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Introduction

Philippians 4:6-13 – 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me – everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. 10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (New Living Translation)

Steps to Reduce Stress

1. Refuse to worry about anything

Philippians 4:6 – Don’t worry about anything; . . . (New Living Translation)

Why ‘worry’ is unreasonable

• Worry exaggerates the problem

Matthew 6:25 – . . . do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? (New International Version)

• Worry is unnatural

Matthew 6:26 – Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? (New Living Translation)

• Worry is unhelpful

Matthew 6:27 – You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. (New Century Version)

• Worry is unnecessary*

Matthew 6:30-31 – 30 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers – most of which are never even seen – don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? 31 What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, . . . (The Message)

1 Peter 5:7 – God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him. (Contemporary English Version)

2. Talk to God about everything

Philippians 4:6 – . . . Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. (The Message)

James 4:2 – . . . You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it. (Today English Version)

Romans 8:32 – Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? (New Living Translation)

3. Thank God in all things

Philippians 4:6 – . . . ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. (Today’s English Version)

1 Thessalonians 5:18 – . . . in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (New King James Version)

4. Think about _______ ____________

Philippians 4:8 – . . . fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. (Today’s English Version)

Isaiah 26:3 – You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (New Living Translation)

5. Be __________________ with anything

Philippians 4:11-12 – 11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12 I know both how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content – whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. (Christian Standard Bible)

Proverbs 14:30 – It’s healthy to be content, but envy can eat you up. (Contemporary English Version)

Ecclesiastes 4:6 – . . . it is better to be content with what little you have. Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more, and that is like chasing the wind. (New Century Version)