The Power of a Carefree Mind

A. The cares of life can make us powerless.

1. Focusing on problems weakens faith.

2. And cares drain the potential of the mind.

a. Cares are often caused by idolizing money and pleasure (; )

b. Cares can keep us from expecting Christ’s return (Luke 21:34)

B. The Apostle Paul calls for a carefree mind.

Philippians 4:6 NKJV

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

1. “Be anxious for nothing”

2. How can we achieve this important goal?

We Must Trust Instead of Tremble

1. Anxiety prevents achievement

Isaiah 26:11 NKJV

11 Lord, when Your hand is lifted up, they will not see. But they will see and be ashamed For their envy of people; Yes, the fire of Your enemies shall devour them.

a. Consider the potential of a mind free from fear.

b. Think of the inventions and accomplishments of focused thinking.

2. Faith and fear are opposites

a. Faith brings salvation, security and peace.

b. a peaceful mind is a powerful mind

3. Faith drives fear away, placing everything within our reach (; )

Mark 9:23 NKJV

23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

4. “Faith is dead to doubts, dumb to discouragements, blind to impossibilities, knows nothing but success.” (V. Raymond Edman). That’s empowerment!

We Must Forgive Instead of Fume ()

Ephesians 4:31–32 NKJV

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

1. How do we handle bitterness, wrath, anger, malice?

a. These hindrances to power must be put away.

b. Anger is a roadblock to accomplishment.

2. Consider what anger did to Cain ()

a. Anger robs us of the power to bless others

b. Anger stifles Christian fellowship and service.

3. Forgiveness is the antidote to anger (v. 32)

a. “be kind to one another”

b. “forgiving one another”

4. Forgiveness opens the channels of power

We Must Release Instead of Retain ()

1 Peter 5:7 NKJV

7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

1. We can cast our cares on Christ and be free of them

a. Holding on to our cares makes us weak and weary

b. Releasing our cares to Christ sets us free

2. We have the option of releasing our cares

a. God loves us: Christ died for us

b. The cross proves this caring love ()

Romans 5:8 NKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Conclusion:

A. God’s power can flow through us to others.

B. Trusting, Forgiving, and Releasing turn the power on.