Finding Peace Through Prioritizing Time with Jesus

Summary

### Summary

In today's world, stress and anxiety are rampant, affecting nearly everyone. The American Psychological Association reports that a significant portion of adults experience stress-related symptoms, such as headaches, tiredness, and sleeping problems. This stress is exacerbated by economic issues, lack of trust in leadership, and personal financial struggles. However, God's Word offers a solution: "Be anxious for nothing." This directive is not just a suggestion but a command to trust in God and find peace through Him.

Psalm 140 reflects the stress and turmoil that David experienced, which mirrors our current world. David's plea for rescue from evildoers and violent plans resonates with our own struggles. Yet, the Bible provides a way to navigate through this stress: prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. This is further illustrated in the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10. Martha, busy with preparations, misses the point of Jesus' visit, while Mary chooses to sit at Jesus' feet, seeking His presence and wisdom.

Martha's stress and distraction are relatable. She is focused on the tasks at hand, missing the opportunity to connect with Jesus. This story teaches us that while responsibilities are important, they should not overshadow our need to spend time with God. Jesus gently rebukes Martha, reminding her that only one thing is needed: to focus on Him. This is a call to prioritize our relationship with Jesus over the busyness of life.

The key to overcoming stress is not found in external solutions but in a deep, personal relationship with Jesus. By spending time in prayer and in God's Word, we can find the peace that surpasses all understanding. This peace allows us to navigate life's challenges with a calm and trusting heart. The story of Martha and Mary serves as a powerful reminder that our primary focus should be on Jesus, who provides the strength and guidance we need.

### Key Takeaways

1. Be Anxious for Nothing: The Bible commands us to be anxious for nothing, emphasizing the importance of trusting God in all circumstances. Stress and anxiety are prevalent, but through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, we can find peace. This peace is not dependent on external circumstances but on our relationship with God. [01:15]

2. Prioritize Time with Jesus: The story of Martha and Mary highlights the importance of prioritizing time with Jesus over the busyness of life. Martha was distracted by her tasks, while Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet. This teaches us that while responsibilities are important, they should not overshadow our need to connect with God. [07:17]

3. God's Gentle Rebuke: Jesus' gentle rebuke to Martha reminds us that our focus should be on Him. He acknowledges her stress but redirects her attention to what truly matters. This is a call to refocus our lives, ensuring that our primary concern is our relationship with Jesus, which provides the strength to handle life's challenges. [20:57]

4. Peace in God's Presence: True peace is found in God's presence. When we are stressed, it is often because we are focusing on the wrong things. By spending time in prayer and in God's Word, we can experience a peace that surpasses all understanding, allowing us to navigate life's difficulties with a calm and trusting heart. [24:04]

5. The Importance of Daily Devotion: To overcome stress and find peace, it is crucial to spend daily time with Jesus. This involves reading the Bible, praying, and seeking His guidance. By doing so, we build a strong foundation that helps us face life's trials with confidence and trust in God's plan. [30:22]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[01:15] - The Prevalence of Stress
[02:26] - Psalm 140: A Cry for Help
[04:18] - The Story of Martha and Mary
[07:17] - The Importance of Connecting with Jesus
[10:59] - Different Needs: Martha vs. Mary
[12:19] - Jesus Meets Us Where We Are
[15:00] - The Distraction of Responsibilities
[20:57] - Jesus' Gentle Rebuke
[24:04] - Finding Peace in God's Presence
[30:22] - The Importance of Daily Devotion
[31:06] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV): "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."
2. Psalm 140:1-2, 8 (NIV): "Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers; protect me from the violent, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day... Do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord; do not let their plans succeed."
3. Luke 10:38-42 (NIV): "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!' 'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'"

#### Observation Questions
1. What are some of the stress-related symptoms mentioned in the sermon that people experience today? [01:15]
2. How does Psalm 140 reflect the stress and turmoil that David experienced? [02:26]
3. In the story of Martha and Mary, what was Martha's main concern, and how did Jesus respond to her? [12:57]
4. According to the sermon, what is the key to overcoming stress and finding peace? [24:04]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the Bible command us to "be anxious for nothing," and how does this relate to our trust in God? [01:15]
2. How does the story of Martha and Mary illustrate the importance of prioritizing time with Jesus over daily responsibilities? [07:17]
3. What does Jesus' gentle rebuke to Martha teach us about our focus and priorities in life? [20:57]
4. How can spending time in prayer and in God's Word lead to a peace that surpasses all understanding? [24:04]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there specific areas where you feel overwhelmed by stress? How can you apply the command to "be anxious for nothing" in these areas? [01:15]
2. Think about your daily routine. How can you make more intentional time to sit at Jesus' feet, like Mary did, despite your busy schedule? [07:17]
3. Jesus gently rebuked Martha for being worried and upset about many things. Are there areas in your life where you need to refocus your attention on Jesus? How can you start doing that this week? [20:57]
4. When you feel stressed, what practical steps can you take to shift your focus from your problems to God's presence and promises? [24:04]
5. Consider your current devotional practices. How can you enhance your daily time with Jesus to build a stronger foundation for facing life's challenges? [30:22]
6. Identify one specific distraction that often pulls you away from spending time with God. What steps can you take to minimize or eliminate this distraction? [24:04]
7. How can you incorporate thanksgiving into your prayers, even when you are feeling stressed or anxious? What difference do you think this will make in your overall sense of peace? [01:15]

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting God in All Circumstances
Stress and anxiety are prevalent in today's world, affecting nearly everyone. The Bible commands us to "be anxious for nothing," emphasizing the importance of trusting God in all circumstances. This directive is not merely a suggestion but a command to place our trust in God and find peace through Him. When we face economic issues, lack of trust in leadership, or personal financial struggles, we are reminded to turn to God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. This act of turning to God allows us to experience a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that is not dependent on external circumstances but on our relationship with God. [01:15]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV): "Do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: What specific worries or anxieties are you holding onto today? Can you take a moment to bring them to God in prayer, trusting Him to provide peace and guidance?

Day 2: Prioritizing Time with Jesus
The story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10 highlights the importance of prioritizing time with Jesus over the busyness of life. Martha was distracted by her tasks, while Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet, seeking His presence and wisdom. This teaches us that while responsibilities are important, they should not overshadow our need to connect with God. In our fast-paced world, it is easy to become consumed by our to-do lists and miss the opportunity to spend time with Jesus. By intentionally setting aside time to be with Him, we can find the strength and guidance we need to navigate our daily lives. [07:17]

Luke 10:41-42 (ESV): "But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'"

Reflection: How can you intentionally set aside time today to sit at Jesus' feet and seek His presence? What distractions can you eliminate to make this time a priority?

Day 3: Refocusing on What Truly Matters
Jesus' gentle rebuke to Martha reminds us that our focus should be on Him. He acknowledges her stress but redirects her attention to what truly matters. This is a call to refocus our lives, ensuring that our primary concern is our relationship with Jesus. When we are overwhelmed by responsibilities and distractions, it is easy to lose sight of what is truly important. By refocusing on Jesus, we can find the strength and clarity to handle life's challenges. This gentle reminder encourages us to evaluate our priorities and make sure that our relationship with Jesus remains at the center of our lives. [20:57]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: What are some areas in your life where you have been distracted or overwhelmed? How can you refocus your attention on Jesus and make Him your primary concern today?

Day 4: Finding Peace in God's Presence
True peace is found in God's presence. When we are stressed, it is often because we are focusing on the wrong things. By spending time in prayer and in God's Word, we can experience a peace that surpasses all understanding, allowing us to navigate life's difficulties with a calm and trusting heart. This peace is not dependent on our circumstances but on our relationship with God. When we prioritize spending time with Him, we are reminded of His faithfulness and love, which brings us comfort and peace. [24:04]

Isaiah 26:3 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

Reflection: What are some practical ways you can spend time in God's presence today? How can you shift your focus from your circumstances to God's faithfulness and love?

Day 5: The Importance of Daily Devotion
To overcome stress and find peace, it is crucial to spend daily time with Jesus. This involves reading the Bible, praying, and seeking His guidance. By doing so, we build a strong foundation that helps us face life's trials with confidence and trust in God's plan. Daily devotion is not just a routine but a vital part of our spiritual growth and well-being. It allows us to stay connected to God, receive His wisdom, and be strengthened by His presence. By making daily devotion a priority, we can navigate life's challenges with a calm and trusting heart. [30:22]

Psalm 1:2-3 (ESV): "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."

Reflection: How can you incorporate daily devotion into your routine? What specific steps can you take to ensure that you spend time with Jesus every day, seeking His guidance and strength?

Quotes

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "God says be anxious for nothing. Now that you're all excited and not stressed because I share the reality of this, how do we get through this? There's a psalm that really helps us refocus. David went through so many stressful situations. He was continually dealing with stress. You read that through the psalms over and over again. And he's not the only author of the psalms that's dealing with stress. But Psalm 140, verse 1 and 2, you can almost hear the cry of his predicaments. And even our world today, it says, Rescue me. Lord, from evildoers. Protect me from violent and divisive evil plans in their hearts who stir up war every day." [03:33]( | | )

2. "The point is that there's a way to get through this. The point is that God knows that we can get through this. Our scripture says, By everything in prayer, by prayer and supplication, give thanks to God. Let your requests be made known to God. Men and women are completely overstressed. We just looked at that. So how do we deal with stress? That's the question." [04:18]( | | )

3. "Jesus is not coming into the house to inspect it for how clean it is. That's the truth. Whether your house is perfectly clean or not, is not the issue with Christ. He's coming to spend time with you. Yesterday, I was finishing my sermon. I sat right over there in that chair right there. And I was thinking about standing here, sharing with you this important message and asking God, what do you need to hear? What do I need to share that will somehow apply to your world? And God seems to speak to me and I hope to us." [07:17]( | | )

4. "The opposite of stress is peace. Years ago, Samantha and I lived in Illinois. And the pastor of our church in Thompsonville, John Lomakey, and his wife came over to our house one afternoon. We were talking and just sitting down and visiting. And we were just, our house was small. You could probably fit our whole house in about one-third of this church here. It was a real small place. But we sat down in the living room. We're talking. And John said, you know, it's really peaceful here. Probably no one could compliment you more than that, right? Your house is a place of peace. They feel like this is a place they want to be." [08:42]( | | )

5. "Sometimes we're stressed because we forget to focus that God really does care. That he really does take care of us. You can almost hear Jesus saying, Steve, Steve. You worry about a lot of stuff, but turn to me. One thing he says to Martha in verse 42. There's one thing, Martha, you still need. Mary's figured it out. She's chosen the good part, which will never be taken from her. Timing is everything. If you don't spend time in God's presence, you're missing the blessing." [24:04]( | | )

### Quotes for Members

1. "Martha is a good host. I will say that. She's a good hospitality. That's her gift. She has it. She's a hospitality queen, really. In all the Bible, you can probably picture that one of the, the most perfect dinner arrangements probably was set up by Martha. But the truth is, she's having a little bit of trouble with something else. Not just her sister. It's actually something that she's not seeing that Jesus is going to show her. Because how she relates to him ultimately is, I will say, ultimately gives us insight into her understanding of the gospel." [10:01]( | | )

2. "Martha's distracted because there's a big dinner taking place, much serving taking place. And her focus is out of balance. She's focusing on the occasion and not Jesus. That's a serious problem, right? Focusing on the world and the stuff and not Jesus. I find every time I hear somebody tell me or read something about a crazy thing that's going on in our world, I find myself starting, probably if I check my blood pressure, it starts to go up. You find those things, too? And then I start to realize that maybe it's a little too much. I have a voice speaking in my heart saying, you know what, Steve? You're looking in the wrong direction here. You're looking at things that are going on, but you're not realizing that's not how to get through it." [15:00]( | | )

3. "The greatest difference between Martha, who is telling Jesus what he must say, and Mary is because Mary is waiting for Jesus to tell her what she should know, what he should say. And that's the difference between our relationship, whether we're stressed about life or whether we're trusting God. When we spend time with Jesus, we hear him speak to us. When I start processing and trying to do and trying to figure out, you know, you've been there, you've all done that. When I try to figure out the world and make it go my way, it's a lot of stress." [27:55]( | | )

4. "Our scripture passage that Eric read at the very beginning starts, Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say it, in case you forget it, he says, again I say it, rejoice. God wants us to know that he can take care of our problems. Jesus is trying to tell Martha, I've got it figured out. Just come over here and spend some time with me. It will all work out. How do you fix the stress in your life? Only one answer. It's not found in a pill. It's found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Medication may have a place, but the only one who can change you is Jesus Christ. Mary figured that out." [29:33]( | | )

5. "If you want a life that you are still struggling to find or always hope to have, wanting to have, spend more time with Jesus. If you don't do that, come visit me in 20 years. Let's see how it's going. You say, I wish I had heard Jesus tell me to spend time with him. If I had done that, it would have been all different. So I just close with a final thought is tomorrow morning when you get up, what are we going to do, guys? We're going to give our life to Jesus. Tomorrow you're going to try to open the Bible and spend a few moments with him. Ask him to speak to you. Ask him to lead you, to guide you. If you do that, he will take care of you. I know that." [30:22]( | | )

Chatbot

Transcript

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