What’s on your worry list?

Philippians 4:6-7 CSB – Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:25 ESV – Jesus said, Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

A Command to Obey (take anxiety seriously)

Philippians 4:6 CSB – Don’t worry about anything

Proverbs 6:6-9 CSB – 

Go to the ant, you slacker!
Observe its ways and become wise.
Without leader, administrator, or ruler,
it prepares its provisions in summer;
it gathers its food during harvest.
How long will you stay in bed, you slacker?
When will you get up from your sleep?

Acts 20:24 NIV – However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Anxiety Distorts Reality

John 10:10 NIV – A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

Four Reasons God says, “Don’t Worry”

  1. Worry Wastes Time & Energy

Matthew 6:27 – Jesus said, Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying?

  1. Worry Destroys
  2. Worry is Contagious
  3. Worry Shows a Lack of Faith

Hebrews 1:10-12 ESV – 

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
12 like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”

Matthew 6:26 CSB- Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?

Matthew 6:28-30 CSB – Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?

A Prescription for Worry

Philippians 4:6 ESV –  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

  • Pray Absolutely

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Psalm 20:1 ESV – May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!

Psalm 50:15 ESV – God says, call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Matthew 7:7 ESV – Jesus says, Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Psalm 20:7-8 ESV – 

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

8 They collapse and fall,

but we rise and stand upright.

Matthew 6:31-33 ESV – when He says,

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

What would it look like for you to stop worrying and start releasing everything to God?

Philippians 4:6 – do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

  • Pray With Thanksgiving

Philippians 4:4 ESV – Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – In everything, give thanks.

Psalm 4:8 ESV – In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Celebrate God

Ask God for help

Leave the problem with God

Meditate on good things.

Philippians 4:8 ESV – whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

God’s Promise– Peace that Surpasses Understanding

Jesus’ Peace Is Peace the World Can’t Give or Understand

Philippians 4:7 – And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 14:27 – Jesus said, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Matthew 10:28 – Jesus said, And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Learn To Trust God In Everything

Proverbs 3:5-7 ESV – 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

7 Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

  1. Trust God in Prayer

Philippians 4:6 – do not be anxious about anything, but in everything ..pray.

1 Peter 5:7 NIV – Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Isaiah 26:3-4 – You will keep the mind that is dependent on you
in perfect peace,
for it is trusting in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
because in the Lord, the Lord himself, is an everlasting rock!

  1. Trust God’s Promises

Psalm 91:1-2 ESV – 

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

Proverbs 3:24-26 ESV – 

If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence

Psalm 121:1-3, 7-8 – 

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.

 

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore

Matthew 28:20b – “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Colossians 3:15 ESV – And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

  1. Trust God by Complete Surrender Every Day

Matthew 6:33-34 ESV – But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Romans 14:8 ESV – For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

Matthew 6:33-34 ESV – But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. 

  1. Trust God’s Love Completely

Romans 8:28 ESV – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

5 Questions

  1. Have I prayed about it?
  2. Do I really believe what I say I believe?
  3. What is the Worst That Can Happen? Can you survive with God’s help?
  4. What’s going to matter in 100 years?
  5. Most important: Are you doing your best right now?