People wonder about all the anxiety and stress they feel. Where does it come from? Why does it seem to be more prevalent in our day? I personally feel that ‘our day’ is more stressful than any other time in the history of the world.
Just yesterday I saw an advertisement on TV. The camera flashed on several young, beautiful women. The voice asked – ‘Don’t you want that surprised puppy look?’ The voice explained that botox injections could give you that look, and could take away lines and wrinkles. Lines and wrinkles? At 30 and younger?
This advertisement played upon the fears of women. Other advertisements play upon other fears — fears for our safety, for our future, for our social standing. There are so many things we can worry about, but worry and fear are negative emotions that only play into our anxiety.
The Serenity Prayer: “Father, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other.”
The prayer asks for courage first to change what we must. This is empowering. There are many things we can do to make our lives better. The ‘small and simple things’ that make a big difference in a single day are 1)Scripture Study, 2)Meaningful prayer, 3)Physical exercise, 4)Practicing a good diet. These simple things help us to focus on God, our place in His plan, and it helps us appreciate what we’ve been given. Most importantly, it gives us a perspective that allows eternal priorities a greater significance.
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