Long Lasting Relief
I think you will agree that life in the 21st-century is stressful. Hardly a day goes by where we don’t feel the weight of the world on our shoulders for some reason or another. Some of the major causes of stress can be biological, environmental, external, financial, relational, and yes even, imaginary (all those “what ifs”). If enough, or certain types of, stressors press in on us, physical, psychological, or emotional conditions often sometimes occur. Think of that headache you got after a very challenging and stressful day at work or school.
After another long and tiring day, we all have ways to unload and unwind. For some it is exercising at the gym or heading out on a good five-mile run. For others it might be a glass of wine and a good book while soaking in the bathtub. Or for you, maybe walking on the beach, feeling the ocean’s water lap at your feet, works wonders. I have a pig stress ball that I keep at my desk. There are other times when some type of medication is needed to manage or alleviate the stress or pain.
Sometimes the best stress reliever is to simply sit quietly and meditate, trying to relax and empty or re-focus your mind. Today I want to look at another kind of meditation, one that is not engaged in to “empty” us, but rather to “fill” us. When you read the Bible, you should meditate upon the words you’ve just read, asking God to transform your mind and heart through His Word, and in the process, He is “filling” you with more of Him, and thus, that means less of you.
To meditate is “to muse.” (I purposely named my blog Deep Water Musings.) The words music and muse are related, both originating from the same root word. Music often goes deep, soothing your soul. To muse, to meditate, does the same thing, penetrating deep into your soul, helping to calm and center your spirit.
The first five verses of Psalm 103 give us a good model for working God’s Word into our own hearts and minds. In verse 1, David speaks directly to his own heart when he says, “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” Here David is speaking directly to himself through inward dialogue.
In verse 2, we again see David speaking to himself, reminding his own heart of God’s goodness. We read, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
And then in verses 3-5, he begins to list all the ways that God is good to us, each and every human being on the planet.
v.3 – who forgives all your sins, and heals all your diseases,
v.4 – who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
v.5 – who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The psalm goes on to list more of the attributes and activities of God, all for the benefit of His children. I encourage you to read Psalm 103 in its entirety.
Most everything we do to manage stress, while often effective, is usually only temporary, whereas there really is no better permanent and lasting stress reliever, not a one, than faith in God.
So, make it a priority to spend time every day meditating upon God’s Word, helping you enter into His presence. There is no better long lasting relief!
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