The church in Philippi was going The church in Philippi was going through tough times when Paul through tough times when Paul wrote them. Notwithstanding his wrote them. Notwithstanding his own unenviable plight, Paul own unenviable plight, Paul encouraged them to rejoice in the encouraged them to rejoice in the Lord (v. 4), to be gentle to all (v. 5), Lord (v. 4), to be gentle to all (v. 5), and to look up to God in the midst and to look up to God in the midst of their crises (v. 6-9).of their crises (v. 6-9).

The opposite of peace is war. But The opposite of peace is war. But the enemy of peace is anxiety. the enemy of peace is anxiety. There is no peace for those who There is no peace for those who meditate on their concerns day and meditate on their concerns day and night. We experience peace only night. We experience peace only when we…when we…

Redirect our worriesRedirect our worriesto GOD.to GOD.

(vv. 6-7)(vv. 6-7)

““Do not be anxiousDo not be anxious about anything, about anything, but in everything, by prayer and but in everything, by prayer and

petition, with thanksgiving, petition, with thanksgiving, present present your requests to Godyour requests to God. And the . And the

peace of God, which transcends all peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ hearts and your minds in Christ

Jesus.”Jesus.”(Philippians 4:6-7)(Philippians 4:6-7)

The slower the pictures move, the The slower the pictures move, the better your ability of handling better your ability of handling

stress.stress.

None of these images are animated None of these images are animated - they are perfectly static!- they are perfectly static!

The pictures are used to test the The pictures are used to test the level of stress a person can handle.level of stress a person can handle.

Anxiety is a complex combination of Anxiety is a complex combination of emotions that includes fear, emotions that includes fear,

apprehension and worry, and is often apprehension and worry, and is often accompanied by physical sensations such accompanied by physical sensations such

as rise in blood pressure, palpitations, as rise in blood pressure, palpitations, nausea, dry mouth, headaches, insomnia, nausea, dry mouth, headaches, insomnia, poor concentration, chest pain, muscular poor concentration, chest pain, muscular

tension, fatigue, diarrhea, and/or tension, fatigue, diarrhea, and/or shortness of breath.shortness of breath.

(Dr. Gary R. Collins, Christian Counseling)(Dr. Gary R. Collins, Christian Counseling)

According to the Bible, there is nothing According to the Bible, there is nothing wrong with realistically acknowledging wrong with realistically acknowledging and trying to deal with the identifiable and trying to deal with the identifiable

problems of life. To ignore danger is problems of life. To ignore danger is foolish and wrong.foolish and wrong.

(Dr. Gary R. Collins, Christian Counseling)(Dr. Gary R. Collins, Christian Counseling)

But it is also wrong, as well as But it is also wrong, as well as unhealthy, to be immobilized by unhealthy, to be immobilized by

excessive worry. Such worry must be excessive worry. Such worry must be committed to prayer to God, who can committed to prayer to God, who can

release us from paralyzing fear or release us from paralyzing fear or anxiety, and free us to deal realistically anxiety, and free us to deal realistically

with the needs and welfare both of with the needs and welfare both of others and of ourselves.others and of ourselves.

(Dr. Gary R. Collins, Christian Counseling)(Dr. Gary R. Collins, Christian Counseling)

1.1. Redirect our worries to God Redirect our worries to God (vv. 6-7)(vv. 6-7)

• Present your requests to God.Present your requests to God.

PrayerPrayer

PetitionPetition

ThanksgivingThanksgiving

• The peace of God will guard you.The peace of God will guard you.

Redirect our thoughtsRedirect our thoughtsto GOD.to GOD.

(v. 8)(v. 8)

““Finally, brothers, whatever is true, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is whatever is noble, whatever is

right, whatever is pure, whatever right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if is lovely, whatever is admirable – if

anything is excellent or anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such praiseworthy – think about such

things.”things.”(Philippians 4:8)(Philippians 4:8)

It’s what we say to ourselves in It’s what we say to ourselves in response to any particular situation that response to any particular situation that mainly determines our mood and mainly determines our mood and feelings. Often we say it so quickly and feelings. Often we say it so quickly and automatically that we don’t even automatically that we don’t even notice, and so we get the impression notice, and so we get the impression that the external situation “makes” us that the external situation “makes” us feel the way we do. But it’s really our feel the way we do. But it’s really our interpretations and thoughts about interpretations and thoughts about what is happening that form the basis what is happening that form the basis of our feelingsof our feelings

ExternaExternall

EventsEvents

InterpretatiInterpretation of Events on of Events & Self-Talk& Self-Talk

Feelings Feelings & &

ReactionsReactions

““For though we live in the world, we do For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The not wage war as the world does. The

weapons we fight with are not the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, weapons of the world. On the contrary,

they have divine power to demolish they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish strongholds. We demolish argumentsarguments and and

every every pretensionpretension that sets itself up that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought take captive every thought to make it to make it

obedient to Christ.”obedient to Christ.”(2 Corinthians 10:3-5)(2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

2.2. Redirect our thoughts to God Redirect our thoughts to God (v. 8)(v. 8)

• Think only of what is…Think only of what is… True – “The law of the Lord is True – “The law of the Lord is

perfect, reviving the soul.”perfect, reviving the soul.”

Noble – “The statutes of the Lord Noble – “The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”simple.”

2.2. Redirect our thoughts to God Redirect our thoughts to God (v. 8)(v. 8)

• Think only of what is…Think only of what is… Right – “The precepts of the Lord Right – “The precepts of the Lord

are right, giving joy to the heart.”are right, giving joy to the heart.”

Pure – “The commands of the Lord Pure – “The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”eyes.”

2.2. Redirect our thoughts to God Redirect our thoughts to God (v. 8)(v. 8)

• Think only of what is…Think only of what is… Lovely – “The fear of the Lord is Lovely – “The fear of the Lord is

pure, enduring forever.”pure, enduring forever.”

Admirable – “The ordinances of Admirable – “The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.”righteous.”

2.2. Redirect our thoughts to God Redirect our thoughts to God (v. 8)(v. 8)

• Think only of what is…Think only of what is… Excellent or Praiseworthy – “They Excellent or Praiseworthy – “They

are more precious than gold,”are more precious than gold,”

• The Word of God will grow you The Word of God will grow you (cf. Psalm 19:7-11)(cf. Psalm 19:7-11)..

When you are feeling anxious, When you are feeling anxious, depressed, self-critical, or upset depressed, self-critical, or upset

in generalin general……

STOP!

STOP and ask yourself…

What am I telling myself that is making me feel this way?

STOP and ask yourself…

Do I really want to do this to myself?

STOP and ask yourself…

Do I really want to stay upset?

LOOK!

LOOK to God…

…for Wisdom!

LOOK to God…

…for Strength!

LOOK to God…

…for Peace!

LISTEN!

LISTEN to God…

…for the Truth!

LISTEN to God…

…for the Truth about you!

LISTEN to God…

…for the Truth about your situation!

Redirect our lifeRedirect our lifeto GOD.to GOD.

(v. 9)(v. 9)

““Whatever you have learned or Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or received or heard from me, or

seen in me – put it into seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace practice. And the God of peace

will be with you.”will be with you.”(Philippians 4:9)(Philippians 4:9)

3.3. Redirect our life to God Redirect our life to God (v. 9)(v. 9)

• Put into practice…Put into practice… What you have learnedWhat you have learned What you have receivedWhat you have received What you have heardWhat you have heard What you have seenWhat you have seen

• The God of peace will guide you.The God of peace will guide you.