Then Jesus said, "Let's get away from the crowds for a while and rest." There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat. Mark 6:31 (NLT)

Jesus experienced enormous stress and pressure, yet it didn't seem to disturb his peace of mind. In spite of opposition, constant demands, and little privacy, his life reflected a calm sense of balance.

If you want to be stressed do the opposite of what Jesus did.

1.Let others press you into their molds. (John 8:12)

Don't try to know who you are. Try to be someone you really aren't. That will give you lots of stress. Jesus, on the other hand, told the people who he was eighteen times.

2. Try to please everyone. (John 5:30)

You can't please everyone. Even God doesn't! When you get "Person A" happy, then "Person B" will be upset with you. Jesus never let the fear of rejection manipulate him. No one can pressure you without your permission.

3. Wing it. Don't sweat the details. (John 12:27)

Jesus said, "...it was for this very reason I came..." (NIV) He had priorities based on his focus. Wing it all the time, put off planning, and one day you will sweat it. Preparation prevents pressure, but procrastination produces it. You work by either priorities or pressures.

4. Try to do a lot of things at one time. Multitask as much as possible. (Luke 4:42-44)

You can't chase two rabbits at the same time! Jesus knew how to handle interruptions without being distracted because he knew his primary goal. In fact, He sometimes turned distractions into opportunities to accomplish his goal.

5. Do everything yourself because other people are a pain and get in the way. (Mark 3:14)

We get tense when we feel it all depends on us. Jesus enlisted twelve disciples. Don't allow trying to be perfect, or the fear that others may not do a good enough job, keep you from involving others in the task.

6. Prayer time is a waste of time. Don't stop thinking about the things you have to and want to do. (Mark 1:35)

No matter how busy Jesus got, he made time to be alone to pray. A daily prayer time is a great stress reducer. Use this time to talk to God about your pressures and problems. Through reading your Bible you will evaluate your priorities, and discover peaceful living.

7. Work is the most important thing. Don't stop till you drop. (Mark 6:30-31)

Balance is the key to stress management. Jesus balanced work with fun and rest.

Based on the article, "Seven Secrets of Stress Management," by Rick Warren.