Lenten Study, Session 1

The Plan Session 1 (February 18) - Chapter 1 - Less Fret, More Faith Session 2 (February 25) - Section 1, Chapters 2-4 - Celebrate God's Goodness Session 3 (March 4) - Section 2, Chapters 5-6 - Ask God For Help Session 4 (March 11) - Section 3, Chapters 7-8 - Leave Your Concerns With Him Session 5 (March 18) - Section 4, Chapters 9-11 - Meditate On Good Things Session 6 (March 25) - Psalm 37 Philippians 4:4-8 - Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 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. 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 Phobia...................................................................................................Philia Terror....................... ......................................................................Courage Fear.......................................................................... ...................Confidence Anxiety..................................................................................................Calm Worry...........................................................................................Assurance Concern.................................................................................................Peace Anxiety Anxiety is a meteor shower of what-ifs Anxiety is trepidation Anxiety imagines a threat Anxiety creates doom and gloom Anxiety is being out of breath because of the angst of life What are the causes of anxiety? 1) Change 2) Pace of life 3) Personal challenges Philippians 4:6 - do not be anxious about anything, - Present active tense - The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional. Anxiety is not a sin Signs of anxiety • Are you laughing less than you once did? • Do you see problems in every promise? • Would those who know you best describe you as increasingly negative and critical? • Do you assume that something bad is going to happen? • Do you dilute and downplay good news with doses of your version of reality? • Many days would you rather stay in bed than get up? • Do you magnify the negative and dismiss the positive? • Given the chance, would you avoid any interaction with humanity for the rest of your life? The goal "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds" (v. 7). The method Celebrate God's goodness. "Rejoice in the Lord always" (v. 4). Ask God for help. "Let your requests be made known to God" (v. 6). Leave your concerns with him. "With thanksgiving . . ." (v. 6). Meditate on good things. "Think about the things that are good and worthy of praise" (v. 8) Dear Lord, You spoke to storms. Would you speak to ours? You calmed the hearts of the apostles. Would you calm the chaos within us? You told them to fear not. Say the same to us. We are weary from our worry, battered and belittled by the gales of life. O Prince of Peace, bequeath to us a spirit of calm. As we turn the page in this book, will you turn a new leaf in our lives? Quench anxiety. Stir courage. Let us know less fret and more faith. In Jesus' name, amen. Dear Lord, You spoke to storms. Would you speak to mine? You calmed the hearts of the apostles. Would you calm the chaos within me? You told them to fear not. Say the same to me. I am weary from my worry, battered and belittled by the gales of life. O Prince of Peace, bequeath to me a spirit of calm. As I turn the page in this book, will you turn a new leaf in my life? Quench anxiety. Stir courage. Let me know less fret and more faith. In Jesus' name, amen. ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING: FINDING CALM IN A CHAOTIC WORLD LENTEN STUDY 2021 SESSION 1 FEBRUARY 18, 2021 2 | Page