The Efficacy of Prayer - Part 2

Stress Praying

Phil. 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus

I. WHAT CAUSES STRESS AND ANXIETY?
A. Name some stressful things: finances, health, aged parents, jobs, authority, death and taxes, being treated wrongly, leadership, etc.
B. Stress occurs when situations or circumstances are out of my control or are inconvenient and do not seem alterable or remediable.
C. Causes of stress: procrastination, neglect, overconfidence, presumption, taking ownership of the problems of others, arrogance and pride (the need to have things done my way and my way only), encountering the will of others, being put in a public situation where the focus will be on me, undeveloped problem-solving skills, irresponsibility and lack of trust in God’s goodness

II. WHEN ARE STRESS AND ANXIETY “BENEFICIAL”?
A. Stress and anxiety are beneficial…
1….to those people who enjoy the attention given them by others who observe their “stressed-out” behavior or …
2…by those who enjoy the feeling of importance they assume when their otherwise normal life is overwhelmed by the appearance of importance and significance due to the appearance of much responsibility
B. Otherwise, stress and anxiety are NOT beneficial!
1…they reveal a simple truth – We are not in charge!
2…our Lord Jesus Christ taught us not to stress out or worry…Matt 6
3…the apostles reiterated Jesus’ teaching…Phil. 4:6-7
4…stress and anxiety can reveal a lack of trust in God’s goodness and could even result in anger at Him for “putting more on us than we can handle.”

III. WHY DOES GOD ALLOW “OVERWHELMING” PROBLEMS TO OCCUR?
A. Problems are universal; they “happen” to everyone! The bible calls these trials and tribulations.
B. Problems are a necessary part of the fabric of living; often they are the consequence of improper handling of the affairs of this life.
C. God uses problems to develop us:
1…Faith – Will we trust Him in everything?
2…Prayer – Will we seek His aid and acknowledge our need for Him? Prayerlessness is our declaration of independence.
3…Leadership skills – You are going to rule and reign (kingdom concept) with the King of Kings one day and your leadership skills are developed as you faithfully practice Spirit-guided problem-solving or observe His miraculous powers at work in your behalf. Consider the parable of the talents. We are saved to serve – heaven is an after-blessing!

IV. GOD’S REMEDY FOR ANXIETY
A. Come to the conviction that God is good. He is loving, merciful, BUT holy. It is not so much His purpose for our life – He owes NO explanations.
B. Build on this conviction by adding to it that God’s goodness of necessity seeks to do good to all men especially the household of faith. God’s goodness takes care of you more than the gracious and generous care He gives even to the animals...Matt. 6:26
C. Consider that nothing has ever changed because you worried or fretted about it. Ask yourself some good questions:
1…Is this really my problem or am I borrowing it?
2…Is this really a problem or am I anticipating fearsome things that have not happened?
3…Can I solve this problem in ordinary or extraordinary manner. Am I overlooking anything?
4…Has my worry ever changed anything?
5…Is there any point to my worrying about this?
6…Is there anything I need to correct to make this problem better, or less severe?
D. Let it finally be true in your own thinking: God is really in charge and I am not. God is good and He cannot do evil
E. Regain humility
F. Consider the natural world…Matt. 6:28 (Also consider Israel’s hopeless position, but they are “still there”)
G. Set your mind to seek first and foremost God’s kingdom and His righteousness allowing Him to take complete care of you.
H. With this mindset, as problems arise, follow the pattern of life He has shown us through the apostle Paul in Phil. 4:6-7:
1…Put off anxiety
2…Put on prayer and supplication
a…Bathe your requests in thanksgiving for the situation at hand and His use of it in your life as in Romans 8:28
b…Seek the wisdom of God in faith according to Jas. 1:5-6
c…Speak much with Him about the situation trusting the problem to Him, NOT just self

THIS IS HIS PROMISE TO YOU AND HE CANNOT FAIL: Done in faith, He will grant you His peace that surpasses all understanding and will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Even if the situation itself does not change, He will give you peace to go through it, or a solution to the situation, or He may choose to alter the situation into something so good it is beyond your thinking! He loves you so much that He wants you
To turn to prayer
The best (good) for you
Be a blessing to others
Realize/ask His will to be done in ALL things
It is all of God, none of man
Ask for wisdom, He gives liberally!