You Win or Lose the Battle Against Stress in Your Mind - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - November 22, 2018
You Win or Lose the Battle Against Stress in Your Mind
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).
Blaming stress on external forces is easy. We think we’re stressed because of work or relationships or health struggles.
But stress doesn’t come from what’s on the outside. Stress takes place between our ears. You’ll win or lose the battle against stress in your brain.
To cut down on stress, learn to control what gets into your brain. Unfortunately, most of us treat our brains like a freeway, where anything can drive right on in. And consequently, we let a lot of garbage in. We consume movies, books, and social media content that focuses our thoughts on the worst of the world.
But the Bible tells us, “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).
Think of the eight characteristics Paul describes in this verse as a test to discern what you let into your mind. To lower the stress in your life, you must change what you think about and control what you allow in your mind. So before you read, watch, or talk about something, ask yourself:
- Is it true?
- Is it noble?
- Is it right?
- Is it pure?
- Is it lovely?
- Is it admirable?
- Is it excellent?
- Is it praiseworthy?
Does that sound like what you’ve been watching on television or reading in popular novels?
Probably not.
Think about the characteristics described in Philippians 4:8. They all describe Jesus. Paul says to fix our eyes on the wonder of who Jesus is, not the ugliness of this world around us.
When you’ve fixed your mind on Jesus, you’re less likely to be stressed out.
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God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible and Integrating God’s Word Into My Life CD Message
Help the children in your life experience God’s Word!
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” –Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)
One of the greatest ways to fulfill the Great Commission is to share Jesus and God’s Word with the children who God has placed in your life.
And there’s now a great tool to help do that — Pastor Rick Warren’s brand-new book, God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible.
This 223-page, full-color, beautifully illustrated, hardcover children’s version of God’s Word shares key Bible stories along with the 40 foundational principles from the #1 New York Times bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life. And it’s written in a way that’s easy for even the youngest readers to understand.
The God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook Bible will help the children in your life . . .
• Experience Bible stories coming to life with child-friendly language
• Connect deeply with Scripture through engaging illustrations
• Grow to love Jesus through lessons targeted specifically for them
• Discover God’s plans and purposes for their life
God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook is our gift to thank you for your donation below. And as an act of our appreciation, we’ll also send you Pastor Rick’s CD message, Integrating God’s Word Into My Life.
So when you give below, be sure to request your copy of God’s Big Plans for Me Storybook to bless a child in your life — and Integrating God’s Word Into My Life for yourself.
Thank you for giving today to help more people learn, love, and live God’s Word through Daily Hope!
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.
