LinkStress Relief God's Way
By Linda S. Mintle, Ph.D.

Do your thoughts stress you out? Learn how to meditate God’s way.

Dr. Linda Helps - Stress affects people differently. Some carry stress in their physical bodies. Physical symptoms emerge and tense muscles result. Others are more stressed because of their thoughts. They worry and become anxious. For those of you who feel body tension, use physical techniques to relax your muscle.

If stress originates more from your thoughts, you need cognitive strategies to help you relax. Two good ones are visualizing peaceful scenes and meditation. Now don’t get crazy on me and think I am about to embark on some New Age quest for serenity. I’m not talking about repeating mantras or engaging in transcendental meditation.

Christians can mediate and visualize. The Bible even directs us to do so, “… whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things” (Phil 4:8, NKJV).

All you have to do is focus your mind on things that bring peace and a sense of well-being. Think about God’s intense love for you. Meditation is prayer. When we pray and spend time with our heavenly Father, we feel better and less stressed. We have a Dad who has promised to take care of us and meet our needs. If that doesn’t lessen your stress, nothing will.

I know that visualization and meditation have a bad rap because they are usually associated with New Age and Eastern religions. But, Christians have an intimate relationship with an awesome God. You can think about His promises and mediate on His love. When you do, tension will leave and you’ll feel refreshed in spirit and mind.

When you feel stressed and tense, you also can visualize yourself in a quiet, peaceful place. This is calming. Some people like to imagine themselves on a sunny beach with a gentle breeze, the smell of the ocean, clear skies, and water. Other people find a mountain cabin in the snow to be a quiet calming place. Still others imagine basking eternally in the presence of Christ. It does not matter what scene you choose, just think of something peaceful and try to engage all your senses in the scene. All this does is distract your anxious thoughts to a place of peace.

The idea behind meditation and visualization is to calm your anxiety and bring you peace. We know that true peace comes from having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. One of His promises is to keep us in perfect peace if we keep our mind stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3). God is the author of peace and serenity. Think about Him, His goodness, His love, and all He has done for you.

Dr. Mintle – author, professor, Approved Supervisor and Clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy – is a speaker and media personality, as well as a licensed clinical social worker with over twenty years in psychotherapy practice.

I don't think serenity should be viewed so much a a 'dirty' new age word. Daniel, I recalled some of the methods that you used to say worked for you as well as prayerful meditation. Just can't cross that trippin wire ya know?

I don't do the visualization thing that much, but I will play the Christian music I like when I need some peace.

I like to listen to talk radio while I work, but sometimes it puts me in a bad mood. That's when I know it is time to cut off the radio and turn on the media player with my "Christian" mix.

It truly helps.

It does doesn't it? I have enough "news talk" from the people at work, I don't need to hear it on the radio. Unfortunately the Christian station here doesn't come in very well. It's frustrating.

Have you tried to listen to it over the internet? Our local station can be heard that way.

I'd have to turn the volume up all the way, we don't have desk speakers. Then every other noise would be way too loud. I'd wear ear phones if I could but I'm a secretary and that's not feasible, although I might consider it in the future. I have a huge bag full of Christian CDs in my car. Nothing newer than 2 or 3 years, though, I just seem to like the old stuff I have.