Finding Peace: Prayer, Pause, and Praise in Anxiety

Devotional

Day 1: Anxiety is a Signal, Not a Sin

Anxiety is a natural response to life's challenges and not a sin. It serves as a signal that something in our life needs attention, much like a car's warning light indicates a need for maintenance. Recognizing anxiety as a signal can help us seek God's help and possibly professional assistance. Understanding this can alleviate the guilt often associated with feeling anxious and encourage us to address the underlying issues. [37:26]

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel anxious? How can you seek God's help and possibly professional assistance to address this anxiety today?

Day 2: Prayer Changes Our Brain

Consistent prayer not only touches God's heart but also changes our brain chemistry. Studies show that 12 minutes of focused prayer daily over eight weeks can create new neural pathways, helping us think more positively and trust in God. This scientific insight underscores the transformative power of prayer, encouraging us to make it a regular practice in our lives. [46:44]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: Can you commit to spending 12 minutes in focused prayer each day this week? How do you think this practice might change your perspective and trust in God?

Day 3: Pausing to Wait on God

When faced with anxiety, our instinct is often to take control. However, God calls us to pause and wait for His timing. This waiting is not passive but active, involving continued obedience to God's last instructions while trusting in His perfect timing. Learning to pause and wait on God can help us develop patience and deepen our faith. [53:29]

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" (Psalm 27:14, ESV)

Reflection: What is one situation in your life where you are tempted to take control? How can you practice pausing and waiting for God's timing in this situation?

Day 4: Praising Before the Victory

Praising God before seeing the victory is an act of faith. Jehoshaphat sent his worship team ahead of the army, and their praise led to the enemies' defeat. This teaches us to trust in God's power and goodness even before our circumstances change. Praising God in the midst of our anxiety demonstrates our faith and can lead to unexpected victories. [57:03]

"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:15, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you praise God for His power and goodness in this situation, even before you see the outcome?

Day 5: God Provides Rest After the Battle

After we pray, pause, and praise, God promises to give us rest. Just as Jehoshaphat experienced peace and rest after the victory, we too can find rest in God's presence after we have faithfully sought Him in our anxiety. This rest is a gift from God, providing us with peace and renewal. [01:00:06]

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29, ESV)

Reflection: After a period of anxiety and seeking God, how can you intentionally rest in His presence today? What practices can help you experience His peace and renewal?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the pervasive issue of anxiety and how it affects many of us. We began by acknowledging the various sources of anxiety, from family and finances to social interactions and public speaking. Statistics reveal that a significant portion of Americans, including young adults and children, suffer from anxiety, yet only a small percentage seek help. It's crucial to understand that anxiety is not a sin but a signal that something needs attention.

We delved into the story of King Jehoshaphat from 2 Chronicles 20, who faced overwhelming anxiety when three enemy nations attacked Judah. Jehoshaphat's response to this crisis provides a powerful model for us. He prayed, paused, and praised God even before the victory was won. This story teaches us that anxiety should drive us to seek God more earnestly.

Prayer is a vital response to anxiety. It not only touches the heart of God but also has the power to change our brain chemistry, as supported by scientific studies. When we pray consistently, we create new neural pathways that help us think more positively and trust in God's provision.

Pausing is equally important. Often, we rush to take control of situations, but God calls us to stand firm and wait for His timing. This waiting period is not passive but active, as we continue to do what God has last instructed us to do.

Finally, praising God in the midst of our anxiety is an act of faith. Jehoshaphat sent his worship team ahead of the army, praising God before the battle was won. This act of faith confused the enemies, leading to their defeat. Praising God before seeing the victory demonstrates our trust in His power and goodness.

In conclusion, when faced with anxiety, we should pray, pause, and praise. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's will and open the door for His peace and rest to fill our lives.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Anxiety is Not a Sin, But a Signal: Anxiety is a natural response and not a sin. It serves as a signal that something in our life needs attention. Just as a car's warning light indicates a need for maintenance, anxiety signals us to seek God's help and possibly professional assistance. [37:26]
2. Prayer Changes Our Brain: Consistent prayer not only touches God's heart but also changes our brain chemistry. Studies show that 12 minutes of focused prayer daily over eight weeks can create new neural pathways, helping us think more positively and trust in God. [46:44]
3. Pausing to Wait on God: When faced with anxiety, our instinct is often to take control. However, God calls us to pause and wait for His timing. This waiting is active, involving continued obedience to God's last instructions while trusting in His perfect timing. [53:29]
4. Praising Before the Victory: Praising God before seeing the victory is an act of faith. Jehoshaphat sent his worship team ahead of the army, and their praise led to the enemies' defeat. This teaches us to trust in God's power and goodness even before our circumstances change. [57:03]
5. God Provides Rest After the Battle: After we pray, pause, and praise, God promises to give us rest. Just as Jehoshaphat experienced peace and rest after the victory, we too can find rest in God's presence after we have faithfully sought Him in our anxiety. [01:00:06]
### [60:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[30:09] - Introduction to Anxiety
[31:05] - Common Sources of Anxiety
[32:49] - Statistics on Anxiety
[34:26] - God's Perspective on Anxiety
[36:02] - Story of Jehoshaphat
[37:26] - Anxiety is Not a Sin
[38:49] - Jesus' Anxiety in Gethsemane
[40:10] - Anxiety as a Signal
[41:49] - Jehoshaphat's Prayer
[45:10] - Power of Focused Prayer
[46:44] - Neuroplasticity and Prayer
[48:23] - The Amygdala and Anxiety
[49:58] - Breaking the Cycle of Anxiety
[51:43] - Trusting God in Anxiety
[53:29] - Pausing and Waiting on God
[55:09] - Stand Firm in Faith
[57:03] - Praising Before the Victory
[58:32] - Jehoshaphat's Victory
[60:06] - God Provides Rest
[61:58] - Fighting Battles with Prayer
[64:33] - Laying Down Anxiety
[67:38] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What were the three enemy nations that attacked Judah during King Jehoshaphat's reign? ([34:26])
How did Jehoshaphat respond to the overwhelming anxiety caused by the attack? ([41:49])
According to the sermon, what are the three actions we should take when faced with anxiety? ([01:00:06])
What does 1 Peter 5:7 instruct us to do with our anxieties, and why? ([40:10])

Interpretation Questions

Why is it significant that Jehoshaphat prayed, paused, and praised God before the victory was won? How does this demonstrate faith? ([57:03])
How can consistent prayer change our brain chemistry according to scientific studies mentioned in the sermon? ([46:44])
What does it mean to "pause" and wait on God's timing, and why is this often difficult for us? ([53:29])
How does praising God before seeing the victory reflect our trust in His power and goodness? ([57:03])

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent situation where you felt anxious. Did you see it as a signal to seek God's help? How might viewing anxiety as a signal change your response in the future? ([37:26])
The sermon mentioned that 12 minutes of focused prayer daily can change our brain chemistry. How can you incorporate this practice into your daily routine? ([46:44])
When faced with anxiety, our instinct is often to take control. Can you think of a time when you rushed to fix a problem instead of waiting on God? What was the outcome? ([53:29])
Jehoshaphat sent his worship team ahead of the army to praise God before the battle was won. How can you practice praising God in the midst of your own struggles? ([57:03])
After praying, pausing, and praising, Jehoshaphat experienced rest. What steps can you take to find rest in God's presence after seeking Him in your anxiety? ([01:00:06])
Identify one specific area of your life where you need to "pause" and wait for God's timing. What practical steps can you take to remain obedient and patient during this waiting period? ([53:29])
Think of a person in your life who might be struggling with anxiety. How can you support them in seeking God through prayer, pausing, and praising? ([01:00:06])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Wherever you are on that anxiety line, I want you to know something, and that is that God sees you, and God hears you, and God loves you, and he wants to help you with your anxiety." [34:26] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Anxiety is not a sin, but it's a signal, and it's telling you three things and you need to write these down. Number one, anxiety is telling you that it's time to pray. Time to pray. Well, Carl, that's very simple. Yes, it is very simple and it's simple so why don't we do it?" [40:10] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "When you feel anxious, you can pray just like that. God, I know you. God, I know what you're able to do. No matter what happens, I know that you will always be with me. Tell God what you know about him and tell him you love him. Tell him you know that he's going to save you. Cry out to God and have the faith that he's going to hear your cry and he's going to answer your prayer." [45:10] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When anxiety came to Jehoshaphat, what did he do? He prayed. He paused. He waited for the Lord and then he praised God. When? Before the victory. And then after God destroyed all of his enemies, what did he do for Jehoshaphat? That's in verse 30. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around." [01:00:06] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Have faith to pray when anxiety comes. Have faith to pause. Have faith to praise. And when it's all over, God will give you rest. Isn't that good news? After the victory, God gave him rest. After we pray, after we pause, after we praise, God will give us rest." [01:01:58] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Anxiety is not a sin. I mean, look at Jesus the night before he died. You know, he's in the garden of Gethsemane and he knew exactly what was coming. You know, tomorrow he was going to be crucified. He was going to be brutally murdered, you know, one of the most inhumane ways to kill somebody. He knew he was going to suffer and he cried out to God saying, you know, Lord if this cup can pass let it pass." [38:49] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The more you think a thought, the easier it is to think that thought again. All right? So the more you look at something, the more you can remember it. The more you say something or look at something, whenever you do it one time, it starts a neural pathway. Okay? And the second time you do it, third time, fourth time, until that neural pathway is so large that you can't help but think that way." [46:44] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "When you and I start to dwell on that thought, that signal from our brain that says, oh, no, this is going to happen. If you and I continue to think, I'm going to try and explain this as best I can. When you and I continue to think that thought that was really originated as just a signal for danger, if we continue to think that thought, think that thought, think that thought, what made us anxious, then we're not going to be able to help thinking anxiously." [48:23] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So what we're doing is we're training our brain to focus on the negative. We're training our brain to focus on what could go wrong instead of using it just as a signal one time for one situation. That's the amygdala. And prayer breaks that cycle. Amen? And reading the word breaks that cycle. It takes our minds off of what could go wrong. It takes our minds off of what we're afraid of." [49:58] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "When anxiety came to Jehoshaphat, what did he do? He prayed. He paused. He waited for the Lord and then he praised God. When? Before the victory. And then after God destroyed all of his enemies, what did he do for Jehoshaphat? That's in verse 30. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around." [01:00:06] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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