Victory Over Anxiety

Hostile Environment Causes Anxiety

these may be life changing or insignificant

Daniel and his three friends honored God while in captivity in Babylon

Sudden Change Causes Anxiety

At my high school graduation I was very worried about what would come next.

Failure to Accept What God Provides Causes Anxiety

Israel became dissatisfied with the manna, crying for meat.

Victory over anxiety begins with thanksgiving, rejoicing in the blessings of God

Philippians 4:4 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Speak to the people of our world

Philippians 4:5 ESV

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

A. Manner of expressing yourself: use moderation, be reasonable, fair, gentle, mild, and patient

B. Speak from a heart of love: carefully choosing the correct words. Be Thoughtful

C. Do this because the Lord is near, hearing every word you might think or say.

this may talk of the second coming or of indwelling of Holy Spirit

Nehemiah becomes our extreme example. His experience came as he served King Artaxerxes as his cupbearer. (14 years after Ezra’s return to Jerusalem. Nehemiah, when he spoke to the King, was always cheerful, respectful, and loyal. When Company came from Jerusalem, he listened to their story of his hometown.

Speak to yourself!

Nehemiah Sat down and wept about the condition of the Holy city!

Speak to God

Philippians 4:5–7 KJV 1900

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5–7 ESV

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Speak to God

Joan Evans learned about anxiousness when she stopped expecting her husband to come directly home from work.

A. Make your request known to God!

B. Give thanks for all His wisdom, guidance and provision.

C. Release the problem. God will bring peace, He is a great big God. Have faith!

I learned about how to apply verse 6 while taking a group of eighth graders to see the state capital. When they misbehaved on the bus, I gave the whole thing to the principal. He helped me release any further responsibility!

D. God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus!

Nehemiah prayed to God:

Nehemiah 1:5–11 KJV 1900

5 And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: 6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. 8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. 10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. 11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.

Speak to Yourself

Philippians 4:8 KJV 1900

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8 ESV

8 Finally, brothers, 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.

True: for real, valid, trustworthy

Honorable: respect, noble, dignified.

Just: righteous, up to God’s standards.

Pure: innocent, thinking no evil, holding no malice, wholesome, unstained by any sort of immorality

lovely: pleasing, grateful, appreciating the aesthetic

Stop and smell the roses

of good report: commendable, appealing

Virtue: excellence, goodness, a gracious act of God

Praise worthy, noble, respectable

Christian Life is the outworking of the nature, disposition, and mind of Christ living in you.

Practice these things in all you do!

Philippians 4:9 KJV 1900

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Rejoice in the Peace of God

Philippians 4:9 ESV

9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

To benefit from all the presence and peace of God, one must first be born again!

Whether it is a hostile environment,

a sudden change in circumstances,

or a failure to accept God’s provision,

you can find peace when you give it to God.

1 Peter 5:7 KJV 1900

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

It all begins with the new birth.

John 3:3 KJV 1900

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

When you have the peace of God you can depend on Him to bring rich, abundant life here and eternal life hereafter

Philippians 4:19 KJV 1900

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.