Overcoming Anxiety: Trusting God and Embracing Self-Care
Summary
In today's message, we explored the pervasive issue of anxiety and stress, which often stems from worrying about things that haven't even happened yet. We delved into the concept of stress as the body's natural response to pressures that exceed our current resources. With over 6,000 thoughts racing through our minds daily, it's no wonder that stress can become overwhelming, affecting both our mental and physical health. This is why it's crucial to focus on what we think about, as our thoughts can lead us to unhealthy behaviors and distractions that pull us away from God.
We discussed the importance of self-care and spirituality, emphasizing that self-care is not selfish but necessary for maintaining our well-being. Engaging in spiritual practices like prayer can have a calming effect on our nervous system, providing relief from the fight-or-flight response. We introduced the acronym PRAY as a tool to manage stress: Prepare for the best, Reach out to someone you trust, Acknowledge your stress, and remember You are unique and wonderfully made.
To illustrate these points, we engaged in an activity where we wrote down our worries on sticky notes and then tore them up, symbolizing the act of casting our worries away. This exercise served as a reminder that once we cast our worries onto God, we should not pick them back up. Instead, we should rely on scripture to keep our worries at bay, standing firm in the knowledge that we are supported by God's word.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Thoughts: Our minds generate over 6,000 thoughts daily, and these thoughts can significantly impact our stress levels. By focusing on positive and healthy thoughts, we can reduce stress and avoid unhealthy behaviors that distract us from God. [02:17]
2. Self-Care and Spirituality: Self-care is essential and not selfish. Engaging in spiritual practices like prayer can calm our nervous system and provide relief from stress, helping us maintain a strong connection with God. [03:14]
3. PRAY as a Stress Management Tool: The acronym PRAY stands for Prepare for the best, Reach out to someone you trust, Acknowledge your stress, and remember You are unique. This tool helps us manage stress by focusing on positive preparation, seeking support, acknowledging our feelings, and embracing our uniqueness. [06:00]
4. Casting Worries Away: By writing down our worries and physically tearing them up, we symbolically cast our worries onto God. This act reminds us not to pick up our worries again, trusting that God will handle them. [12:22]
5. Standing on Scripture: When tempted to pick up our worries again, we should turn to scripture for strength and reassurance. God's word provides a solid foundation to stand on, helping us keep our worries at bay. [14:02]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:17] - The Nature of Stress and Thoughts
[03:14] - Importance of Self-Care and Spirituality
[06:00] - Introducing PRAY
[07:03] - Embracing Uniqueness
[10:30] - Worry Activity Introduction
[12:22] - Casting Worries Away
[14:02] - Standing on Scripture
[15:00] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) - "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he."
2. Psalm 139:14 (NIV) - "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
3. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) - "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
#### Observation Questions
1. How does the sermon describe the relationship between our daily thoughts and stress levels? [02:17]
2. What are some of the unhealthy behaviors mentioned in the sermon that can distract us from focusing on God? [02:17]
3. What is the significance of the acronym PRAY in managing stress according to the sermon? [06:00]
4. During the activity with sticky notes, what was the symbolic act of tearing up the notes meant to represent? [12:22]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of being "fearfully and wonderfully made" influence one's understanding of their uniqueness and value? [07:03]
2. In what ways can spiritual practices like prayer impact our mental and physical well-being, as discussed in the sermon? [03:14]
3. How does the act of casting worries onto God, as described in the sermon, align with the biblical instruction in 1 Peter 5:7? [12:22]
4. What might be the practical implications of preparing for the best, as suggested in the PRAY acronym, in one's daily life? [06:00]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily thoughts. Are there specific patterns or thoughts that contribute to your stress? How can you shift these towards more positive and healthy thoughts? [02:17]
2. Identify one spiritual practice you can incorporate into your routine to help manage stress. How will you implement this practice in the coming week? [03:14]
3. Think of a trusted person you can reach out to when feeling stressed. How can you strengthen this support system in your life? [06:00]
4. What is one worry you are currently holding onto that you need to cast onto God? How can you remind yourself not to pick it back up? [12:22]
5. How can you use scripture to combat the temptation to worry? Identify a specific verse that you can memorize or meditate on this week. [14:02]
6. Consider the idea of being "wonderfully made." How does this truth affect your self-perception and the way you handle stress? [07:03]
7. What steps can you take to ensure that self-care is a priority in your life, without feeling guilty about it? [03:14]
Devotional
Day 1: The Influence of Our Thoughts
Our minds are incredibly active, generating over 6,000 thoughts each day. These thoughts can significantly impact our stress levels and overall well-being. When we allow negative or unhealthy thoughts to dominate, we may find ourselves engaging in behaviors that distract us from our spiritual path and connection with God. It is essential to focus on cultivating positive and healthy thoughts, which can help reduce stress and lead us toward a more fulfilling and spiritually aligned life. By being mindful of our thought patterns, we can choose to dwell on what is uplifting and true, thereby nurturing our mental and spiritual health. [02:17]
"For as he thinks within himself, so he is. 'Eat and drink!' he says to you, but his heart is not with you." - Proverbs 23:7 (ESV)
Reflection: What is one recurring negative thought you struggle with, and how can you replace it with a positive truth today?
Day 2: The Necessity of Self-Care and Spirituality
Self-care is often misunderstood as a selfish act, but it is, in fact, a vital component of maintaining our well-being. Engaging in spiritual practices, such as prayer, can have a profound calming effect on our nervous system, helping us to manage stress and maintain a strong connection with God. By prioritizing self-care, we honor the body and mind that God has given us, ensuring that we are equipped to serve Him and others effectively. Spiritual practices not only provide relief from stress but also deepen our relationship with God, allowing us to draw strength and peace from His presence. [03:14]
"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" - 1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)
Reflection: What is one self-care practice you can incorporate into your daily routine to enhance your spiritual well-being?
Day 3: PRAY as a Stress Management Tool
The acronym PRAY offers a practical approach to managing stress: Prepare for the best, Reach out to someone you trust, Acknowledge your stress, and remember You are unique and wonderfully made. This tool encourages us to focus on positive preparation, seek support from trusted individuals, acknowledge our feelings, and embrace our uniqueness. By following these steps, we can navigate stress more effectively, ensuring that it does not overwhelm us or distract us from our spiritual journey. Embracing our uniqueness reminds us of our inherent value and the special role we play in God's creation. [06:00]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
Reflection: How can you use the PRAY method to address a current stressor in your life today?
Day 4: The Act of Casting Worries Away
In a symbolic exercise, writing down worries and tearing them up represents the act of casting our worries onto God. This physical act serves as a powerful reminder that once we give our worries to God, we should not take them back. Trusting in God's ability to handle our concerns allows us to release the burden of worry and experience peace. By practicing this act of surrender, we demonstrate our faith in God's provision and care, freeing ourselves from the weight of anxiety and stress. [12:22]
"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 worry you can physically write down and symbolically cast away today, trusting God to handle it?
Day 5: Standing Firm on Scripture
When tempted to pick up our worries again, turning to scripture provides strength and reassurance. God's word offers a solid foundation on which to stand, helping us keep our worries at bay. By immersing ourselves in scripture, we remind ourselves of God's promises and His unwavering support. This practice not only fortifies our faith but also equips us with the spiritual tools needed to resist the temptation to worry. Standing firm on scripture allows us to navigate life's challenges with confidence and peace, knowing that we are supported by God's truth. [14:02]
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." - Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
Reflection: What scripture can you memorize today to help you stand firm against worry in the future?
Quotes
1) "Man, so anxiety is something that we consistently worry about. We constantly worry about no matter what. It's almost like worrying about something that hasn't even happened. And so when I talk about stress, I always talk about it in terms of stress is the body's natural physical and emotional response to a pressure that is greater than a resource we have in that moment. Check that out. And a part of why it's a part of our everyday life is I like to talk about the brain a lot. Do you know that we have over 6,000 thoughts that happen in our mind every day? So if we have over 6,000 thoughts, that means that. And in any each minute, we can change our mind 6.5 times. So imagine what that feels like if your mind is consistently stressed." [02:17] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "The other thing is sometimes we repress our emotions. We're so busy moving. We don't have time to even express ourselves. We don't have time to allow ourselves to feel that emotion. And the last thing is self-care. You always hear the terminology that self-care is not selfish. It's not. It's important. And so it's so important that we need to be able to do that for ourselves. Oh, I like to think of this. I think about spirituality, like prayer, relationship with God, that connection with God, that talking to God, it's actually doing something to your brain, your. Neurons, which means that you're giving yourself a relief where you can actually give yourself and calm your nervous nervous nervous system down in a fight or flight in prayer time." [03:14] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "So here's what I want you to remember. I need you to remember the the P and pray P is P is prepare for the best. You know how we always thinking about, oh, this is going to happen. Oh, this is going to happen. We have that. What if you woke up and prepare for the best? I'm from Louisiana and I was in Girl Scouts. And we used to have to go do like. We had to learn how to fight a bear till you get a patch. And so what I think about now is why did I have to learn how to fight a bear? Seven years old in Louisiana? There's no bears there. So it already creates this anxiety in me, even at an early age. And so instead of me thinking about let me prepare for the worst, I get up and I'm like, oh, let me prepare for the best today." [06:00] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Guess what? And I'm talking to every single person in this room, everybody who's looking. You are unique. You are wonderfully and fearfully made. What I need you to understand about that, it does not say you are mediocre made. You are you are basic made. You are simplistic made. It says wonderfully. Doubly. So if you have it in your mind to understand that you have that in you, keep that in it." [07:03] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "So as you're writing that word down, as you're writing, you have what you're thinking about what you have i want you to think about all the things that we've talked about talked about if you've been stressed or if you've been overwhelmed or there's something that you're worried about talking about understanding how can i research how can i retrieve help what can i do think about all those things how can i release it okay so now that we have it i think we have the trash cans coming around too now that we have it on there here's what i want you to do you have your worry on you have your worry there right so here's what i want you to think about where do you cast your worries yes okay all right so that's what we're gonna do so right now we're gonna cast our word and not only are we going to cast our word we're going to tear it up i want you to tear that up into so many pieces is that you can't tear it anymore i want you to tear it up so hard that you can't think that you can tear up the pieces any more than what it is already i want you to tear it up so i want it to be gone basically that's how much i want you to tear it up so now that you tear it up there's a trash can coming around i need you to put it in a trash can there's a trash can coming around i need you to put it in a trash can so let me ask you this how many people once they throw something they throw things in the trash they go back in the trash and get it out daily okay so why do you keep picking up your worry okay so we're gonna throw it away we're gonna cast it we're not gonna pick it up and a part of why you can't pick it up is when you throw it in a trash not only is it into little many pieces and it's really hard to put it back there's also other people worries that are in a trash can now so imagine what that's like if you you take on their burdens as well so here's what i want you guys to do now that you've thrown those words away i gotta give you some tools not here too in the event that there's ever a time where you decide to pick up a word which i'm praying that you don't i need you to have your scripture i need you to keep the sheen i need you to be able to put your worry you will I behind scripture i need you to be able to know you can stand on scripture okay so i you to repeat after me and then i'll walk off this door my word to you my word to you i cast my word to you cast my word to you god cast my word to you and one more last time like you mean it one two three amen amen" [10:30] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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