WEBVTT 00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:03.200 It is really, really good to see you. 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:05.280 Turn your Bibles to Philippians chapter 4. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:07.360 Philippians chapter 4 is where we're gonna be. 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:11.199 Hey, before we get going, I just want to take an opportunity just to celebrate and brag a little bit. 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:17.120 Uh really, really big day for some of our local teams uh that I just want to kind of shout out a little bit. 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:23.039 We had Kingwood Softball Girls won state yesterday, which is pretty exciting. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:25.280 Huge thing for them. 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:26.879 We've got a number of the girls that go to our church. 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:28.320 Lindsay Gilman is one of those. 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:32.079 Just so thankful and so excited to be able to see them experience that victory. 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:36.479 And then yesterday was a huge day for Umble ISD baseball team. 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:40.640 Started off with Kingwood Mustangs making it to the state finals next week. 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:43.200 Winner take all game, which is gonna be awesome. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:46.880 Coach Adams is one of the assistant coaches, one of our key guys here at our church. 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:49.520 Just so thankful to be able to see them get that success. 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:59.119 And then after that, K Park had to win two in a row, and they did, and they're gonna be playing in the state finals next week as well, which is super exciting. 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:05.280 Coach Campbell, one of the coaches, is of uh connected here, and it's just amazing. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:13.519 Uh, we have baptized over 40 K Park baseball players in the last two years here at United City Church, which is just amazing. 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:16.319 So great to see these guys get that success. 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:24.719 And then, not to be outdone, Atascaseda Eagles won last night, one-to-zero, and they're gonna be playing for the state championship next week as well. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:31.760 Coach O'Neill, Coach Melvin, both super active here at United City. 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:35.760 It's just awesome, awesome to be able to see these local teams doing really will a well. 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:40.319 And I'm gonna just tell you, I love even more the fact that they've got godly coaches that are coaching them. 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:43.120 I mean, at the end of the day, that's the thing that matters the most. 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:44.799 And we're grateful for that. 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:51.519 I'm all about, I know that no matter whether they win or lose, uh, they're gonna be able to be poured into and they're gonna be raised up as strong men. 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:54.079 But let me just tell you, it's really good to win too, all right? 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:55.200 And it's pretty awesome. 00:01:55.359 --> 00:02:04.159 And so we we definitely are pulling for uh next week to be a big weekend for some of our local teams, but what an accomplishment in and of itself just to be there uh by itself. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:13.520 Let me take this opportunity real quickly before we get going as well, just to welcome all those on the other side of the camera, particularly those joining us at some of the correctional facilities that we get to stream into. 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:19.280 Let's give them a hand and celebrate the fact that we get the chance to reach out to them. 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:33.919 Uh I did some research in preparation for the message this week, and I discovered that if I got a hold of your phone and I was to do a little deep dive and look at your Facebook or your Instagram likes. 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:49.280 And researchers have said that if you just examine 10 likes that an individual makes, that you can know more about them and their personality than their coworkers would be able to know that spend time with them on a daily basis. 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:51.280 Let's take it a step further. 00:02:51.439 --> 00:03:07.360 If I was to be able to do an even deeper dive and learn and see 300 of your likes, it says that I would be able to know more about you, what makes you go, and what makes you tick than your own spouse. 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:09.919 This isn't science fiction. 00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:11.840 It's not some hocus pocus thing. 00:03:11.919 --> 00:03:20.719 It's the data that shows you that ultimately this little device right here is a window into our souls. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:34.800 Researchers say that they can identify personality quirks and personality traits in you with 93% accuracy by just looking at your digital activity patterns. 00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:44.560 If you check your phone more than 96 times per day, which averages out to about every 10 minutes, which by the way is the average for most Americans. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:52.639 If you check it more than that, then it's suggested that you are gonna be someone who has FOMO, fear of missing out. 00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:55.759 You're gonna be dealing with a little bit of anxiety. 00:03:56.080 --> 00:04:06.719 If you are someone who uses apps like WhatsApp and Messenger primarily, it tends to communicate that you are higher on the extroversion scale. 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:19.600 However, if you're somebody who uses solo apps like the Weather App or the News app or the um or the the like reading books, you typically score higher on introversion. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:35.519 One journal cited that researchers could accurately predict how organized and responsible you are based on how often you engage with productivity apps or how much you follow your normal digital rhythm and routine. 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:41.839 Those who frequently post selfies score higher on narcissism. 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:53.439 Yet those who do more group photos or landscape pictures are shown to be more open and agreeable to new things. 00:04:54.399 --> 00:05:06.000 How many of you right now on your phone, you have the little red number that is above, whether one single number or whether the collection of numbers is higher than 20? 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:07.279 Would you raise your hand? 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:09.519 You have 20 unread notifications. 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:11.040 Would you raise your hands? 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:12.240 Okay. 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:21.040 You are the people who the statistics say score higher on lack of awareness to things around them. 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:28.319 And all of your organized friends like me, we have validation of proof that you are crazy, okay? 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:41.360 Whereas it also found that if you are somebody who responds to a text message, sorry for the late reply, within two hours, it shows that you might struggle with obsession. 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:48.800 Which I find that personally offensive, to be honest with you, because I feel like it is a duty to get back as quick as possible whenever I can, right? 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:51.519 The statistics get a little bit more ominous, though. 00:05:51.600 --> 00:06:09.120 It begins to describe the fact that in 2019, people who check their phones within five minutes of waking up are 73% more likely to report feeling overwhelmed by the day before it even begins, compared to those who wait at least an hour before their first check. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:24.560 Perhaps most concerning is a study found that teenagers who spend more than five hours daily on their devices are twice as likely to exhibit symptoms of depression and anxiety than their peers who use their device for less than an hour a day. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:29.120 Here's what makes all of this relevant to the series that we're starting today called Highlight Real. 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:41.839 We're gonna be looking for the next five weeks at the most highlighted, most shared, most engaged verses on your phone. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:07:04.240 And just like your phone can be a window to your soul that determines your personality, we want to look at what some of the verses that most people on the UVersion Bible app, which has over 14 million users per day, the verses that they go to, the verses that they gravitate, the verses that they highlight, what does that say about us? 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:07.519 But more importantly, what do we want to learn from about that verse? 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:13.920 What you're gonna discover is that the verses that have been chosen are ones that are all great verses. 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:19.680 In fact, we don't just want to preach a verse a week, we instead want to actually get you to memorize those verses. 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:22.639 Everybody take out your little card that you got we had in your seat. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:23.680 This is for you. 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:26.879 Every week when you come, we're gonna give you a new card with the new verse. 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:30.319 There's 10 verses that they've listed as the top ten verses. 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:32.319 We just picked five of them. 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:44.560 This week's verse is Philippians chapter 4, verse 6, which actually was the top engaged verse in 2024, and consistently in the last five years is in the top three. 00:07:44.959 --> 00:07:55.920 And so what we're asking you to do is to take this card and you can place it on your dashboard of your car, you can place this on the mirror in your in your bathroom, you can place this on your phone, you can place this in your pocket, whatever it may be. 00:07:56.079 --> 00:08:05.040 We want you to consistently say this verse over and over again so that you don't just hear us teach about it today, but ideally you put it in your heart. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:10.240 We believe the Bible speaks, and we don't just want the Bible speaks to be a slogan. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:14.959 We want the Bible speaks to be something that's on the tip of your tongue because it's close to your heart. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:17.600 And so, therefore, we want to put God's word in you. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:21.839 And so these cards are just one way to be able to help you to memorize God's word. 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:24.560 And these are great verses for you to memorize. 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:26.959 Philippians chapter 4, verse 6. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:30.079 I want us to read this verse aloud together. 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:30.639 Let's do it. 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:31.519 Here we go. 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:42.399 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:44.559 What a powerful verse. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:48.080 How many of you are familiar with Hans Zimmer? 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:50.240 Any Hans Zimmer fans in the room? 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:53.039 Hans Zimmer is my absolute favorite. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:58.559 He is a film score composer, he is a musical producer, he is, I believe, the best there is. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:08:59.759 I think he's the absolute GOAT. 00:08:59.840 --> 00:09:05.919 He's been nominated for Tonies and Emmys and Academy Awards and all the different things that you could possibly uh listen to. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:21.840 You know him, even if you don't realize it, if you've ever seen The Lion King, if you've ever seen Prince of Egypt, if you've ever seen Gladiator, if you've ever seen Braveheart, if you've ever seen Interstellar, one of my most amazing ones of all, in my opinion, Inception. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:26.080 He he wrote many of the soundtracks for many of these types of movies. 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:31.279 I got introduced to him a couple of years ago because somebody said, Hey, this is, I was looking for some good study music. 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:33.440 And they said, You should totally check out Hans Zimmer. 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:35.759 So I started playing Hans Zimmer when I studied. 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:42.159 And what happens is I get in there and I begin to start studying it, and I just kind of I just kind of get motivated. 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:49.600 I begin to turn it up really, really loud in my office to where literally the walls are rattling in my office. 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:52.000 It's like a mental cue for me though. 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:58.000 Like I know when the walls are rattling and Hans Zimmer is playing, deep work's about to go down in here. 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:07.679 Like I just kind of know, like I'm gonna go in and I'm gonna wrestle with this text, and I'm gonna try to figure out what God is trying to speak to his people, and I want to make sure I'm thinking of you. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:09.120 How can I communicate it? 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:15.840 How can I express it in a way that's gonna connect with your heart, that is gonna allow you to not just hear it, but to apply it. 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:20.799 And you hear this music going, and I don't know about you, but I just get like I just want to start running. 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:23.919 Like I'm just I'm just engaged, I'm just so pumped up. 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:26.639 It just motivates me in every single way. 00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:33.039 And you would think the volume and you would think the intensity would cause you not to be able to function. 00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:43.440 What I have discovered is that the music in the background actually motivates me, and I've been able to function quite well with it playing in the background. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:11:02.320 I am convinced the reason Philippians chapter 4, verse 6 is the most engaged, most shared, most highlighted verse in all of the Bible is because all of us live with some anxiety in our lives. 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:05.279 And it's like background music. 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:10.639 And we've learned how to function with it just playing behind us. 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:22.320 And sometimes we can perform super well and it's not a big deal, and then other times it is so loud and it is so intense, it feels like we can't even function. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:31.039 What am I gonna do about the situation? 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:37.679 How am I gonna respond in this relationship? 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:42.559 I got that conversation I'm supposed to have. 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:44.559 And I don't want to have it. 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:48.960 So how do I how do I push it off again? 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:52.639 Do you see what mom and dad did? 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:56.240 Do you think that means they're gonna get a divorce? 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:02.000 Like, I don't know why my child's acting this way. 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:05.440 Does this mean they're walking away from the faith? 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:06.799 It's just noise. 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:08.240 Constant. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:09.519 Constant. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:12.080 Always there. 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:22.480 Sometimes we've been able to just shove it down and figure out how to make it work, and other times it cripples us. 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:25.440 There's nothing we can do. 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:34.159 I am encouraged by the fact that of all the places that people would go, it's God's word. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:41.039 My encouragement to you is to always ask, what does God say about this? 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:44.559 Don't just try to figure out how to manage it. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:47.600 Don't just figure out how to operate in spite of it. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:49.279 What does God say? 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:51.519 What does God want us to do? 00:12:51.840 --> 00:13:05.039 And I think Philippians chapter 4, 6 is one of the most encouraging, life-giving verses that you could ever put to memory so that you can begin to recount how do I handle it when I face anxiety. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:09.120 The simple answer is this is to pray. 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:11.120 It's to pray. 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:13.200 I don't say that tritly. 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:15.440 I don't say that like it's not a big deal. 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:20.720 I instead tell you if you have anxiety in your life, here's what you need to do. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:22.480 You need to pray. 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:29.279 What I want to do is I want to walk you through that as an acronym just to kind of show you how you can pray. 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:31.440 What does this look like for you to pray to the Lord? 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:37.120 What does this look like for you to deal and handle and to think through these things of anxiety that you have in your life? 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:39.360 How do I bring these things to the Lord? 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:40.240 First, P. 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:43.759 Present your concerns. 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:47.279 Present your concerns. 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:50.960 Let's read the verse again, Philippians chapter 4, verse 6. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:56.240 Here's what it says Do not be anxious about anything. 00:13:57.200 --> 00:14:06.159 But in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:08.799 I really appreciate this verse. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:12.480 Because it starts off by saying, don't be anxious. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:13.519 So it's a command. 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:14.559 We shouldn't be anxious. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:16.159 We shouldn't be anxious about stuff. 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:20.000 But you're gonna be, so whenever you are, here's what you're supposed to do about it. 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:28.080 I find freedom in that because at times I feel like I'm kind of beating myself up for being anxious, and it's like he knows you are, like it's going to happen. 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:31.440 So don't be, but when you are, here's what you do. 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:36.080 You're supposed to bring your request to God, is what it says. 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:40.159 Here's what I want you to know that's something super important to hear. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:44.240 God already knows about it. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:55.919 Sometimes I think that like God only cares about the really, really big stuff, like the war in Russia and Ukraine and the war in Israel and like global poverty and like cancer. 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:57.440 Like those are like his list. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:06.720 And so when I'm gonna have stuff that I'm like dealing with, it's like it feels so first world problems to bring this up to the Lord when He's got other stuff to deal with. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:10.240 And so it's easier just to be like, I just I just got it. 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:17.840 So like if I got like attention at the office or something like that, it feels weird to be like, hey, I got this thing whenever you're dealing with global poverty. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:20.639 Like it just doesn't seem to add up. 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:28.320 But what I want you to see in this passage is that God is inviting us into a relationship, not a transaction. 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:34.879 A transaction means this if this is worthy, I'll bring it up and we'll exchange something. 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:41.200 A relationship says, I'm into you, and so therefore, if you think it's a big deal, it's a big deal to me. 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:48.879 And that relationship is an invitation to let your requests be made known to God. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:57.759 You're not bothering him, you're not annoying him, you're relating to him, you're connecting with him. 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:12.399 I went to a uh leadership coach last year, and I was just trying to figure out how I could level up in my own leadership personally, but also just as the church is growing, just figuring out what I need to do just to kind of help continuing to advance in my own uh personal leadership. 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:15.440 And I had some buddies that had gone to this guy, and so I went and sat down. 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:23.039 I was kind of excited about being able to do so, and I sit down with this guy, and the very first thing he tells me is he says, Hey, so tell me what are you anxious about? 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:25.919 I was like, Well, I mean, you know, I'm good. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:26.960 Like I'm totally good. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:33.440 Like I got, you know, I got a few things that kind of annoy me along the way, but I mean, yeah, I mean, honestly, I'm they're under control, I feel like I'm on top of it, I feel like I've got a plan. 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:35.600 Like, we're totally good, you know, no big deal at all. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:38.799 And he just kind of sits there, doesn't say anything. 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:46.639 I assumed that the silence meant that he wanted me to fill in that silence with more expressions of how awesome I am and how I've got it all under control. 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:48.000 So I just kept going. 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:56.559 Well, I mean, yeah, I've done this and I've done this and now I've done this, and I just kept talking, and then I I kind of realized by his lack of response that that wasn't what he was going for. 00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:58.799 He was wanting me to stop talking. 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:02.559 So awkwardly, I I stopped, I stopped talking. 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:06.160 And he goes, So are you done bragging on yourself? 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:09.680 I was like, this is not gonna go well. 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:22.720 He said, I just want you to know you will never level up in your leadership, and you will never level up in your relationship with the Lord unless you're honest with yourself, and unless you're honest with him. 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:32.960 He began, he then began to walk with me through this whole idea of not just mentioning things that bother me, but naming things that bother me. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:34.960 Like this is a thing. 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:46.799 Like this habit that I I've been able to manage and be able to kind of contain and be able to kind of put in a box over here, and hasn't really caused many problems, but hasn't gone away, and it's not getting better. 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:50.720 It just feels like it's just digging a hole deeper. 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:53.920 I need to admit that that's a thing in my life. 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:56.640 Like I gotta actually address that. 00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:58.880 Like I've gotta work through that. 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:08.799 Like that church frustration thing that I've got kind of going over here, like a mosquito that just kind of comes around and I try to swat it away every now and then, and every once in a while it will actually buy. 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:12.240 It's not bad enough to bring up, but it's bad enough to be annoying. 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.880 And it just kind of lives there. 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:18.960 I'm supposed to actually say that and talk about that. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.960 Can I be honest with you? 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:22.799 I hated it. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:26.079 And I still hate it. 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:34.480 In fact, to this day, I will still say, God, I know this is dumb, I don't want to do this, I think it's so stupid, but apparently I'm supposed to say something. 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:36.240 This is bothering me. 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.960 This is annoying me. 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:41.039 This is frustrating to me. 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:52.720 And what I've discovered is that the very act of naming and saying something does nothing to change the circumstances that I'm dealing with. 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:59.759 But somehow, the very act of saying it places it at the feet of the only one who can handle it. 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:05.039 And even though my circumstances haven't changed, my perspective changes every time. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:15.039 Folks, what I am begging of you is that you would bring your request to the Lord. 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:23.519 You wouldn't hold on to these things, you wouldn't hold these things tight, but instead you would bring them before the Lord because he is strong enough to carry it. 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:30.079 Here's what I want you to discover is that whenever you don't say these things to God, they don't go away, they go underground. 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:34.880 And then what happens is it comes out in your mood. 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:42.240 It comes out in the way that you treat people, it comes out in the way that you begin to think about God. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:58.319 It's like a seed that is planted, and you're trying to nurture that seed really well, but because you didn't deal with the weeds, the weeds just kind of crowd it out and kind of make it annoying and kind of keep that all the sunlight from being able to get to it to allow the ultimate growth to take place. 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:02.240 What I'm asking you to do is to be honest. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:07.200 Men, what I'm asking you to do is to be like, man, this is the thing. 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:09.119 My marriage isn't where it needs to be. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:12.240 Yeah, it's not as bad as other people, but it's not where God wants it. 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:14.799 And I need to do something about it. 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:18.000 I don't just need to call it over here in the corner and figure out how to manage it. 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:19.440 I need to address it. 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:21.440 This sin issue in my life. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:22.799 I need to get on it. 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:24.480 I need to deal with it. 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:28.480 I need to I need to not just try to minimize it. 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:31.119 I instead need to go after it. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:34.880 The very act of saying that leads to freedom. 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:42.160 Which leads very closely to the next one, which is R, which stands for remember God's faithfulness. 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:44.799 Remember God's faithfulness. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:46.640 Philippians 4, 6. 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.359 Let's read it again. 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:56.000 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, here's the key phrase, with thanksgiving. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:58.960 Let your requests be made known to God. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:02.960 Throughout Scripture, God's people are called to remember his faithfulness. 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:08.880 The Psalms repeatedly use the phrase, remember the wonders he has done. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:18.720 The taking of the Lord's Supper, seeing the testimony of baptism is a way to remind us of the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:27.839 So anytime we participate in one of those, those uh ordinances, it allows our hearts to be reminded, oh, God did this for us. 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:29.839 Like he saved us. 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:32.400 He is worthy of being trusted. 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:39.200 Remember, remembering isn't just nostalgia, it's spiritual warfare against anxiety. 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:49.039 In Joshua chapter 4, after Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, Joshua commanded them to take 12 stones from the riverbed and create a memorial. 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:59.440 And in Joshua chapter 4, verses 4 through 7, it reads like this Then Joshua called the 12 men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe, and Joshua said to them. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:12.000 Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:17.519 When your children ask in time to come, what do these stones mean to you? 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:23.599 Then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:27.119 When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. 00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:32.000 So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever. 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:35.039 Let me just ask you, what is your stones? 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:38.880 What is your memorial that you go back to? 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:46.079 I got a couple that I'm bringing I brought up here with me from my office that I wanted to show you that are the case for me. 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:51.279 This first one here is a little box that has an envelope in it. 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:57.119 This envelope reads this The Lord has blessed us, so we would like to bless your family. 00:22:57.359 --> 00:23:01.039 Our God will provide all our needs. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:03.279 It's anonymous. 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:10.240 This came to us many, many years ago whenever Hillary and I were at the lowest point of our lives financially. 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:18.400 It wasn't because we mismanaged our money, it wasn't because we spent more than we needed and got into a bunch of debt, it wasn't because we weren't tithing, we were doing all of those things. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:24.400 We just had a number of different circumstances that came up that caused us to be in a place of financial desperation. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:31.039 And I walked into my office, and this anonymous letter was there filled with cash. 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:39.759 I keep it in my office because there are certain times along the way that I start to wonder if God will provide. 00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:51.119 And I look at it, and when I look at it every single time, I remember the feeling of going home to Hillary and saying, You're not going to believe what happened today. 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.759 Look what God did. 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:57.920 And here's what is amazing about it. 00:23:58.240 --> 00:24:08.400 When I look at it and I think about that, not only does my heart get full and I begin to realize that God does provide, it causes me to want to be generous. 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:14.880 Like it moves totally from I don't have enough to who can I give something to? 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:18.720 This is what the memories of God will do. 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:24.400 It will cause you to respond with thanksgiving because he's been faithful. 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:28.000 So you need to remember his faithfulness. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.519 Let me show you the other one I got. 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:32.319 That's a picture that I have in my office. 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:36.559 This is a picture of Easter of 2020. 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:42.240 So if you remember, Easter of 2020 was a little different than it is this year, right? 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:44.640 Uh we had COVID during Easter of 2020. 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:51.200 I got here in 2019 in April, and I literally all I talked about for an entire straight year was Easter 2020. 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.480 That's all I mentioned. 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:55.039 I knew that the church was going to go through some renovations. 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:56.880 I knew that the church was going to go through a name change. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:59.599 We had a lot of things that we were we were wrestling through and going through. 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:04.880 And so therefore, all I talked about, Easter 2020 team, Easter 2020, that's what we're focusing on, Easter 2020. 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:15.680 Easter 2020 was supposed to be the time when all the community was going to come to our services and they were going to be able to be in a brand new renovated building and they were going to see we were open, like we were ready to go. 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:17.680 They were going to be able to hear the new name. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:24.880 We had a whole marketing deal to let everybody in the community know about the brand new name of the church, all geared for Easter 2020. 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:27.039 And this is what Easter 2020 looked like. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:30.640 It was me, a camera, and three people up there videoing. 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:35.039 I keep this picture in my office to remind myself of this. 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:42.880 God builds his church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against his church. 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:50.160 I don't look at this as disappointing. 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:56.960 I look at this as proof that no matter how big my situation is, God's bigger. 00:25:57.279 --> 00:26:01.519 No matter how dark things look, God is the author of light. 00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:05.440 Let me just ask you, what are your stones? 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:07.920 What are your memorials? 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:11.759 What are those things that you can grab and that you can hold on to? 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:15.519 And you can begin to tell your kids, let me tell you about what my God did. 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:23.680 Let me tell you about how God met us and God was there with us, and God began to show himself off. 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:30.000 It leads into the next one, which is A, acknowledge His goodness. 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:32.079 Acknowledge His goodness. 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:35.200 This is similar, but it's more than just remembering. 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:39.519 This is thinking God thoughts instead of your negative thoughts. 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:47.039 It's thinking God's truth instead of rehashing the specifics of the circumstance. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:51.680 Let's read Philippians 4, verses 6 through 8. 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:57.599 It says, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. 00:26:57.920 --> 00:27:00.319 Let your request be made known to God. 00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:07.759 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:11.039 Finally, brothers, such a good verse. 00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:32.559 Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there's any excellence, if there's anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:45.440 I can either rehash and rehearse and replay the situation that is causing anxiety in my life, or I can fill my mind with things that lead me to have confidence in God. 00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:48.480 Have you ever been super anxious about something? 00:27:48.720 --> 00:28:00.319 Woke you up in the middle of the night, you start thinking about it, you start analyzing it, you start debating it, you start thinking through all the things you're supposed to do, you get no sleep, and you wake up and the situation has improved? 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:01.920 Never. 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:06.400 You're more anxious because now you're tired. 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:12.240 But on the other hand, have you ever found yourself in a situation? 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:17.599 It's stressful, it's difficult, it's causing you anxiety, you're not sure what's going to happen, you're not sure what to do. 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:20.079 And you walk into the doors of church. 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:37.920 In the midst of church, all of a sudden Josh starts off and he begins to quote Mark chapter 5 about how Jesus, when he's in the room, changes everything, and you start singing up on Jesus in the room, and you start going and hearing the words of those songs, and then all of a sudden you begin to hear somebody sing it as well with my soul. 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:41.599 And then you begin to sing Jehovah Jira. 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:44.160 He will provide, he is the ultimate provider. 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:53.839 You begin to worship, you begin to sing, you begin to engage, you begin to hear about how awesome God is and how majestic God is and how much glory God deserves and how big He is. 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:55.119 And guess what's happened? 00:28:55.279 --> 00:29:00.400 Your situation hasn't changed under circumstances, but your perspective has radically changed. 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:00.799 Why? 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:04.880 Because you stopped focusing on the thing and you started focusing on your God. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:09.200 And when you do that, it shifts. 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:15.519 Folks, what I want to encourage you to do is to think God's thoughts. 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:18.720 I'm not saying think happy thoughts. 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:21.279 I'm saying think God thoughts. 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.960 How do I think God's thoughts? 00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:24.240 We talk about it all the time. 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:40.240 By reading consistently his word, you can't go two or three pages without finding somewhere that leaps off the page of God's goodness, of his faithfulness, of his mercy, of his steadfast love, of his forgiveness, of his ongoing grace to you. 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:46.319 And what you'll begin to discover, well, I've got this situation, I need to go look and see where the Bible says about it. 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.519 That's one way to do it. 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:56.480 Or you could consistently read God's word, and what you will discover is even though the specifics of your situation aren't in there, the God that you're supposed to bring it to is. 00:29:57.440 --> 00:30:06.079 And because of that, it gives you confidence to be able to know, okay, God, this is the thing. 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:07.839 I need to bring it up. 00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:09.839 I need to talk about it. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:20.160 And I want to begin to think what you think, even though it may feel radically different than how I normally think I'm supposed to live. 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:23.519 Here's what the Bible says: it leads to thanksgiving. 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:29.599 God's word, read it and let it lead you to gratitude before you worry about getting to your list. 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:33.759 Neuroscience confirms what scripture has always taught. 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:38.799 Gratitude and anxiety cannot simultaneously dominate the brain. 00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:47.119 When we intentionally practice thanksgiving, we literally create new neuropathways so that anxiety has less powerful in our lives. 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:50.400 So practically begin your prayer time with thankfulness. 00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:55.599 Write down in the journal the things that you're grateful for so that you can recount his goodness. 00:30:56.079 --> 00:31:02.960 Fill your car and your mind with the worship of God, not mindless noise that fills your heart and your head with fear. 00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:05.519 Finally, why? 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:07.119 Yes to God's will. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:09.680 Yes to God's will. 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:15.279 Peace comes not from getting what we want, but from aligning ourselves with what God wants. 00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:17.839 Jesus modeled this perfectly in Gethsemane. 00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:22.559 He said these words, not my will, but yours be done. 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:32.079 This wasn't passive resignation, but active surrender, a deliberate choice to trust the Father's wisdom above his own desires. 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:34.559 Philippians 4, 6 and 7. 00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:37.279 Do not be anxious about anything. 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:42.319 But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:52.400 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:57.200 Verse 7 is the result of our verse, verse 6. 00:31:57.839 --> 00:32:06.640 When you give these things to God, you don't just hear what he says or hear what he says to do, but you actually do it, it leads to peace. 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:10.640 Too often we treat God's plans as a suggestion. 00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:12.960 So we hear him out. 00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:15.599 We listen to what he says, we consider it. 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:19.279 We use it as a data point, as something we should think about. 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:23.839 So I could do this, I could do that, or I could do what God says. 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:27.119 Please make no mistake about it. 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:30.960 God is not mocked. 00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:34.480 He is not interested in being a consideration. 00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:38.480 He is only interested in leading you as you walk in obedience to him. 00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:43.440 He isn't going to force you, but he also isn't going to beg you. 00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:46.720 Many times in my own prayer time, I will lay out what I'm thinking. 00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:48.160 I did it this morning. 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:56.160 I journal out, I wrote down, here's my plans, here's my brilliant ideas, here's what I want God to sign off and execute that day. 00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:58.240 And I'll close it with this. 00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:00.960 God, this is about what you want. 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:02.880 And not what I want. 00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:10.799 So today, ultimately, if everything I just wrote down is not what you want from me, I want your plans today. 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:12.640 I want your will today. 00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:14.400 I want your ways. 00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:18.000 James chapter 4, verses 13 through 15. 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:24.400 Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit. 00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:28.480 What is your life? 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:31.920 If you're a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:36.400 Instead, you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that. 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:38.079 God, this is what I want. 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:41.440 But only if it matches with what you want. 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:46.480 And the key is not just saying that, it's actually doing that. 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:49.359 It's living in God's economy. 00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:52.559 It's living in God's plan for relationships. 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:58.880 It's trusting that God's commands were meant for our good, not to keep me from enjoying my life. 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:01.039 What does all of this lead to? 00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:02.720 Philippians 4, 7. 00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:11.840 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:14.400 The Greek word for guard here is a military term. 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:17.760 It depicts armed soldiers protecting a city. 00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:27.360 When we follow the pray method, when we present our concerns, we remember his faithfulness, we acknowledge his goodness and say yes to his will. 00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:34.719 God dispatches his peace as a guard over our hearts and a guard over our minds. 00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:37.920 Let me ask, do you know this peace? 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.679 You can today. 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:42.480 Would you bow your heads and would you close your eyes with me? 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:49.440 You can have peace with God. 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:55.519 In fact, you were created for peace and for life. 00:34:57.440 --> 00:35:05.360 You were designed to live a life that's free of anxiety, controlling you, instead, a life that is filled with hope and future. 00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:07.280 There's a problem. 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:13.920 All of us have sinned and gone against God's will. 00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:20.880