BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC - Be Still and Take a Bubble Bath: 52 Calming Devotions for Women

BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC.

Savage, Minnesota, USA

Broadstreetpublishing.com

BE STILL AND TAKE A BUBBLE BATH

2020 by BroadStreet Publishing

978-1-4245-6077-6

978-1-4245-6078-3 (eBook)

Entries composed by Michelle Cox and Julie Lavender.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (TPT) are taken from The Passion Translation. Copyright 2017, 2018 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission of BroadStreet Publishing. All rights reserved.

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M ost of us are under so much stress we are like a rubber band thats been stretched to the limit. Like that rubber band, were going to either snap back or break if we add more stress. We know were too stressed, but what are we supposed to do about it?

Sometimes those anxieties are from our own doing as we over-commit, taking on enough responsibilities and challenges to exhaust a dozen women. Other times they are from things that are completely out of our controlwhich adds a whole other layer of stress because we like to be in control, dont we?

Thats what Be Still and Take a Bubble Bath is all about. There are 52 devotions to help calm and relax us during our stressful days. Its truly amazing how many stressors there are in our lives, and they can wreak havoc emotionally and even cause serious health problems if we let them go unaddressed.

Well talk about learning to say no when asked to take on tasks. (Yes, it can be done. Really.) Well discuss letting God be the keeper of our calendars. And well talk about stressful situations we might encounterand what to do about them.

Take a long, luxurious bubble bath. Soak your cares away as you take your eyes off your problems and put them on Jesus. He doesnt want any of us to be stretched beyond our limits.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

JAMES 1:17 NIV

Laurens Facebook posts make all her girlfriends a bit jealous. Lauren is a busy author. She jets around the world doing research for her historical novels. Shes a guest on television shows, does radio interviews, and meets fascinating people. Her fun personality draws people to her, and shes usually surrounded by adoring fans. Shes thin, gorgeous, and has beautiful fashionable clothes. But all these things arent what makes her friends jealous.

Its her bubble baths that set off the green-eyed envy.

Every once in a while, Lauren posts photos of her jetted tub filled to overflowing with bubbles. Lit candles all around the tubs ledge cast a warm and welcoming glow. And Lauren usually always mentions what soothing music shes playing for her leisurely bubble-bath soak.

Most of us do well to get a quick shower or zoom through the tub as if were being timed for world-record speed. We have too much to do. Taking time to relax? Thats a joke. Or is it?

You see, Laurens one of the busiest people around. Her to-do list probably stretches from South Carolina all the way to California. But shes discovered something important that wed all be wise to learn. Lauren paid attention when she read in Gods Word that he designed our bodies to need rest.

Her bubble baths arent wasted time. They allow her body to rest, to relax, and to rejuvenate so that she will be refreshed for the important tasks God has given her to do. Shes taking care of the temple God gave her so that shell be ready whenever God opens doors for her.

Lets try something new this week. Lets take twenty minutes for ourselves and enjoy a bubble bath. Lets rest the bodies God gave us and spend some time relaxing. Break out the candles. Put on some soft music. Let the bubbles and warm water soak your cares away. You can do it. Just think of this refreshing time as a good gift from the Father who loves you.

Father, I take great care of everyone else, but Im sure not too good when it comes to taking care of myself. If Im honest, Im terrible about doing that. Remind me to slow down and to make time to care for the body that youve given me. I want to fulfill all the plans that you have for me, but I can only do that if Im in good shape physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Help me to quit pushing myself to ridiculous extremes and to realize that an occasional bubble bath soak isnt a guilty luxury, but a way to care for myself so Ill be refreshed and able to do more for you.

Why dont you take time to enjoy a bubble bath? How can you become a better caretaker of the physical body that God has given to you?

Taking baths improves your mood, decreases your stress, promotes better sleep, and relieves muscle pain. One study found that a daily bath, usually at the end of the day, significantly improved the mood and optimism of the participants.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

ISAIAH 26:3 ESV

Tina carefully opened the box. Her grandmother had passed away several weeks back, and these were the things shed wanted Tina to have. Tinas grandmother had been her best friend, so she was excitedand a bit emotionalto see what was inside.

When she opened the box, she realized it held the greatest treasure her grandmother couldve left herher grandmothers Bible. Held together with duct tape and with pages falling out from use, the Bible still had a faint scent of her grandmothers favorite perfume. Tina could see that countless verses were underlined with notes written beside them of times God had been faithful or answered her prayers.

Her grandmothers prayer journals were also there. Written almost like a diary, they described the stress-filled moments when the children were small, scary moments when the kids were sick with high fevers, anxieties when finances ran short and when the weather ruined the crops, and other struggles.