John 16:33 // “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Philippians 4:7 (LB) // If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.
1. Refuse to Worry
Philippians 4:6 // Don’t worry about anything…
- Worry: To strangle or choke
Things Jesus said:
Matthew 6:25 // “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?
- Worry is Unnatural
- If worry is learned, it can be un-learned.
Matthew 6:26, 28-29 // 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? 28 “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, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
Matthew 6:27 // Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
Proverbs 12:25 // Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
Proverbs 14:30 // A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.
Matthew 6:30 // 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?
2. Talk to God about Everything
Philippians 4:6 // Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need…
- Ruminating
- If you prayed as much as you worried, you would have much less to worry about.
3. Thank God in All Things
Philippians 4:6 // Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
- You cannot be happy and ungrateful at the same time.
4. Think about Good Things
Philippians 4:8 // 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.
Isaiah 26:3 // You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
5. Be Content with Anything
Philippians 4:11-12 // Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 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.
Philippians 4:7 // 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.
