Journey to Peace: Trusting God Over Worry
Summary
In today's message, we embarked on a journey to peace, exploring the profound truth that worry is not worthy of our time or energy. We began by acknowledging the common struggles that many of us face—worry and anxiety about our future, our children, our careers, and our health. These worries can consume us, affecting our physical and mental well-being. However, the Word of God offers us a pathway to peace, as outlined in Philippians 4:6-7. This passage teaches us that instead of worrying, we should pray about everything, trusting God with our needs and thanking Him for His past faithfulness.
The journey to peace involves four key landmarks: trust, prayer, praise, and abiding. Trust is the foundation, as it requires us to stop worrying and start believing that God is in control. Prayer is the next step, where we communicate our needs to God, not to inform Him, but to involve Him in our lives. Praise is about recognizing God's past faithfulness and His power to handle our current situations. Finally, abiding in Christ means living in His peace, which surpasses all understanding.
We also discussed the importance of getting out of God's way, allowing Him to work in our lives without our interference. Trusting God means acknowledging His power, love, and omniscience. It means replacing our worry with faith, knowing that God is bigger than any problem we face. We must learn to speak against fear and anxiety, declaring our trust in God and His ability to provide for us.
As we continue this series, let us commit to trusting God more deeply, praying about everything, and allowing His peace to guard our hearts and minds. Remember, peace is not just a destination; it's a journey that begins with trust.
Key Takeaways:
- Trust as the Foundation: Trusting God is the first step on the journey to peace. It requires us to stop worrying and start believing that God is in control. Trust is not a suggestion but a command from God, and it involves placing our worries next to God and recognizing His greatness. [12:08]
- Prayer as Involvement: Prayer is not about informing God of our needs but involving Him in our lives. It invites God into our situations and allows us to cast our cares upon Him. Prayer shifts our focus from our problems to God's power and love. [34:31]
- Praise as Recognition: Praise is about recognizing God's past faithfulness and His power to handle our current situations. It involves looking back at what God has already done and trusting Him to do it again. Praise strengthens our faith and reminds us of God's reliability. [15:16]
- Abiding in Peace: Abiding in Christ means living in His peace, which surpasses all understanding. It involves trusting God with our worries and allowing His peace to guard our hearts and minds. Abiding in peace is a continuous journey that requires faith and trust. [09:05]
- Getting Out of God's Way: Trusting God means acknowledging His power, love, and omniscience. It means getting out of God's way and allowing Him to work in our lives without our interference. We must learn to speak against fear and anxiety, declaring our trust in God and His ability to provide for us. [21:51]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:38] - The Question of Worry
- [02:19] - Impact of Anxiety
- [03:29] - Parenting and Worry
- [04:06] - Career and Health Concerns
- [05:02] - Financial Pressures
- [06:33] - Philippians 4:6-7
- [07:53] - God's Peace
- [09:05] - Journey to Peace
- [12:08] - Trust as the First Landmark
- [14:34] - Replacing Worry with Trust
- [15:16] - Worshiping Problems
- [18:03] - God's Power and Love
- [21:51] - Getting Out of God's Way
- [26:15] - Trust Over Worry
- [30:10] - Prayer About Everything
- [34:31] - Inviting God In
- [38:18] - Breaking the Spirit of Fear
- [44:45] - Invitation to Trust in God
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Journey to Peace
Bible Reading:
- Philippians 4:6-7
Observation Questions:
1. According to Philippians 4:6-7, what are we instructed to do instead of worrying?
2. In the sermon, what are the four key landmarks on the journey to peace? [09:05]
3. How does the pastor describe the impact of worry and anxiety on our physical and mental well-being? [02:19]
4. What does the pastor say about the relationship between trust and worry? [12:08]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of trust as a foundation for peace challenge common perceptions of control and worry? [12:08]
2. What role does prayer play in shifting our focus from our problems to God's power and love? [34:31]
3. How does the pastor suggest we can replace worry with trust in God? [14:34]
4. What does it mean to "get out of God's way," and how can this affect our journey to peace? [21:51]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a current worry in your life. How can you actively choose to trust God with this concern this week? [12:08]
2. The pastor mentioned the importance of prayer in involving God in our lives. What is one specific area where you can invite God through prayer this week? [34:31]
3. Consider a past situation where God demonstrated His faithfulness. How can recalling this experience strengthen your trust in Him now? [15:16]
4. Identify a specific fear or anxiety you struggle with. What steps can you take to speak against it and declare your trust in God? [21:51]
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of praise. How can you incorporate praise into your daily routine to remind yourself of God's past faithfulness? [15:16]
6. Think about a time when you tried to control a situation instead of trusting God. What did you learn from that experience, and how can it guide you in future situations? [12:08]
7. How can you practice "abiding in peace" this week, especially in moments of stress or uncertainty? [09:05]
Devotional
Day 1: Trust as the Foundation
Trusting God requires us to place our worries beside His greatness, acknowledging His control over our lives. This foundational step on the journey to peace involves a conscious decision to stop letting anxiety dictate our actions and thoughts. Trust is not merely a passive state but an active choice to believe in God's sovereignty and goodness. By recognizing that God is bigger than any problem we face, we can begin to replace our fears with faith. This trust is not a suggestion but a command from God, inviting us to experience His peace. [12:08]
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
Reflection: What specific worry are you holding onto today that you need to place beside God's greatness? How can you actively choose to trust Him with this concern?
Day 2: Prayer as Involvement
Prayer is an invitation for God to be involved in our lives, shifting our focus from our problems to His power and love. It is not about informing God of our needs, as He already knows them, but about inviting Him into our situations. Through prayer, we cast our cares upon Him, allowing His presence to transform our perspective. This act of involving God in every aspect of our lives helps us to see beyond our immediate circumstances and trust in His divine plan. [34:31]
1 Peter 5:7 (ESV): "Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have not yet invited God in through prayer? How can you begin to involve Him in this area today?
Day 3: Praise as Recognition
Praise is a powerful act of recognizing God's past faithfulness and His ability to handle our current situations. By looking back at what God has already done, we strengthen our faith and remind ourselves of His reliability. Praise shifts our focus from our problems to God's power, encouraging us to trust Him to do it again. This act of worship not only honors God but also reinforces our belief in His unchanging nature and His commitment to us. [15:16]
Psalm 77:11-12 (ESV): "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds."
Reflection: Reflect on a specific instance in your life where you experienced God's faithfulness. How can you use this memory to praise Him and strengthen your faith today?
Day 4: Abiding in Peace
Abiding in Christ means living in His peace, which surpasses all understanding. This peace is not a one-time destination but a continuous journey that requires faith and trust. By trusting God with our worries, we allow His peace to guard our hearts and minds, providing us with a sense of calm amidst life's storms. Abiding in peace involves a daily commitment to remain in Christ, drawing strength and comfort from His presence. [09:05]
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
Reflection: What daily habit can you incorporate into your routine to help you abide in Christ's peace more consistently?
Day 5: Getting Out of God's Way
Trusting God means acknowledging His power, love, and omniscience, and allowing Him to work in our lives without our interference. It involves speaking against fear and anxiety, declaring our trust in God's ability to provide for us. By getting out of God's way, we create space for Him to move and work in ways that we cannot imagine. This act of surrender is a powerful declaration of faith, inviting God to take control and lead us according to His perfect will. [21:51]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself trying to control the outcome? How can you step back and allow God to work in this area today?
Quotes
"Trust him that he's got it. Well, let me say, well, how can I do that, pastor? This is how you replace worry with trust in God. You put whatever you're worried about or whoever you're worried about, and you place them next to God. And I'm saying, who's the biggest?" [00:14:34] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Because there are some things that only God can fix. There are some things that only God can work out. And you got to get out of God's way. I'm coming back to that in a moment. But the first thing we got to learn how to do is trust." [00:12:45] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"God created the world, the universe, the galaxies, the planets, the world, everything in it without touching it. He made the first human beings with his hands. Out of dirt, no less. And out of ribs. Not even ribs. One rib. But he spoke the world into existence. That's some power right there." [00:17:35] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"God wants to strengthen our prayer muscle. You pray about everything. Pray about the dog. Pray about the cat. Pray about the goldfish. Pray about the weather. Pray about the community. Pray about your job. Pray about your neighbors. Pray for your children. Pray for your spouse. Pray for the president." [00:30:48] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Stress and anxiety and worry introduces things to your body you just can't fight off. It's toxic. And God says it's a sin. You don't trust me. You don't have a love issue. You have a trust issue. Either I'm God or I'm not." [00:27:32] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Let me ask you this. Who got you through college? Who got you through depression? Who got you through the cemetery when you had to lay the remains of somebody you loved on the ground? I'll guarantee you wasn't a president it wasn't a governor it wasn't don't you play with me in here if it hadn't happened I got to get out of here for the lord who was on my side don't turn back on him man prayer watch this I'm running out of time can I take some more time I needed you to say yes so I could do it you said that on behalf of everybody so it's all on you" [00:31:53] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Trustworthy does he have the power does he love you this is why you can trust him because God loves you God is not against you the problem you're going through this is not because God's against you God loves you let me show you how God's love is God's love is so deep that in John chapter 11 he goes to a funeral of a man named Lazarus." [00:18:57] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. This is what's gonna happen. Then you experience God's peace. Ooh, that's another level right there. I ain't talking about regular peace. I ain't talking about going to the spa. I ain't talking about when you sit on the porch and smoke a cigar. I ain't talking about when you're on the golf course. I ain't talking about when you're on the boat. I'm talking about God's peace. A peace that surpasses anything you could ever understand. It is inexpressible. It is indescribable. Does anybody I'm talking to want that kind of peace? Lord, give me that peace. Give me that peace." [00:08:25] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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