Overcoming Anxiety
Philippians 4:1-9
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Psalm 64:10
Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!-
Joy, unmitigated, untrammeled joy, is--or at least should be--the distinctive mark of the believer in Christ Jesus... Paul the theologian of grace is equally the theologian of joy. Christian joy does not come and go with one's circumstances; rather it is predicated altogether on one's relationship with the Lord and is thus an abiding, deeply spiritual quality of life.
- Gordon Fee
Anxiety: Uneasy feeling of uncertainty, agitation, dread, or fear
1 Peter 5:7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Overcoming Anxiety: Talking & Thinking
Q: What’s the alternative to anxiety?
A: Prayer
Q: What form should prayer take?
A: Gratitude
“The world didn’t give you your joy, and the world can’t take it away. You can let people come into your life and destroy it, but I refuse to let anyone take my joy. I get up in the morning and I don’t need anyone to make me laugh. I’m going to laugh on my own, because I’ve been blessed to see another day, and when you were blessed to see another day that should automatically give you joy.”
- Anthony Ray Hinton -
“When you are grateful, you are not fearful, and when you are not fearful, you’re not violent. When you are grateful, you act out of a sense of enough and not out of a sense of scarcity, and you are willing to share. If you are grateful, you are enjoying the differences between people and respectful to all people. A grateful world is a world of joyful people. Grateful people are joyful people.”
- Brother Steindl-Rast -
Overcoming Anxiety: Talking & Thinking
Q: What will happen?
A: The peace of God
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Overcoming Anxiety: Talking & Thinking
Q: What can we do after prayer?
A: Think on these things.
“Think”= Taking into account
Philippians 4:8
And last of all, my Christian friends, since there is moral excellence, and since there are things worthy of praise, focus your mind on these things – on whatever is truthful, whatever is majestic and awe inspiring, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever calls forth love, whatever is winsome…. If you do, the god of peace will be with you.
Whatever is:
Truthful
Majestic & awe inspiring
Just
Pure
Calls forth love
Winsome