When the Pressure Is On!

      www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org

When the pressure is on, how do you respond? Do you respond sweet in your spirit, or do you respond with anger, frustration, crying, or throwing a fit or things? Do you lash out at others or become overly emotional? Or do you just get quiet and let your mind go crazy inside with evil thoughts? Last question… do you sometimes act out of character? It’s okay to be honest. This is between you and God and He wants to help you.

When you’re under pressure, it could look like a lot of things. Your kid or kids could be acting up or you and your fiancé or husband could be feuding. There could be pressure coming at you from work or a ministry assignment or just plain old spiritual warfare. Whatever the case may be, you’ve got to pinpoint where you are and admit that you’re under pressure. I think the best thing to do is talk to God about it.

Remember, it’s a relationship.

I can recall a time when I was under serious pressure when my husband and I had to speak for a marriage event at our church. I was hustling around the house trying to get everything ready…from the message to all the trimmings and he was ASLEEP! Talk about pressure. It was on!

I found myself about to go crazy running around the house like a wild woman. And then all of a sudden, I heard the Lord whisper to me, “What do you need?” And so I said near tears and in a winded voice, “Lord, I need help.” And I’ll tell you when I walked out of my office, my husband opened the door from the bedroom and asked me, “What do you need help with?” I was like, “Oh my goodness! God really did ask me what I needed.” I love it when He does that!   

He’s so supernatural! Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:8, “…your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” (NLT) He knew! And He knows what you need too. So talk to him, especially when the pressure is on.

Again, I believe the key is realizing where you are at the moment the pressure comes on and pinpointing why you’re so upset, frustrated, or angry. Listen. The Bible never said, that we couldn’t get angry. It’s a natural emotion. But it does tell us, “Be ye angry and sin not.” So that’s why we have to recognize where we are quickly, so we don’t blow up under pressure! Meaning, have an angry outburst. That’s fleshy!

James 1:19 says, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight.” (NLT) Now…if you blew up already either recently or in the past, ask God to forgive you and repent right now. It’s vital. I think many of us have been there before and it feels horrible afterwards. But no condemnation! The key is to make it right with God quickly and make an effort with the help of the Holy Spirit and the word of God to overcome this negative behavior. Amen.

So, I’ll say it one more time…ponder where it’s all coming from. Pause for a minute and try to get a handle on what’s happening. Are you dealing with spiritual warfare, is your menstrual cycle approaching, are you tired, hungry, or stressed? Did someone upset you? Pause, pray, and seek wisdom. Again, pinpoint it and ask the Lord to help you to calm down and deal with the situation appropriately before you blow up.

As women, I know. We can get pretty emotional at times. It’s a part of our make-up. Yet, God wants us to control our emotions. Yes! He wants us to practice self-control and humility when we experience high levels of emotionalism! If I can say it that way.

My pastor’s wife has suggested to me to drink some hot tea, lay down, or go take a hot relaxing bath. I have to admit that has worked! My Pastor, however, simply told me, you’re going to need to get over your emotions. LOL! Both were absolutely right! I receive it all!

It’s important to know that when the pressure is on, God is testing our hearts and building our character. He’s proving us. Best-selling author and speaker John Bevere talked about the oil press and what happens when the olive is under pressure. He said, “An oil press extracts oil from the olive. The olive does not freely yield oil. Only when great pressure is applied will the oil from within come out.” (Excerpt from his book, “Breaking Intimidation”)  

John went on to say, “Gethsemane is the place of such pressure - not on olives, but on hearts. Under intense pressure what is inside us will come out, often to our own surprise. In other words, the motives of your heart are tried and exposed when trials (pressures) come.” Whoa!

So when God allows great pressure in your life, know that He’s really trying to bring forth the oil of His anointing out of you. So let Him apply the pressure. Don’t fight the process. It won’t last forever. He’s just proving your heart and trying to make you stronger. So don’t become bitter, instead become better. And keep in mind that He’s working on building godly character (fruit-See Galatians 5:22-23) within you so that you can be effective in whatever you’re called to do. But not only that! He’s making you more like Christ so that others will get to know Him through you.

That’s what it’s all about sis! Our lives are not our own. We’ve been bought with a price as 1 Corinthians 7:23 says. So when the pressure is on, let’s willingly press to do and say the right things. Let’s press to respond properly. Let’s press to have godly character. Let’s press to please our Father by the way we act under pressure. We can do it, because with God all things are possible! (Matthew 19:26) Are you with me?

Remember, Jesus is coming back soon! And those who endure unto the end shall be saved. So let’s be ready from the Inside Out!

~Courtnaye    

Recommended book this week, “Managing Your Emotions” by Joyce Meyer.

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