About a year ago when my glucose got out of control enough to mask a would-be simple and easily treatable infection, I got to spend a pretty scary night in overnight observation to make sure it wasn’t going to my blood stream.
It wasn’t.
But, hearing “we need to get a blood culture,” and knowing that this means they are checking for sepsis, was quite the emotional jolt. After that, I learned that intentional deep breathing exercises and guided meditation every day are powerful enough tools of self-care that they can help me keep my stress level down, which helps me keep my blood sugar in range.
I've learned that my blood sugar is very sensitive to stress, and I can’t just let stress pile up and hope to relax on the next vacation. That’s not good for any of us, really.

After that hospitalization, I started doing mindfulness and a daily gratitude practice, to help me keep letting go of things I can’t control. I write my gratitudes in my prayer journal, and I use apps like the Calm app, and youtube videos for short meditations to ease stress and help me relax. 
Take heed of what havocs stress can wreak on your body, and find something that works for you, to stay centered and grounded; at peace. For me, that's prayer, listening to music, gratitude and meditation. 
One of my daily gratitudes is my support system. That makes it into my notebook every day. And yes, my support system even includes Reesee the Cat.

How do you handle the stress of everyday life? What practices of prayer (gratitude, silence, prayer journaling, praying out loud) help you through difficult times? 

Scripture: Isaiah 30:20-21
20 Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 21 And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Devotion:
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘this is the way, walk in it.’” The canopy atop my four-post bed ruffled ever so slightly, as if billowing in the wind and the words were heavy in my ears. Not in a bad way, the words were full of gravitas and it was like my heart was a shoreline and the words were a wave.
They crashed into me, engulfing me in their frothy substance: a promise. I had just graduated from college and was really struggling to find my way.I decided to read through some of my favorite books of the Bible for encouragement. In a hard time of looking for a job and trying to find my place in the world as a brand-new college grad, these words were balm and blessing.

Often when I do the welcome at church, I invite participants to listen for the still, small voice of God speaking to them in song, prayer, or sermon. Every opportunity in life is a chance to hear a voice behind us saying “this is the way, walk in it.” I find this very comforting. I’ve often looked back on that day when though everything felt uncertain, I felt grounded and guided by God’s spirit with and within me. Looking back on that time helps me through the current difficulties we are facing together, and the nuanced hardships we face as individuals. Remember, today and always, that God is with you. Whether you turn to the right or the left, the spirit of God will guide you. Just listen.
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Exercise:
Take some time today to listen for the still, small voice of God speaking to you. What do you hear? How will you respond? Journal what you are hearing, and how you are being called to respond, or spend some time in prayer or meditation. This is a good foundation for a vibrant practice of listening for the still, small voice of God speaking to you throughout your life. 
Blessings,
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- Pastor Sara -