Rick Warren's Daily DevotionalSample

Managing Your Time

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.

What can we learn from Him?

Know who you are (John 8:12) -- Eighteen times Jesus publicly defined himself. There was no doubt in his mind as to who he was. Trying to be someone you're not causes stress!

Know who you want to please (John 5:30) -- Jesus never let the fear of rejection manipulate him. No one can pressure you without your permission. You can't please everyone. Even God can't!

Set clear goals (John 8:14) -- Jesus said, "I know where I came from and where I am going." Preparation prevents pressure but procrastination produces it. You work by either priorities or pressures.

Focus on one thing at a time (Luke 4:42-44) -- Jesus knew how to handle interruptions without being distracted from his primary goal.

Don't try to do everything yourself (Mark 3:14) -- Jesus enlisted twelve disciples. We get tense when we feel it all depends on us.

Make a habit of prayer (Mark 1:35) -- No matter how busy Jesus got, he found time to get alone and pray. A daily quiet time is a great stress decompression chamber.

Take time to enjoy life (Mark 6:30-31) -- Balance is the key to stress management. Work must be balanced with fun and worship.