Message: The Sounds of Peace
Speaker: Greg Holder
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
DISCUSSION:
-What situation is causing you to be anxious in your life right now?
-What does it look like to give thanks as we present our requests to God?
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:24-27
Jesus knows the human heart. He tells us directly here not to worry!
The questions for each of us are: Do you believe God provides or not? Are you going to put your trust in God, or are you going to put your trust in something else?
DISCUSSION:
-What are some things that we tend to put our trust in instead of God?
-How hard is it for you, in your current situation, to trust God instead of yourself or other things?
-How have you seen him be faithful and trustworthy before?
-How much of what you spend your time worrying about are things you have no control over?
We have a choice to make in the middle of whatever it is we bring to God. It's not bigger than you, and you are good.
Worry is a tyrant. It forces you to think that you can be in control of all things. It moves you away from the truth that God is your security, your comfort, your provider, your healer.... It leaves you to figure things out on your own.
DISCUSSION:
-Is it hard for you to trust God?
-What do you need to trust Him with today?
Triggers are sights, smells, sounds, or words that bring back a memory of things gone bad in the past. Satan is a liar and can try to convince your heart, when you are triggered, that you are alone in the chaos. That is a lie!
DISCUSSION:
-Can you recognize some triggers of your own?
-What lie does that trigger convince you of?
-Do you tend to run a program of "what ifs" about the past and/or the future?
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34
You are not alone.
The God who provides is not intimidated by whatever you bring to Him.