This week we are looking at the following scripture...
Philippians 4:4-8, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Paul reminds us that the keys to de-stressing our lives are very clear.
First, we much make a decision to no longer worry or be anxious.
Second, we need turn our worry into prayer requests and give it to God.
The next step is very simply to THANK GOD FOR ALL THINGS.
v. 6 "... in everything ... with thanksgiving ..."
Good News says, "...always asking Him with a thankful heart." In an article that read recently by Rick Warren, he said,
"The attitude of gratitude. The healthiest human emotion is the attitude of gratitude, having a
grateful heart, being thankful. It actually increases your immunities. It is a physical benefit to express the attitude of gratitude. Ungrateful people also tend to be unhappy people. Nothing every satisfies them, it's never good enough. They are "when... and then" people -- "when such and such happens then I'll be happy". If you're depressed, make a list of fifty things you can be grateful for. When you're grateful, it gets the focus off your problems and gets the focus on the benefits in your life. We have so much that we take for granted."
It makes sense! Develop the attitude of gratitude and watch the stress level in your life go down. It gets your eyes off the problem and focused on the goodness of God in your life.
I Thes. 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." One part of God's will for your life is "in all things give thanks." Remember, there is always something to be grateful for.
Philippians 4:4-8, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Paul reminds us that the keys to de-stressing our lives are very clear.
First, we much make a decision to no longer worry or be anxious.
Second, we need turn our worry into prayer requests and give it to God.
The next step is very simply to THANK GOD FOR ALL THINGS.
v. 6 "... in everything ... with thanksgiving ..."
Good News says, "...always asking Him with a thankful heart." In an article that read recently by Rick Warren, he said,
"The attitude of gratitude. The healthiest human emotion is the attitude of gratitude, having a
grateful heart, being thankful. It actually increases your immunities. It is a physical benefit to express the attitude of gratitude. Ungrateful people also tend to be unhappy people. Nothing every satisfies them, it's never good enough. They are "when... and then" people -- "when such and such happens then I'll be happy". If you're depressed, make a list of fifty things you can be grateful for. When you're grateful, it gets the focus off your problems and gets the focus on the benefits in your life. We have so much that we take for granted."
It makes sense! Develop the attitude of gratitude and watch the stress level in your life go down. It gets your eyes off the problem and focused on the goodness of God in your life.
I Thes. 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." One part of God's will for your life is "in all things give thanks." Remember, there is always something to be grateful for.