The Biblical Worldview on Overcoming Fear & Worry: Worries Into Prayer

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by some special friends of this ministry. Pastor Greg wanted to see a special word of thanks for the harvest partners who make this ministry possible next time your online check out Pastor Greg's personal blog go to harvest data work. Laurie is a failure to trust God. Don't worry about anything, pray about everything. Pastor Greg Laurie points out the worry is actually wasted time, energy and emotion. We need to avoid tomorrow. So today, spring the next time you're worried pray instead churn your worries in prayer saying rocking something to do with doesn't get you anywhere. Matthew 627 all your worries that a single moment in your life today is a new beginning after Greg Laurie helps us overcome series were learning to adopt the biblical world ever learn today that worldview are mutually over the question how many of you ever been gripped by fear you yeah you know that feeling well. Your blood goes cold shivered on the backbone your belt goes dry here in your head is studying my keys is one singular here but still no terrifying feeling. Maybe it happened when your life was in danger or your grip with the fear of death or listening to this or something. You're afraid of right now. The amazing thing to me is will spend our hard earned dollars to be scare you know will go to that super scary movie and then when the scene comes on at that were seen in the film we cover our eyes wait did you pay money to see that you go to an amusement park and go on the most insane. Why a number of years ago I decided I am just done with roller coasters. I don't know that I ever really like them, but I was on a roller coaster and I was at the very top right before the drop a member looking down overlooking the people standing there looking up there about the size of ants that I thought I would give anything to be done. There with them instead of being up, you're right on that.

The big drop in all that was open. It wasn't fun. It was scary right so we know what that feeling is and then the thing that goes along with fear is worry there so many things to be worried about the state of our country on the economy.

Of course, terrorism what's going on this crazy world work living in right now. Maybe that's why one of the top Google searches recently was is World War III near then there are the other fears that we have the general flying.

I read that there's a lot of other things you probably should be afraid of it, you know, 600 Americans die each year from falling out of their beds so maybe should have a fear of going to bed tonight for her many die due to the fatal plunge down the stairs.

The bite of sausage lodged in your throat the tumble on the slippery side while giving you great with the second I came to your message about overcoming that your giving me more things to be afraid of now and then there are shark attacks. We have a lot of shark activity. Now all of our beaches here in southern California is a video that was recently shot and that there were some guys are doing standup paddle. You know that is your extent of the board.

He probably gets ways in there waiting for a wave in the in the helicopter flew over. It was the Orange County Sheriff. This is the exact announcement they made actually have a transcription of its own. Madsen, you're out of the water on your stand aboard and you hear this ominous message from a loudspeaker of a helicopter. Direct quote. Be advised that the state parks are asking you to make an immediate exit because you are surrounded by 15 great white sharks there as close as the surfline just remain calm. Thank you for your cooperation.

Why don't they just say you're surrounded by 15 great white sharks.

You're going to die. Repeat this out loud after me. Our father who art in heaven hello. I mean seriously it's not enough to say one word to find 15 great white shark syndicates I can play the Jaws theme over the loudspeaker but a lot of things to be afraid of today then there's appears about our own life. Maybe your family are our personal health and it's funny with all this going on in the world. I read that the number one thing that people worry about is their appearance there. So it's like yeah I may be by shark. You know killed by a new but hello, I look in this outfit right 20 how we are so there's all these things that we worry about that don't help us at all. Actually, Rebecca, John Curtis, director of the University of Wisconsin stress management Institute says quote I believe that 90% of stress is brought on by not living in the present moment and worried about what's already happened. What's going to happen, but what could happen. So here's what you need to know worry is not productive and in fact worry is a failure to trust God. Interesting that the word worry comes from an old German word that means to strangle artichoke.

Sometimes my grandkids like to choke me from behind.

They find this entertaining and other come up and see what we wanted choke you know don't do that because sometimes you know I I pass out. I haven't really but that's what worry doesn't show to now worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength. I think we should take a cue from the Australians or the Ozzie's is her call when you go down under.

These are very relaxed people and very friendly people and whatever you ask in Ozzie for something may be directions or anything else. After they give you what you ask for those say this. No worries mate hey thanks a lot meant no worries make good on you and I like that no and that's actually theologically correct. It's been said, worry is the advanced interest you pay on troubles that seldom come. So let's try to stop worrying.

If they want easy for you to say I know but I want you to consider who wrote the words were about to read. There were written by the apostle Paul, under adverse circumstances. When Paul wrote the words were about to read. He was under house arrest.

He had gone to Rome to preach the gospel and instead was arrested and he didn't know what his future help you might be acquitted. He might be beheaded. This could be his last day. He knew nothing about his future. But he gives to us some of the most inspiring words found in the pages of Scripture series of verses that every believer should know and even commit to memory of talking about Philippians 4 starting in verse four will read down the verse eight Paul writes rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to all men.

The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, or literally, don't worry about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God's promise and the peace of God that passes all human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Christ.

I love these verses pause on and some ivory tower spending up the practical theories is overlain on some beach in the Mediterranean enough falafel and Evan and iced tea.

This is a guy who was I said was incarcerated, yet he is able to say, rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. By the way, that is a command from God himself. So understand this rejoicing is a scriptural command and is not a suggestion, let me put it another way to not rejoice is disobedience to God, but we will justify worry will say no it's okay for me to worry because I'm in a difficult situation will in many ways. We all are some more than others, but maybe we just only the lighten up a little bit when we can.

And I think all of us know people that are just a downer to be around it.

Debbie downer and her husband Bobby buzz kill right so whatever's going on that they see the dark side of it no matter what they think they can appreciate it. You know you have a great meal. Miller was a great meal was that I am so full and Bobby buzz kill will say yes to better their people starving in other parts of the world right now. Thank you Bobby for living up to your name buzz kill calling this beautiful sunset with the Lord made that will love not the world needed things that are in the world since Debbie downer please stop already you know you can find joy you can find humor. You can find something to rejoice about it some very difficult circumstances.

Paul is saying, in effect, will guys anyone knows of this like to be afraid it's me, but yet I'm telling you rejoice in the Lord always listen. Anyone can rejoice when things are going reasonably well, but when you're facing adversity or sickness or hardship or death. And then you rejoice within you are obeying God have a good 317 says even though the fig trees have no blossoms and there are no grapes on the vine. Even though the olive crop fails and the fields lie empty and barren, though the fox died in the field and the cattle barns are empty yet I will rejoice in the Lord will be joyful in the God of my salvation that he was having a hard day was any we can update that with word something along the lines of this even though the economy is bad in their downsizing at work in insurance rates are up in the cars out of gas and I'm sick all still rejoice in the God of my salvation. You know, rejoice when things get better you rejoice, no matter how things are going.

It doesn't say, rejoice. When you feel good. It doesn't even say, rejoice when things are going well, it says rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. It's in the Lord, the Lord's on his throne.

God is in control. The God was in control loves you and cares about you and is watching out for you so rejoice in the Lord in just a moment. Mr. Greg highlights a three step biblical land overcoming word practical insight is just ahead. I want you to know tonight. One thing God loves you and a new pastor Greg Laurie brings us a deeper appreciation for the man and his message.

No matter how you live, is there no matter what no matter what languages God loves you Julie.

Anyhow, we shared the gospel and he always emulated Christ and I think we can learn from his example.

So I write about that a lot more this book I've written called Billy Graham the man I need is an evangelist in the life of history's greatest advantage.

Get your copy of the new biography Billy Graham, the man I knew who harvest.org now pastor Greg continues his message called the biblical worldview on overcoming fear and worry. So now Paul is going to tell us how to overcome worry. This is the biblical worldview on overcoming fear and worry three elements I want to bring your attention, it's right frame verses 6 to 7. It's right thinking verse eight, and finally right living. Verse so right frame right thinking right living.

Let's over the first one). The next time you're tempted to worry. Pray instead churn your worries into prayers of this is called developing a conditioned reflex as compared to a natural reflex will of natural reflexes.

You know when the doctor tells you the crusher of legs or and then he hit you with the little device and the thing your leg shoot that's a natural reflex. It's amazing.

I ordered if you type something hot, you immediately pull back in order to teach that even to a toddler they know when they tried something hot. It hurts. They pulled her hand back that's a natural reflex but then there's a conditioned reflex. Now that is something your talk to do. And after you've done it so many times it becomes natural to you. For instance, standing during the national anthem.to show respect. That's a conditioned reflex. I was taught to do that are putting my hand over my heart when I say the Pledge of Allegiance. That's a conditioned reflex that I learned to do that now. I automatically do that you could compared to driving a car drama the first time you drove a car with a mystery car was. I was on the road the other day and I saw a car ahead of me on top of the card said student driver on the right side of the car sign student driver on the left side student driver on the back.

Another side student driver. I gave wide birth of that car because I know there they don't know what they're doing yet and churned out.

The driver will only stop for no reason. The right turning signal is on the churn lab.

Please give a lot of space there figured it out and I'm award.

It was like for me when I first learned how to drive in the thing that was really hard for me to figure out was a manual transmission, you know, a stick shift because it's like okay you push the clutch in and then you let on the gas but you have to be in gear and the brake pedal and the clutch are different. Don't get one instead of the other figured jerking and stopping and but after a while you get in your car you're driving your REIT number Rito here talking on the phone your change in the radio all at the same time, of course, this is not recommended but you know the ideas that it comes naturally because you taught yourself to do is look at what the point of so here's our natural reflex when something scary comes when something frightening comes when something alarms is comes we freak out and we need to teach ourselves to pray the natural reflex is panic. The condition reflex and I might add the biblical response is to pray. So Paul says don't worry about anything. Pray about everything and I like the fact that he says in everything by prayer, let your requests be made known to God versus he did not say, and only the big things and only the super big gnarly scary things in prayer, knowing everything God is interested in big things God's interested in little things God's interested in whatever concerns you because sometimes little things turning to big things rather quickly.

Don't think little problems can suddenly become big problems. Many are struggling a little bit would drinking then and it's easy getting a hold of you and you think I'm okay all of take care this on my own or three of this little issue of looking at porn on the Internet is becoming worse. Little things becoming a big thing you need to start praying right now and ask God to help you deal with that situation or you watch your children grow up and and when the really small they look so sweet and innocent you think do I even need to pray for them that their wonderful men. They get a little older and then they have the terrible twos and then they become even a bit older and then one day there preteen and all kinds of strange things start happening and preteens are like teenagers today aren't that and it doesn't help when we have publications like teen Vogue out there. I've read some of the articles that they put out. I don't know why but a teen Vogue came to my house the other day. They should be sending me elderly Vogue. I don't know. I frankly I don't want any phone because as far as I'm concerned with. They say is out of the, it's out of sync with God's word up one issue that I read. I was telling people what to do after your friend has an abortion. This is for teenagers. It was almost in its way. Encouraging abortion, then a new issue deals with sexual matters. I will not deal with specifically in this message without say it's entirely inappropriate and it was actually in many ways a how-to manual and how to do things that people shouldn't be doing much less teenagers.

This is my point. This is a culture that's out of sync with God, but with all of these things that are going on around us. We want to bring everything to the Lord and especially our children. I love how the mothers brought their children to Jesus and the disciples rub off them and the mothers were even more persistent. It says in the original language. The Bringing their children to Jesus and parent you need to keep bringing your children to Jesus. From the earliest of the later years. Never stop praying for your kids. Pray for the mother young, pray for them when they're teenagers pray for the mother college-age pray for the mother, young adults going around the world. Pray for them when they get middle-aged. That's when you know you're getting old when your children are middle-aged. Keep praying for them. Big things little things in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God. Notice it says with thanksgiving, with thanksgiving, that's an important element before the prayer is answered because they take time to worship my father and remind myself of his greatness and power and in doing so I automatically put my own problems into their proper perspective. What I see God in his glory. I see my problems.

The way I should see them big God. Small problems big problems small God. That is why the Lord taught me in the Lord's prayer to pray as follows. Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done under as it is in heaven. And then it goes on and gets to petitions eventually but the point is, it starts off which is acknowledging and recognizing the awesomeness and greatness of God and that I am giving him praise even before my prayers are answered. We need to pray that he will have his will in our life and that we rejoice in the fact that he's in control. Greg Lord is good insight today on right praying, thinking and living will have more insight as he continues the study called the biblical worldview on overcoming fear and worry including a final illustration before we close today. If you missed any part of today's message. Let us help you catch up by going to our website@harvest.org will pressure Greg just finished her brand-new book called Billy Graham the man I knew that site. I know that when he went home to the Lord that you and Kathy had the opportunity to attend his memorial service. Do you remember where you were when you heard that Billy had gone home. Yes, I was actually in Israel and I was on a little tour with some fellow pastors. In fact, Sissy Graham Lynch, the granddaughter of Billy was with us on that trip and she heard the news differently than everyone else. We all lost a hero. So when we look up to. She lost her grandfather and she is very close to him and we were all very sad. Now Billy was 99 years old, so he lived a very long life, but yet you know it was the end of an era and so there was great sadness and losing him because I just feel like we need another Billy Graham right now in our world. You know a man who is a pastor to presidents regardless of what side of the political aisle thereon, Amanda could speak to us during cultural moments of me. Billy was there.

After 9/11, speaking to the nation really being a chaplain to America and he played such a viable role, and of course the great evangelist, but so yeah, yeah, I remember the day very distinctly and then I attended his memorial service that was held. A bit later. Back at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte North Carolina and just about every pastor I've ever met. Fact as I walked around and looked at the diversity of people that were there people from every denominational background every kind of theological background. I thought wow this is what heaven's gonna look like if we like it or not, you know where were going to be there because we believed in Jesus and we believe he died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead, but does these are people that would not normally hang around each other.

But even in this funeral service. It was a reminder of the bridges he built to so many people in the Christian world and so many came from around the world to pay tribute to the great evangelist and in fact when his library was dedicated to Pres. Jimmy Carter, Pres. George H.

W. Bush were there in person, as was President Clinton, so that alone shows you how he reached people on both sides of the aisle and he was loved and appreciated by these presidents that value this counsel because Billy kept it confidential and thought he would rarely reveal something about a president. I asked him lots of questions. What was it like when you're with this person what they say he kept it confidential. He did tell me one amazing story though about Pres. John F. Kennedy. I asked him if he had any regrets in life and he said yes I do and he told me the story of how he was at the prayer breakfast there in Washington DC and the president will always be in attendance.

Pres. Kennedy was there.

Billy spoken after it was over with the president said Billy I would like you to ride with me back to the White House have something I want to talk to you about.

Will Billy was very sick and he said Mr. Pres., I I'm afraid I'm gonna have to decline.

I don't want to get you sick. But maybe I could talk to you as soon as I'm over this sickness and Pres. Kennedy agreed and and then only days after that Pres. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas Texas and Billy always regretted that because he wondered what did the president want to talk to me about but you know he would keep these conversations in confidence and I think that's why people trust in them so much and wanted to to share their heart with him knowing that he would give them good counsel and I do write about his relationships with presidents and its fascinating his relationship with Pres. Johnson is really surprising they they had a very close friendship there were both Southerners you know so they connected on that level he was very close to Pres. Reagan as well not as close to Pres. Carter but an audit continued with the Bush family. George H. W. Bush. He really played a role in George W. Bush coming to Christ and then fast forward he was very close to Bill Clinton and Hillary as well and they admired him and and fact building Hillary came to his final crusade and in some people get very upset because are so partisan these days and how dare you be with those people. What you talking about, you know, Jesus spent time with all kinds of people. He was called critically, I might add, the friend of sinners. Billy build bridges the people and he always shared the gospel and he always emulated Christ and I think we can learn from his example. So I write about that a lot more in this new book I've written called Billy Graham the man I knew, yet it's a book you won't be able to put down. It's a fascinating look at the life of this remarkable man of God and will send you a copy. It's just out to thank you for your investment in making these daily studies possible. It's only through listener support that we can feature pastor Greg's teachings each day.

So please send your gift today to a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime. Again, that's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and look for Billy Graham, the man I knew and we won't be mentioning this much longer.

So contact as soon in Philippians chapter 4 we find Paul's words to be anxious for nothing will pastor Greg closes with some good insight from that passage in everything by prayer and supplication, praying for others with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God what happens and the peace of God that passes all human understanding, will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

By the way the word therefore keep the original languages. Gar the ideas as if you put everything in gods hands and trust him and rejoice, even before you know the outcome God will post a century outside of your heart. Sgt. Pease is guarding your heart. Have you ever experienced. It the most crazy circumstances you have peace in the middle of the store that is the peace that passes all human understanding and its appeasing God can give you no matter what you're facing right possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions and harvest.org