Keys To Overcoming Worry

Do you worry? Do you have problems with anxiety? according to some the latest statistics it is estimated that 1/3rd of adults in the U.S. admit to having anxiety, worry and depression. Brothers and sisters that’s only the ones who admit to it, imagine how many hide or deny its existence in their lives. That number then would be much higher. To say its a problem is an understatement. I’ll throw out another scary number in is estimated that 31.9% of adolescents 13-18 are affected by anxiety disorders. Well what do people worry about?

work - getting work, hate work, not good enough, deadlines, co-workers

money - lack of it, broke, what to do with it, necessities, expenses

health - weight, image, sickness, disease

what other people think - parents, friends, boss, church, etc.

past - mistakes made, choices made, missed opportunities

future - what if’s, what it looks like, what will happen, all the things above

One thing is for certain, all this worry leads to anxiety and it can stress you out, depress you, cripple you and ultimately it causes you to loose out on the joys of this life.

The word worry or anxious that we have in our text means - to be pulled in different directions (torn apart) a good example of that is when our hopes are pulling us one way but our fears are pulling us in another direction. The old English root from which we get our English word worry means to strangle & that is exactly what worries and anxiety do. In fact, did you know that worry and anxiety can have physical consequences like headaches, neck-pain, ulcers, back pain, sickness. It even effects our digestion, thinking, and even our coordination.

Worry stems from wrong thinking that leads to wrong feeling. The question is how do we gain victory over worry and anxiousness? How do we change our thinking and feeling. In order to conquer worry we must secure our minds and our hearts (4:7). Paul guided by the H.S. gives us 3 ways to secure our hearts and minds so that we conquer worry.

Right Praying

Right Thinking

Right Living

This morning I want to focus on just one of those, right praying.

Right Praying

Paul begins in v. 6 by telling us do not be anxious about anything. Hold on Paul, did you really mean anything. That seems quit hard. Is that even possible. Evidently it is. Why does God tell us to not worry about anything? keeping within the context of Philippians it robs us of our joy, robs us of internal peace which can rob us of external peace (Euodia & Syntyche, Live in harmony) and ultimately it runs our thinking inward instead of outward on Christ, the gospel and others. Paul is not talking about the simple minded bedtime morning time rote repetition of prayers we often find ourselves doing. He is talking about the serious business of bringing our lives before God, examining our dependence upon God, placing our lives in God’s hands…Anxiety is an attempt to carry the burden of the present and the future oneself; prayer is yielding to and leaving it in the safe hands of God.

God’s Word says instead of being anxious you need to pray. You see pray is the answer, it’s the key to finding peace. but notice it doesn’t just say pray. We actually have 3 different words for prayer here.

prayer - general word for prayer carries with the idea of adoration, devotion, and worship. God is telling us we need to get alone and pray. Spend sometime in adoration of God, seeing the greatness and majesty of God. We need to devote our selves to him and worship him, give him all glory and praise to kiss towards or prostrate oneself before almighty God.

supplication - earnest sharing of our needs and problems. Note that I said earnest sharing, it involves spiritual intensity not carnal energy. A good example of this is Jesus in Hebrews 5:7 “In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.” Notice what did Jesus offer up prayers and supplications, how did he do it? with loud crying and tears. earnest, sincere, real, genuine. Romans 15:30 “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,” Colossians 4:12 “Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.” not just marking off a list of things you always pray about, not generic.

give thanks - Ephesians 5:20 “always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;” we ought to give thanks all the time and for everything. You remember the story of the 10 lepers in Lk. 17:11-19. Only 1 out of 10 returned to give Jesus thanks. Think about all that we have in Jesus. The term carries with it the idea of thanks freely given from a heart overflowing with gratitude. How often do we give him thanks?

What’s really fascinating to me is the order prayer - focus is on God, supplication - my needs, thanksgiving - focus on God. Why that order because only in God can you find peace and conquer anxiety.

v. 7

“and the peace of God” (who’s peace?) What could be better than the peace of God. (important note: this does not mean the absence of trials on the outside, but it does mean quiet confidence on the inside regardless of circumstances, people, or things.

“which surpasses all understanding” - its so wonderful and amazing and so great we cannot even understand it, it transcends human understanding. Its beyond anything that we could think or imagine. Now how many of you want that kind of peace? Have you ever had a peqce over you that was in-explainable, you can’t fully express what it means to have it and those that see it are perplexed by it.

“will guard(keep) your hearts and minds” When you pray God will give you peace and guard your peace like garrison or soldier. When you are giving yourself to him he protects you and that includes your peace. notice he said he will guard your heart and mind, your thinking and feeling. He will keep you from worry and anxiousness. Imagine for a moment a heavily protected walled city where citizens can go about to and fro undisturbed from the dangers of the outside. That’s what God does for us. Our peace is guarded while they word around is utter chaos. This isn’t fake peace either. I think sometimes we act like we are at peace when we are not. We are like ducks on a pond. You ever watch ducks on a pond,they are so graceful and peaceful and calm just gliding thru the water, but what’s happening below the water. That ducks feet are just pumping and going and paddling like crazy. That’s us we act like things are all good but on the inside of our hearts and minds we are crazy wreck with our insides just churning with worry and anxiety. When you truly god to God in prayer you really will have peace. real peace peace that surpasses all understanding (won’t make sense to the world).

“in Jesus Christ”

Do you need peace this morning? Do you need to be set free from worry and anxiety? Peace can only be found in Jesus will you come to him thru B.R.C.B.F. Only when you are in Jesus Christ can you find peace with God and self. Then when you are in Christ you can give prayer supplication and thanksgiving to God and he will give you peace and guard your peace.

If we can help you to come to Jesus this morning please come while we stand and sing.