It's official. Americans - including Christians - are stressed out. Like, all the way out. According to the American Psychological Association's most recent Stress in America Survey, "findings illustrate a scenario in which Americans consistently experience stress at levels higher than what they think is healthy. And while the average level of stress may be declining, people have a hard time achieving personal stress management goals..."

With many of us juggling careers and family with personal needs and desires, a certain amount of stress is probably inevitable. However, stress should by no means be a permanent fixture in anyone's life, and we have five tips to help you eradicate it - now.

1.     Pray - Prayer is first on our list of stress-busters, and for good reason. No one is more equipped to help you work through your dilemma - whatever it is - than the heavenly Father who created you and knew you before you were even born. Talk to God about your problems but, most importantly, don't forget to listen for His Divine solutions.

2.     Read the Bible - Again, another no-brainer here. Most of the stress we feel is a result of the enemy's attacks against us. Dig into the Bible, learn what God says about who you are and what you're capable of, and you can fight off the enemy every time.

3.     Meditate - Meditation gets a bad rap from Christians who associate the practice with new-age (read: non-Christian) buppies. But don't be confused: The Bible tells us to meditate on God's Word day and night. Getting the Word inside of you means it is at the forefront of your mind whenever you feel yourself start to lose control. Meditation reassures you of God's promises and those promises wash over any stress, clearing it away for good.

4.     Unplug - Facebook. Twitter. iPhone. iPad. Modern technology has blessed us in more ways than we could probably ever acknowledge, but it is also creating a serious drain on our lives. We rush to post status updates and check those of the people we follow, for fear of missing something "important." Do yourself a favor and push away from the gadgets. You'll feel calmer instantly.

5.     Relax - This one should be common sense but, unfortunately, it's not. In today's society that rewards the busy, people brag about working on four hours of sleep or being the first one in the office and the last one out. You know what that causes? Stress. Taking time to relax and do what pleases you (I like reality TV - don't judge) is not an option. It's a necessity.

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