Donna K. Maltese - Stress Less, Pray More: A Womans Devotional Guide to Tranquil Living

2018 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.

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Scripture quotations marked MSG are from THE MESSAGE. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible, 2015 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked AMPC are taken from the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition 1954,1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked GW are taken from GODS WORD, 1995 Gods Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

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More prevalent in the world today than ever before, stress affects twice as many women as men. Were anxious about everything from piles of laundry and doctors bills to job security and the economy. Amid all these worries, we are surrounded by the noise of technology and information overload. But God has a time-tested solution: prayer.

To help women navigate their way through stress and into the peace of Gods presence, we introduce this devotional guide featuring 180 readings and prayers based on this promise: Make sure that you dont get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed (Romans 13:1112 MSG ).

Each reading is designed to teach a woman how to live in Gods freedom and reinforces the truth that with her focus on Him, she can reconnect with the power and peace to live a more wonder-filled life every day.

Read on to stress less and pray more!

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

J OHN 14:1, 27 ESV

Stress is nothing to be ashamed of. Its just a signal to be recognized and addressed. The problem is when we let stress take over, try to ignore it, or imagine we can handle it in our own strength.

God knew wed have trouble in this life, that wed find ourselves with anxiety-causing stress. But He also gave us a way out: Jesus. Our faith in Him is our avenue to an out-of-this-world peace.

Jesus is waiting. Take a deep belly breath. Exhale. Enter that secret place where He abides. Ask Him to cover you with His wings, to raise you up. To give you the word you need to hear, the peace you need to inhale.

Im here, Lord, limp in Your arms.

Please fill me with Your peace.

Give in to God, come to terms with him and everything will turn out just fine. Let him tell you what to do; take his words to heart.

J OB 22:2122 MSG

How many times do we not let God in on our plans, run ahead of what He has planned, and miss the blessings Hes waiting to pour out on us?

Perhaps its time to stop trying to figure things out on our own, thinking we know best. Maybe our thoughts and feet should come to a screeching halt. This just might be the day we get it right.

Consider spending some time in the Word and in prayer, allowing God to lead the way. Know that with God on your side, everything is and will be fine. Open up your mind to the wisdom and insight He has for you. Store His words in your heart. Then, and only then, attuned to and in step with Him, walk on.

Lord, Im so tired of trying to do all this on my own.

Show me what You would have me do, be, and see.

Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, Lord, save me. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him.

M ATTHEW 14:2931 ESV

At times, stress is like a storm raging within and without, drawing our attention away from God bit by bit. Then, when we suddenly realize our eyes are no longer on Him and our ears are deaf to His voice, we begin to sink. Thats because were looking at the waves instead of Jesus. Were listening to the howling wind instead of the Holy Whisperer. Before we know it, fear has supplanted our faith and were in danger of drowning.

The remedy? Make Jesus your main attraction. Fix your eyes on the Water Walker. Keep your ears open to His Word. In so doing, youll be riding above the storms within and without.

Jesus, help me to keep You in the forefront of my heart and mind, for You alone are my safe haven.