Overcoming Worry

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Too Many People are controlled by Anxiety and Fear.

People are afraid to go out at night. We lock our doors all the time. Article - TP that teens don’t believe they would graduate HS without being a victim of violence.
After Katrina - placed a trailer for them … women had terror in her eyes

Jesus teaches that worry will keep us from reaching our potential

Luke 8:14 NLT
The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.

What is Anxiety?

nervousness or agitation, often about something that is going to happen
a subject or concern that causes worry
a state of intense apprehension or fear of real or imagined danger, manifested physiologically as increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, weakness, and stomach or intestinal discomfort

Anxiety can be a Realistic Concern

1 Corinthians 12:25 NLT
This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.
2 Corinthians 11:28 NLT
Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.
Philippians 2:20 NLT
I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare.

Anxiety can become Intense and Irrational

Worrying comes when we turn from God and shift the burdens of our lives onto ourselves and assume, at least by our actions and attitudes, that we alone are responsible for handling problems. Instead of acknowledging God’s sovereignty and power, many of us slip into sinful self-reliance and preoccupation with our own life pressures.

What are some Causes of Anxiety?

It seems like it usually comes from THREAT, CONFLICT, FEAR, UNMET NEEDS, PHYSIOLOGY, AND BELIEFS

Anxiety can come from Threat

Threat can come from physical danger. soldiers returning, crime,
Threat can come against our Self Esteem. We don’t want to be embarrassed.
Threat can come from the threat of Separation - Loss leaves us feeling sad and uncertain.

Anxiety can come from Conflict

Most of us want to avoid conflict. Conflict happens when to opposites apply pressure to you at the same time.
a. Approach-Approach Conflict: The conflict is over the tendency to pursue two desirable goals that are not compatible at the same time. (two dinner invitations at the same time and you want to do both)
b. Approach-Avoidance Conflict: The desire is to both do something and to not do it. (Take a promotion because we need more money, but are afraid of the change; buy something we want, but don’t really want to spend the money for) RS in Best Buy
c. Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict: both options may be unpleasant. (living with a painful illness vs. having a painful surgery)

Anxiety can come from Fear - Irrational Beliefs

Anxiety can come from Unmet Needs

Survival / security / intimacy / significance / self fulfillment /

Anxiety can come from Physiology

Some people seem to be wired to worry.

Anxiety can also come from Our Belief About God

Beliefs are key. If God is an all knowing, all powerful and loving God, who forgives sin, we can trust him with our security. If he is not, we will be anxious.

PAUL GIVES US 10 WAYS TO OVERCOME WORRY AND ANXIETY

Philippians 4:4–13 NLT
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

1. Learn to Rejoice (Phil 4:4)

Philippians 4:4 NLT
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
Means to be well or thrive. Our inner attitudes impact our outer behavior.
We will encounter situations in which we cannot be happy, but we can always rejoice and thrive or be well in the Lord. Paul is not telling us to put on a fake smile like we do in church; he is telling us to have genuine joy, which is possible only “in the Lord.” It is only through our relationship with God that we find joy in the middle of pain, suffering, persecution, and sorrow.

2. Exhibit Gentleness or Consideration Toward Others (Phil. 4:5)

Philippians 4:5 NLT
Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Epieikes refers to a spirit that is reasonable, fair-minded, and charitable. It describes someone willing to yield his or her own rights to show consideration and gentleness to others.

3. Determine to Obey God - God says not to Worry (Phil 4:6; Matt 6:25-34)

Philippians 4:6 NLT
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
1 Peter 5:7 NLT
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Worrying is bad because it is a subtle form of distrust in God. When we worry, we are saying that we don’t trust that God will provide or we doubt that he cares or that he can’t handle our situation. This leads to a helpless, hopeless feeling that causes us to be paralyzed.
Jesus said to …
Matthew 6:25–34 NLT
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but … I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man.”
Martin Luther King, Jr., from an address given the night before he died

4. We Need to Really Pray (Phil 4:6)

Philippians 4:6 NLT
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Prayer is talking and listening to God.
Prayer Combats Worry by Allowing us to offload stress onto God
No request is too big for God nor too small for the Lord. We need to bring everything to the Lord.
Presenting our needs to him does not guarantee that God will say yes to every prayer.
Jesus prayed that the cup might be taken from him, but it wasn’t; Paul prayed that the thorn in the flesh might be removed, but God chose to work through Paul despite his problem.
God always answers prayer - it might not be the answer we want.
Examples of God answering prayer Matt 7:7; Ps 91:15; ISA 65:24; 58:9; John 15:7; Ex 15:24-25; Judges 6:39-40; 1 Kings 18:37-38

5. God will give us Peace and Protect Our Minds (Phil 4:7)

Philippians 4:7 NLT
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
If we will Pray, God will give us peace.
True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings; it comes from knowing that God is in control. We are given peace with God when we believe (Romans 5:1), and then have the inner quiet of the peace of God as we daily walk with him.
John 14:27 NLT
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
The Peace that Jesus Gives, will Guard your thoughts.
Guard is a military term that means to surround and protect a city. The Philippians, living in a garrison town, were familiar with the Roman guards who maintained watch, guarding the city from any outside attack.
God’s peace is like soldiers surrounding believers’ hearts and minds (that is, emotions and thoughts), securing them against threatening and harmful outside forces.

6. We must Focus Our Thoughts (Phil 4:8)

Philippians 4:8 NLT
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
With the word finally, he is saying that “it follows then” that if one is to have this inner peace from God and maintain a life free of worry, then certain steps must be taken, notably in his or her thoughts. Paul knew that a person’s thoughts determine who that person is, his or her attitudes, and how he or she acts toward others.

We are to focus on whatever is TRUE

We are to focus on whatever is HONORABLE

We are to focus on whatever is RIGHT

We are to focus on whatever is PURE

We are to focus on whatever is LOVELY

We are to focus on whatever is ADMIRABLE

We are to focus on whatever is EXCELLENT

We are to focus on whatever is WORTHY OF PRAISE

7. We Need to Focus on GODLY BEHAVIOR (Phil 4:9)

Philippians 4:9 NLT
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

First we Must AVOID SIN

Proverbs 4:15 NLT
Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.

Second We Must Fellowship with Other Believers (Connect Group)

8. We Must Change Our Focus from OURSELVES to OTHERS (Phil 4:10)

Philippians 4:10–11 NLT
How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.
Philippians 2:3–4 NLT
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
As we get our minds off of our problems by helping others, our anxiety decreases.

9. We must Learn to be CONTENT (Phil 4:11)

Philippians 4:11 NLT
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.
This is a hard thing to do, but when we stop wishing for what might have been and understand that God is in control of our circumstance, we can become content to learn the lessons he has for us and so we become stronger people because of our trials. We become content when we no longer allow outward circumstances to determine our attitudes

10. We Need to Develop an OVERCOMER MINDSET (Phil 4:13)

Philippians 4:13 NLT
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Paul could be content because Christ gave him the strength to be content. Christ gave him the strength to do anything Christ called him to do. Paul had complete confidence that, no matter what the circumstance, Christ would give him the strength to meet it. Thanks to his enabler, Paul had a “Over Comer” attitude.
God wants us to accomplish much for him in this world, but only through Christ. Instead of trusting our own strength and abilities, we must rely on Christ and his power.
God does not grant us superhuman ability nor every resource to accomplish anything we can imagine without regard to his interests. As we live out our faith, we will face troubles, pressures, and trials. But we do not need to worry about being given more than we can handle; Christ will supply resources sufficient to complete what he asks us to do.
Conclusion
We will all face situations where we can become fearful and anxious. That is a fact that we cannot change.
If we will follow the pattern in this passage of Scripture, we can have incredible peace in the middle of anything we are going through. If we will Rejoice in the Lord; show our gentleness as a result of that deep joy; Turn away form worry and pray; we will enjoy the peace of God. Then if we will change our thoughts to God types of thoughts, we can maintain that peace and develop an attitude of Over-coming
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