59 | 10 Easy Steps to Crafting Your Stress-Free Reset Plan for Christian Women

Overwhelmed by stress? You're not alone. What if I told you that peace isn't just possible—it's your spiritual birthright?

As someone who once rated my stress at a 15 on a 10-point scale during my early pastoral work, I understand the crushing weight of overwhelm. It took me years to discover that managing stress isn't just about time management techniques or deep breathing—it's about aligning our entire approach to life with God's design for peace and purpose.

This episode walks you through a comprehensive 10-step stress-free reset plan rooted in biblical wisdom. We explore practical applications of scripture like 1 Peter 5:7, which reminds us to cast our anxieties on God, and Philippians 4:6-7, which promises peace that transcends understanding when we bring everything to Him in prayer. From identifying your unique stressors to setting healthy boundaries, practicing forgiveness, and ultimately trusting in God's perfect plan, each step builds upon the foundation of faith while addressing the practical realities of modern life.

What sets this approach apart is how it honors both spiritual truths and practical needs. We discuss the importance of delegation (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10), physical self-care (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and community support (Galatians 6:2), creating an integrated strategy that addresses stress from multiple angles. I also share personal insights from my 25+ years of ministry experience, including the transformative practices that helped me transition from pulpit to podcasting.

Ready to reclaim the peace and joy God intends for you? Listen now, and don't forget to join our community of faith-filled women at BiblicalBoundariesForWomen.com where we're walking this journey together, supporting each other every step of the way.

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Episode Transcript

Paula Behrens (00:00):
Hey sister, are you ready to kick stress to the
curb?
Tune in as we dive into 10 easysteps to craft your very own
stress-free reset plan.
It's time to live on purpose,in peace, and fully embrace the
joy God has for you.
Are you finding it challengingto maintain your spiritual
practices or yearning for a morepeaceful, God-aligned day?

(00:23):
I'm Paula and I've been theretoo.
Balancing spiritual habits witha busy life can be difficult.
I longed for a deeperconnection with God but
struggled with consistency.
Then I found the perfectapproach.
If you seek simple ways todeepen your connection with God,
this podcast is for you.
Before we get started, I'd liketo give a shout out to Spicy

(00:44):
Detroit.
This listener writes, "Emotionsare spiritual cues.
'For Christians, emotionalintelligence is a spiritual
practice.
' I appreciate this perspective.
Great episode!" Well, thank youso much, Spicy Detroit.
If you'd like to leave a review, we'd truly appreciate it.
On Apple Podcasts, simplyscroll down to the five-star
rating section and click onleave a review.

(01:07):
If you're using a PC, open theiTunes app and you'll find the
link near the top.
Share your thoughts with ustoday and your review could be
showcased on one of our upcomingepisodes.
What a joy it is for me to hearfrom our listeners.
Hey sister, do you want to comeand hang out with a group of
faith-filled women who are on amission to maintain consistent

(01:29):
spiritual practices, so thatthey, too, can be a guiding
light for Jesus?
In our group, you'll get tipsthat will transform your
devotional routines into fun andjoy-filled moments, plus early
bird access to special offers.
And the best part is that youcan ask your questions inside
the community.
Come, join Biblical BoundariesFor Women .
com (no spaces).

(01:51):
All right, it's time to getstarted.
Grab your Bible, dust off yourjournal and cozy up to your
favorite beverage and let's divein.
During the first six months ofmy journey as a pastor, I
experienced stress at levels Ihad never imagined.
If someone had asked me to ratemy stress on a scale from 1 to

(02:12):
10, with 1 being completelyrelaxed and 10 being on the
verge of burnout my responsewould have been off the charts
at 15.
This was before I trulyunderstood the significance of
setting aside daily moments toconnect with God, honoring my
weekly Sabbath and making fulluse of my vacation days, as well

(02:33):
as an annual 10-day spiritualretreat to refresh and restore
my soul.
This lesson has stayed with mefor over 25 years.
Looking back, I see it as Godpreparing me for my transition
from the pulpit into podcasting,as I seek to faithfully guide
other Christian women inunderstanding the crucial
importance of their daily quiettime with God as well.

(02:58):
We all experience stress fromtime to time, don't we?
It's just something we can'tavoid, but it's how we manage
stress that can make all thedifference in the world.
Today's episode is aboutcrafting your very own
stress-free reset plan.
So get out something to takenotes with, and we will explore
these practical, faith-basedsteps together, steps that will

(03:21):
help you to live a more peacefuland purposeful life.
Let's begin with prayer.
Heavenly Father, we come beforeyou today seeking your wisdom
and your guidance.
As we discuss ways to manageour stress, help us to remember
that you are our ultimate sourceof peace.
May our efforts be guided byyour love and your wisdom and

(03:44):
your grace.
And all of God's people say,Amen.
Okay, first of all, it'simportant to understand stress
from a Christian perspective.
In other words, when we talkabout stress, it's important to
think about what it actually isand how it affects us as
believers.
Stress is a natural response ofour bodies and minds to

(04:07):
challenges or demands.
However, when it becomeschronic, it can lead to health
issues, both physical and mental.
From a Christian perspective,stress can sometimes be viewed
as a test of our faith.
But, on the contrary, 1 Peter 5, verse 7 reminds us to cast all
our anxiety on Him, ChristJesus, because he cares for us

(04:32):
as His followers.
This verse tells us that wedon't have to carry the burden
of stress alone.
But what does that look like inpractice?
I mean really, what does itlook like in real life?
Well, let's dive into somepractical steps you can take to
create your own stress-freereset plan.
Step one, identify yourstressors.

(04:53):
The first thing we need to doin any stress management plan is
to identify our stressors.
These are the things thattrigger our stress response.
They could be anything fromwork deadlines to family
responsibilities or eveninternal pressures like
perfectionism or fear.
To identify your stressors takesome time to reflect on your

(05:17):
life.
You might find it helpful tokeep a journal for a week or two
, writing down when you feelstressed and what might have
caused it.
Once you have a list of yourstressors, you can start to work
on managing them.
Step two, once you've identifiedyour stressors, the next step
is to prioritize and delegate.
Not everything on your listwill be equally important or

(05:40):
urgent.
Some things can be delegated toothers, while others can be
postponed or maybe eveneliminated altogether.
For example, if you're stressedabout keeping your house clean,
could you ask your familymembers to help you out a little
bit more?
Or if you're overwhelmed withwork, could you talk to your
boss about prioritizing certainprojects?

(06:02):
Remember, it's okay to ask forhelp.
In Ecclesiastes 4, verses 9through 10, we hear "Two are
better than one because theyhave a good return for their
labor.
If either of them falls down,one can help the other up.
" You see, we weren't meant todo everything on our own.

(06:24):
Step three, prayer andmeditation are powerful tools
for managing stress.
They allow us to connect withGod, to bring our worries and
our concerns to Him and to findpeace in His presence.
In Philippians 4, 6-7, we'retold "Do not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with

(06:46):
thanksgiving, present yourrequest to God, and the peace of
God, which transcends allunderstanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in ChristJesus.
" To incorporate prayer andmeditation into your stress-free
reset plan, set aside time eachday to be still and connect

(07:07):
spiritually.
Consider creating a specialprayer area in your home or
trying out a meditation app.
I am so excited to let you knowthat next week's Insider
Newsletter will feature a guidedmeditation.
To become a part of our Insidercommunity and enjoy a wide

(07:27):
array of inspiring content eachweek, visit bit.
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That's B - I - T dot L - Yslash Insider Family (no spaces)
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I can't wait to share thisguided meditation and would love
to hear your feedback on how itbenefits you.

(07:47):
Step four, practice gratitude.
I know I talk a lot aboutgratitude, but it's so important
.
Gratitude is another powerfultool for managing stress.
When we focus on the thingswe're thankful for, it shifts
our attention away from ourstressors and onto the blessings
in our lives.
In 1 Thessalonians 5.

(08:09):
18, we're told to "give thanksin all circumstances, for this
is God's will for you in ChristJesus.
" Now, this doesn't mean that wehave to be thankful for our
stressors, but we can bethankful in spite of them.
To practice gratitude, trykeeping a gratitude journal.
Each day write down threethings you're thankful for.

(08:30):
They can be big things, likeyour health or your family, or
they could be small things, likea good cup of coffee or a
beautiful sunset.
Over time, you'll find thatfocusing on gratitude helps to
reduce your stress levels.
Step five, setting healthyboundaries is another important
part of your stress-free resetplan.

(08:51):
This means saying "no" tothings that cause you
unnecessary stress and saying"yes" to things that bring you
joy and peace.
In Matthew 5.
37, Jesus tells us "let your yesbe yes and your no no.
" This verse reminds us thatit's okay to set boundaries and

(09:13):
that we don't have to feelguilty about it.
To set healthy boundaries,start by identifying the things
that cause you stress and see ifthere's a way to limit your
exposure to them.
For example, if you're stressedabout social media, could you
limit your time on that?
Or if you're stressed aboutwork, could you set specific

(09:34):
work hours and stick to them?
Step six, taking care of yourbody is another crucial part of
managing stress.
This includes diet, gettingenough sleep, and exercising
regularly.
In 1 Corinthians 6, 19 through20, we're reminded that "our
body is a temple of the HolySpirit who is in us, who we have

(09:59):
received from God, and thatwe're not our own, that we were
bought with a price.
Therefore, we should honor Godwith our bodies.
" Try to eat a balanced dietwith plenty of fruits and
vegetables, aim for at leastseven hours of sleep each night
and find an exercise routinethat you enjoy.
Whether it's walking, running,yoga, stretching or something

(10:22):
else, exercise can help youreduce stress and improve your
overall health.
Step seven, connecting withothers is another important part
of your stress-free reset plan.
You know we're social creaturesand we need connection and
support to thrive.
In Galatians 6.
2, we're told to "carry eachother's burdens, and in this way

(10:44):
you will fulfill the law ofChrist.
" This verse reminds us thatwe're not meant to go through
life alone, but to support anduplift each other.
This could be anything from aweekly dinner with friends to a
monthly Bible study group.
You might also find it helpfulto join a support group or talk
to a counselor if you're dealingwith particularly stressful

(11:06):
situations.
Step eight, practicingforgiveness is another key part
of managing stress.
Holding on to anger andresentment can take a toll on
our mental and physical health,so it's important to let go of
these feelings and forgive thosewho have wronged us.
If you're having problemsforgiving, perhaps a one-hour

(11:30):
coaching session with me wouldbe helpful.
In Ephesians 4, 31 through 32,we're told to "get rid of all
bitterness, rage and anger,brawling and slander, along with
every form of malice.
Be kind and compassionate toone another, forgiving each
other, just as, in Christ, Godforgave you.

(11:51):
" To practice forgiveness, startby identifying any grudges
you're holding on to, then prayfor the strength to forgive and
remind yourself that forgivenessis not about condoning the
other person's actions, butabout freeing yourself from the
burden of anger and resentment.
Step nine, focusing on the "hereand now moment" is another

(12:16):
important part of yourstress-free reset plan.
When we're stressed, we oftenfind ourselves dwelling on the
past or worrying about thefuture.
But when we focus on thepresent, we can find peace and
joy in today.
In Matthew 6.
34, Jesus tells us, "Therefore,do not worry about tomorrow, for

(12:37):
tomorrow will worry aboutitself.
Each day has enough trouble ofit's own.
" This verse reminds us to takethings one day at a time and to
trust that God will take care ofour future.
To focus on the present moment,try practicing mindfulness.
This could involve payingattention to your breathing,

(12:57):
noticing the sensations in yourbody or simply observing your
surroundings without judgment.
Over time, you'll find thatfocusing on the present can help
to reduce your stress levels.
Finally, the last step in yourstress-free reset routine is to
trust in God's plan.

(13:18):
When we're stressed, it's easyto feel like we need to fix
everything ourselves, but thetruth is, God is the one who's
in control and he has a plan forour lives that is better than
anything we could ever imagine.
In Jeremiah 29.
11, we hear God saying "For Iknow the plans I have for you,

(13:40):
plans to prosper you and notharm you, plans to give you hope
and a future.
" This verse tells us that wecan trust in God's plan, even
when things don't seem to begoing our way.
To trust in God's plan.
Spend time in prayer andmeditation, asking God to guide
your steps and to give you thestrength to face whatever

(14:03):
challenges come your way.
Remember that God is with youalways and that he will never
leave you or forsake you.
Creating a stress-free resetplan is all about taking
practical, faith-based steps tomanage your stress and live a
more peaceful and purposefullife.

(14:25):
Okay, let's close with a prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thankyou for your love and for your
grace.
As we work on our stress-freereset plans, help us to remember
that you are our ultimatesource of peace.
Guide our steps and give us thestrength we need to face

(14:45):
whatever challenges will comeour way.
We trust in your plan for ourlives and we thank you for the
hope and the future that youhave promised us.
In Jesus' name, we pray.
Amen.
Thank you for tuning in todayand remember, just like setting

(15:06):
biblical boundaries, it's okayto say "no" to things that don't
serve you well, like that thirdpiece of cake at the church
potluck.
If you enjoyed this episode, wewould truly appreciate it if
you would take just a fewmoments to follow the show and
leave a review.
Also, don't forget to become apart of our community on
Facebook at Biblical BoundariesFor Women .com (no spaces).

(15:31):
Be sure to check the show notesfor all the links.
Join us next week as wecontinue to discover how to live
on purpose in Christ.
Until then, keep leaning intoHim and walking in His wisdom.
See you next time.