Make Yourself Amazing in April...and Beyond!: Day 15

The challenge for Day 14 was to sow good seed by talking nicely to someone you see daily, being kind to someone who annoys you, or finding a Bible verse to confess over your life. I've been working over the past week to be a lot kinder to someone who grates on my nerves. It hasn't always been successful, but I'm getting better! Did anyone take on this challenge? I would love to hear about it if you did!

Today's chapter is called Working Class

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Focus Verse: First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. (Proverbs 31:17, The Message).

We need to work. I know, I know, that may not be what you want to hear tonight, but it's true. We need to stimulate our bodies and brains, and as Sarah says, work is a part of life and amazing people do it well.

You were born to work hard, but you were not born to strive or struggle just to get through life. Striving makes work physically and mentally taxing. Thankfully, Hebrews 4:9-11 says that "there's a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God's rest have reseted from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest."

Jesus struggled and stressed for us, but this doesn't mean that we can throw all responsibility and work ethic aside. Rather, as Sarah writes, it means that the work we do shouldn't stress us out, cause us pain, or steal time that we should spend with others. Proverbs 13:4 tells us that those who work hard will prosper, so whatever areas of our life we want to be amazing, we should make sure we're working hard on them.

We should also work not to have stress. Easier said than done, right? But, honestly, stress is a choice. We stress ourselves out by saying yes to too many things and letting our lives getting out of balance. One way to reduce our stress is to look at our priorities. Choosing to do things according to life's priorities will reduce stress.

When you're choosing to reduce stress, don't swing too far the other way and become so passive that you just give up on life. Don't let life pass you by! Sarah writes: "Look alive! If you can't find encouragement any other way, encourage yourself. Be amazing. Be awake for all life throws at you and be prepared to work it for all it's worth."

Today's challenge: It's time to change your attitude toward work. It is not a hassle. It is not a chore. It is what you were born for. Don't let work stress you; relax into it. Get that get-up-and-go and go!