WHAT COMES AFTER SUNDAY?
Use the next steps, Bible plan, message recap, questions & resources below to go deeper.
this week's next steps
I will practice breathing & correcting my wrong thinking
This Week's Message Recap:
“I am stressed!” How many times have we all said something along those lines? Honestly, stress, along with worry and anxiety, are normal parts of life. What isn’t always normal is the way we respond to our distress. The world says we should hold onto it. We should be angry and wonder why everyone is out to get us. We should be upset because someone called us out on a mistake we made or an offensive comment we said. We are inconvenienced. We think we have trauma because someone asked us to be accountable to our actions. Sometimes our emotions and feelings are deceiving us and our feelings are not appropriate for the situation. All of these responses to distress go against what the Bible says about how we should respond! The Bible actually has an extraordinary amount of wisdom on this subject.
Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 encourages us to take every thought captive instead of focusing on everything that is triggering our stress, anxiety and worry. Psalm 37:35 tells us that stress and worry come when we are afraid. Philippians 4:8 calls us to shift our focus to positive, godly, and honorable things. Romans 12:2 directs us to renew our minds and not conform to the world’s way of doing things. But how can we practically do this? First of all, we must pray and meditate on these scriptures. (And others!) Through this, we will be equipped to correct our wrong thinking and speak truth over ourselves. Nothing triggers our anxiety faster than not being right with Jesus. Other practical steps we can take include slowing down to take deep breaths and releasing the pressure of our distress through things like moving our body and working out, watching a comfort movie, or even taking the time to get away. And while these steps don’t guarantee that we will never have stress, worry, or anxiety, they do offer us the practical ways we can deal with them when they arise.
Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 encourages us to take every thought captive instead of focusing on everything that is triggering our stress, anxiety and worry. Psalm 37:35 tells us that stress and worry come when we are afraid. Philippians 4:8 calls us to shift our focus to positive, godly, and honorable things. Romans 12:2 directs us to renew our minds and not conform to the world’s way of doing things. But how can we practically do this? First of all, we must pray and meditate on these scriptures. (And others!) Through this, we will be equipped to correct our wrong thinking and speak truth over ourselves. Nothing triggers our anxiety faster than not being right with Jesus. Other practical steps we can take include slowing down to take deep breaths and releasing the pressure of our distress through things like moving our body and working out, watching a comfort movie, or even taking the time to get away. And while these steps don’t guarantee that we will never have stress, worry, or anxiety, they do offer us the practical ways we can deal with them when they arise.
Questions to Consider:
1. Before hearing this message or reading it’s recap, what would you say were your thoughts on how to respond to stress, worry, and anxiety
2. Read through all five scriptures listed above. How does this put into perspective the current way(s) you respond to distress.
3. Moving forward, how will you approach the times of abnormal stress, worry, or anxiety?
2. Read through all five scriptures listed above. How does this put into perspective the current way(s) you respond to distress.
3. Moving forward, how will you approach the times of abnormal stress, worry, or anxiety?
Resources for Study:
Recommended Reading:
Winning the War in your Mind by Craig Groeschel
The Answer to Anxiety by Joyce Meyer
Get out of Your Head by Jennie Allen
Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado
Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer
The Answer to Anxiety by Joyce Meyer
Get out of Your Head by Jennie Allen
Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado
Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer
VENTURE music Playlist
PAstor's Unfiltered Podcast
