Prayer as an Antidote for Worry

2. Unpacking Prayer Part 19: Prayer as an Antidote for Worry

3. What is one of the most common ills facing individuals in our society today? STRESS! What is the number one justifiable sin among Christians today? WORRY!

4. Do you worry?

5. Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. proseuche (προσεύχη) aitema (ảίτημα) deaesis (δεήσις) eucharistia (εύχαριστία)

6. Praying specifically for things should invite peace. - Praying specifically makes it personal. • Just because a request is important to • you, does not mean that you are • allowed to worry about it. • Your requests should be “given” to • God. - The peace of God is supernatural.

7. How do I know if it is the peace of God, or just denial? DENIAL PEACE “This is not happening.” “This is happening, but God is bigger.” “This is someone else’s problem.” “I can bear other’s burdens in prayer to God.” “I can’t deal with this.” “I can deal with this with God’s help and in God’s way.”

8. How do I remain in God’s peace?

9. Colossians 3:12-16 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

10. How do I remain in God’s peace? - Forgive others. - Practice sincere, sacrificial love for others. • Pray when you have something that is • burdening you. - Be thankful.

11. Matthew 6:27-37 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

12. “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

13. This is not just an exhortation to not worry, but to pray!

14. Prayer for specific burdens invites the peace of God – the peace of God filters our thoughts – the filtered thoughts ease our stress. PRAY!