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Lowering StressPhilippians 44-803/08/2009D
r. Dane Boyles
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Lowering Stress

• In Philippians 4, Paul comes back to his theme
  about being happy in life.
• 4 May you always be joyful in your life in the
  Lord. I say it again rejoice! (Phil. 44)
• Most people really dont enjoy life they endure
  it.

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Lowering Stress

• Paul gives us four very simple and profound
  statements on how to manage stress in our lives
  from Philippians 44-8.
• 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it
  again Rejoice!
• 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord
  is near. (Phil. 44-5)

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Lowering Stress

• 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in
  everything, by prayer and petition, with
  thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
• 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all
  understanding, will guard your hearts and your
  minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 46-7)

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Lowering Stress

• 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever
  is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
  whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableif
  anything is excellent or praiseworthythink about
  such things. (Phil. 48)

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Lowering Stress

• FOUR STRESS RELIEVERS
• STEP ONE STOP WORRYING ABOUT NOTHING.
• Worry is assuming responsibility that God never
  intended for us to have.

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Lowering Stress

• Worry is worthless.
• 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for
  tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has
  enough troubles of its own. (Matt. 634)
• Insight 1 In order to relieve stress, live one
  day at a time.

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Lowering Stress

• STEP TWO PRAY ABOUT EVERY- THING.
• Whenever God tells you to eliminate something, He
  always has something superior to give you.

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Lowering Stress

• 6b But in everything, by prayer and petition
  with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
  (Phil. 46b)

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Lowering Stress

• In everything
• God is interested in everything that interests
  you.
• A petition is a specific, detailed request.
• 7 Unload all your worries on Him since He is
  looking after you! (1 Peter 57)

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Lowering Stress

• Worry destroys your system.
• Insight 2 There is no problem that is too big
  for Gods power or too small for Gods concern.

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Lowering Stress

• STEP THREE THANK GOD FOR ALL THINGS
• 6 in everything ... with thanks- giving (Phil.
  46)
• 6 always asking Him with a thankful heart.
  (Phil. 46, Good News)

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Lowering Stress

• The attitude of gratitude.
• Insight 3 There is always something to be
  thankful for.

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Lowering Stress

• STEP FOUR THINK ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS
• To reduce stress in your life you must change the
  way you think.

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Lowering Stress

• 8 finally brothers and sisters, whatever is
  truenoble right pure lovely admirable
  if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think
  about such things. (Phil. 48)

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Lowering Stress

• Many people, even Christians, are totally
  indiscriminate about what they allow to enter
  their minds.
• These eight words are eight filters
• Noble, right, true, pure, lovely, admirable,
  excellent, praiseworthy.

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Lowering Stress

• 7 As a man thinks in his heart, so he is. (Prov.
  237, KJV)
• The root cause of stress is the way we choose to
  think.
• Insight 4 Whatever I think about is what I am
  becoming.

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Lowering Stress

• 7 If you do this you will experience Gods peace
  which is far more wonderful than the human mind
  can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts
  and your heart quiet and at rest as you trust in
  Christ Jesus. (Phil. 47)

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Lowering Stress

• This is a promise of guaranteed peace of mind.
• How do I maintain that kind of peace?
• as you trust in Christ Jesus.

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Lowering Stress

• Conclusion
• What has got you worried this morning?
• What makes you anxious, that raises the stress
  level in your life?
• 7 Throw the whole weight of your concern on God
  because He considers you His personal concern. (1
  Peter 57)

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Lowering StressPhilippians 44-803/08/2009D
r. Dane Boyles