Breathing A Peaceful Sigh of Relief: Phil. 4:4-8

I. Praise vs. 4-5

A. There is no excuse for not praising Yahweh, even if we do not feel like it, because it changes your focus from your problems to your problem solver. Every trial will reveal sin(s) in your life so you can deal with it, overcome it, and grow. Sometimes the only thing you can praise Yahweh for is that it will eventually get better.

B. “To rejoice is a choice”- Adrain Rogers. Make the choice, no matter how many times a second that you have to change your focus. (Robert Todd ex).

C. This takes your demeanor from frenzied to gentle.

II. Prayer vs. 6

A. Don’t worry. It’s easier said than done. But give them moment by moment to God. Mark 9:24

Mark 9:24 NASB95

Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

B. Prayer is general, not detailed prayers.

C. Supplication will be more detailed prayer.

D. Pray about what you know and what you don’t know.

E. Always be thankful when you pray, that is make sure to thank Yahweh for the answer in advance, and if the answer is no, or given in a way other than the way you want, that you’ll be thankful then too.

F. Be quiet and listen when you pray. Pray: 1) Expecting to hear from God. 2) Out loud. (Charles Stanley’s advice ex) 3) Alone in a set aside place.

III. Peace vs. 7-8

A. After this peace will come, NOT before.

B. Doubts will come, use this peace to guard your heart and mind. Let that peace build a garrison around you, a fortress if you will. That’s what this word guard means. Don’t stop that peace from building in you. Don’t just go off of your feelings. Sometimes the way we do this is to have a reminder of what God says to us, sometimes it’s a verse, a song we play on repeat, or an item that we keep as a reminder for a time.

C. Do this by focusing, dwelling on, repeating to yourself the good that is going on. “This too shall pass” might be the only good that is going on that you can see in the present. Whatever it is, focus on it.