We
all experience stress at times. Perhaps you are one of the 39% of
Americans who said their stress increased last year. How are you
doing managing your stress?
Shepherd
first defines stress so we know what we are dealing with. She reminds
us that stress affects our spiritual well-being as well as physical
and psychological.
The
Holy Spirit is in us and we are to use the tools He provides, prayer
and God's Word. Only the Holy Spirit can give us the supernatural
peace of Christ.
Shepherd
writes about feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, burdened, hopeless,
offense, anxiety, negative, distracted, and depressed. Prayer begins
the process and she provides many of them within each chapter. At the
end of each chapter are prayers of yielding, forgiveness, healing,
and exchange. She presents Scripture and encourages us to write down
our thoughts and impressions.
An
unusual feature in her book is the retelling of Bible stories through
her own imagination. They are an encouragement to readers, realizing
that those in the Bible experienced stress and found peace.
Here
is just one of the many prayers in this book:
Dear
Lord,
I
invite you into my circumstances. Even when my way is filled with
pain, I choose to trust in you. I choose joy. Trouble will give me
the chance to grow and to endure, and even when I struggle, you are
with me. You are my life preserver. In you I trust. Give me your
strength to live in joy no matter what.
In
Jesus's name, amen.
Shepherd
encourages us to invite God into every area of our life. It will take
time and practice, she writes, to develop the skill of yielding to
the peace of God. Reading this book will certainly help you on your
way.
You
can find out more about this book and view the study guide questions
at www.StressPrayers.com.
Linda
Evans Shepherd is the author of over thirty books. She is an
internationally recognized speaker. She is the president of Right to
the Heart Ministries, the CEO of AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers
Association), and the publisher of the magazine Leading Hearts,
found at LeadingHearts.com. She has been married to Paul for over
thirty years and is the mother of two. Find out more at
http://www.sheppro.com/. You
can learn more about her speaking ministry at www.GotToPray.com.
To learn more about all of her ministries, go to
www.LindaEvansShepherd.com,
her ministry website at www.FindingGodDaily.com,
her suicide outreach at www.ThinkingAboutSuicide.com, and an
invitation to know God at www.GodTest.com.
Revell,
208 pages.
I
received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for
the purpose of an independent and honest review.
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