10-14
When there is nothing else you can do, watch God’s deliverance.
Numbers 20:1-13
Monitor your emotions – a reference to Emotional Intelligence.
I Samuel 10:17-19
Trust and Obey. Confront with clarity, decisiveness, and objectivity.
Isaiah 8:12-22
Stress is a trap and a snare – focus on vs. 13 and 17 regarding the safe haven.
Isaiah 26:3-4
Regardless of the storm swirling around a leader’s head, this internal conviction, founded on God’s Word, becomes a haven for those who firmly hold to it.
Challenge of the Week
Who me, worry? Yes, as it states in Isaiah 26:3-4, build that steadfastness over time if you haven’t already. Those old ways of the World can easily creep in and take over. Build yourself every day to better prepare yourself for such battles you will face. “Father, help me to have a Kingdom perspective today in all situations.” Now, let’s go out and change our part of the World today! So be it!
Note: This is in follow-up to the last two posts focused on Stress – Dangers and Threats and Looking In From the Outside.
