Change Your Thinking to Reduce Stress - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - November 17, 2018
Change Your Thinking to Reduce Stress
By Rick Warren
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8 NIV).
You can’t reduce stress in your life unless you change how you think. Our stress doesn’t come from the outside but from the inside.
Your mind is a special gift from God. It’s capable of storing more than 100 trillion thoughts. It can handle enormous amounts of information. God has given you the freedom to choose what you think about, from among all of that information.
The Bible says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8 NIV).
Paul reminds us that we can choose what we think about, and he encourages us to think about the right things. What we put into our minds impacts how we live.
It’s really no wonder we’re stressed when we consider what most of us think about on a regular basis. Many people, even Christians, allow anything and everything into their minds. Reading depressing books and watching depressing movies will lead to only one outcome.
What you think affects the way you feel; the way you feel affects the way you act. Guard your mind. Keep your mind on the right things.
Philippians 4:8 tells us to fix our minds on these good things. Paul means that we need to make a deliberate choice. Change the channel on our minds. Only allow in things that fit into the characteristics described in that verse.
What happens when you do that?
You get what God promises in the prior verse:“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 NIV).
Doesn’t that sound like it’s worth it?
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The Purpose of Christmas Book
Focus on Jesus this Christmas!
Holiday parties. Presents under the tree. Caroling. Christmas dinner. Watching family movies around the fireplace.
The Christmas season is full of holiday traditions. It’s part of what makes it special! But at the same time, you don’t want to forget what the real Christmas celebration is about:
Sharing the joy of the birth of Jesus Christ with the people you love—and even with those you may never meet.
That’s why we want to send you Pastor Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose of Christmas. It’s our gift to thank you for your donation to help more people learn, love, and live the Word this Christmas and throughout the year.
The Purpose of Christmas is a hardcover gift book with full color images. In it, Pastor Rick shows you . . .
• What Christmas means for your salvation
• How to surrender to God’s will
• Practical steps to overcome discouragement
• Why we celebrate Christmas at all
• How Christmas can be a time to make peace with others
Simply request your copy of The Purpose of Christmas when you give below.
From all of us at Daily Hope, may you experience God’s love, joy and peace this holiday season! And thank you for helping us to share his gifts with the world.
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.
