Philippians 4:6-13
How not to experience it.
1. Your job.
2. Your money, or the lack thereof.
3. Health.
4. Relationships.
5. Media overload.
6. Lack of sleep.
"How do you know when you have peace that passes all understanding?"
"If you'll do these things, I'll do that."
1. Refuse to worry about anything!
The number one stress in your life is not work; it's worry.
Never worry about anything.
Worry is unreasonable.
Worry has never worked; it's worthless.
Worry is unnatural.
It can be unlearned.
Proverbs 12:35 "An anxious heart weighs a man down."
Proverbs 14:30 "A heart at peace gives life to the body."
Worry is unhelpful.
It can't change the past nor dictate the future.
Worry is unnecessary.
Matthew 6:30 "If God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't He most surely care for you, O you of little faith?"
2. Talk to God about everything!
Stop talking to yourself about all the stuff that's stressing you out and start talking to God.
If we prayed as much as we worry, we'd be a lot better off.
James 4:2 "You do not have because you do not ask."
Romans 8:32 (NLT) "Since God did not spare even His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, won't He who gives us Christ also give us everything else we need?"
3. Thank God in all things!
We don't want to thank God FOR all things, but we want to thank Him IN all things.
Happy people are grateful people.
1 Thessalonian 5:18 "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
4. Think about good things!
It's in your thought life; it's in your mind.
It doesn't have to rule any moment of any day.
Is it true? Is it good? Is it right? Is it pure? Is it beautiful?
Is it respected? Is it excellent? Is it worthy of honor?
Proverbs 14:9 "Fools make fun of sin."
Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) "You Lord, will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, and whose thoughts are fixed ON YOU!"
5. Be content with anything!
Contentment doesn't mean that you don't have ambition.
Contentment is enjoying what I have right now.
Your happiness is not based on your happenings or your circumstances.
Contentment is not natural.
Stop thinking that having more is better.
You can have contentment when you don't have the desire to acquire.
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Job 22:21 "Obey God and be at peace with Him; this is the way to happiness."