Learning to Unwind
Learning to Unwind
Philippians 4:4-7
1. INTRO: What gets you wound up tight; a relationship, $$, future? How do you let it go?
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Ch: 11 Start 0:40:05 End 0:42:54
The Big Idea: How should we handle fear?
Setup: Prof. Lupin preps students to handle fear.
Scene: Lupin teaches students how to defeat Bogarts. Neville goes 1st, others follow, lesson ends.
Application: It would be nice if we could magically laugh away fears. Laughing might help us deal with baseless fears, but what about anxieties caused by the big issues of life? How do we learn to unwind in the face of so many real sources of anxiety?
2. Scripture, Philippians 4:4-7
Ø The anxiety root “How can I manage this?” is dug out of our hearts when replaced with the statement “God will manage this well for me.” Let’s see how.
3. Rejoice in God
Ø Bad news seems more constant than good. People & circumstances are too fickle a ground for joy.
Ø “Rejoice” 2x shows it’s not easy. So many things are beyond our control. But we don’t just rejoice.
Ø “Rejoice in the Lord” What we believe about His character will make this idea ludicrous or practical.
Ø Our innermost construct of God’s character greatly influences our emotions & actions.
Ø (Key Go Slow) Do we believe, deep down, that God is good, mighty, w/us, loves us & is our friend?
Ø Do you believe, deep down, that he has secured your eternity, will meet your needs, has made you His change-agent, & guarantees you his loving presence?
Ø Rejoice in that! Right now! Do it!
Ø There are things about which we’ll never be happy, but, we can have joy in Jesus himself.
4. Let Your Chillness Be Clear to All
Ø The word “gentleness” in vs.5 is much more. It’s less elegant but more accurate to use “gentle, patient, merciful, gracious tolerance.” (read into vs.5)
Ø Let them see that you’re “chill” because God is near.
Ø Why treat people any other way than with gracious tolerance? If they’re good to us… duh. If they’re challenging, God our joy is with us. His being there for us far outweighs their being against us.
Ø Living in joy knowing God’s got our back, we can afford to wave personal rights and be peace makers.
5. Give Your Anxieties to God
A. Don’t Be Anxious (Read vs.6)
Ø Lack of anxiety is not flippancy or apathy. It’s faith.
Ø Will I trust that God really has my back & my best interests in mind, or will I cope on my own?
Ø We may unconsciously fear God isn’t wise enough, strong enough, or good enough for this one.
Ø But if we doubt God’s love & power we lose our joy.
Ø Even with settled convictions about God that usually allow us to be joyful & chill, some circumstances are particularly challenging.
Ø Relationships have bad days. Ellen & I on Saturday.
Ø Mt.6 says that to worry is think that God cares more about flowers and birds than you, and/or that he is ignorant our powerless to meet our real needs. No, we can seek Him 1st and trust that he has got the rest.
Ø I do not need to fear even what I need or treasure most. This can apply to losing rights, relationships, time or money. If it up to me, I’ll horde & control. If God takes care of me, I can release even to the point of need or peril if he asks.
B. Pray
Ø But in those most challenging circumstances like the one I faced Saturday with Ellen, choosing to trust, I let it go in prayer.
Ø And to create the habit, big or small, pray it all.
Ø Make all your requests known praying & asking thankfully.
Ø We don’t need to repeat vain or magic words. We need to say enough to pour our hearts out.
Ø God may not give you exactly what you asked, but he will give you peace about it.
Ø Life yanks at your heart; God’s peace holds it fast.
6. Get God’s Peace in Return
Ø You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Is 26:3
Ø The peace that “surpasses understanding” is both beyond what we could logically plan out for ourselves as well as beyond our expectations.
Ø We only find this peace if we leave our lives in his hands. Trusting in the truth that what he gives me & where he leads me is best forms the basis for our peace in him. I must lose my life in him to find it.
Ø Our hearts are prone to anxiety. Joy, trust and prayer replace anxiety with a peace that garrisons our hearts & minds against its reentry.
Ø John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
7. Invite:
Ø Will you trust, rejoice, and commit to pray when tempted not to?