Review
• Week 1 – We are in a battle for our mind
o We have a sinful nature that wars within us to keep us separated from God
o God tells us we can actually fight this. We do this by renewing our mind.
§ Neuroplasticity is the ability to forge new pathways of thinking

• Week 2 – We have to REPLACE the lies we believe with the Truth of God’s Word
o Satan is the father of lies! He lies about who God is and who we are

• Week 3 – We need to REFRAME our circumstances by changing our perspective to a Kingdom
perspective instead of a worldly one

Today’s message – REJOICE
Philippians 4:4-8 (NIV

ALWAYS REJOICE. How is that possible?
Joy: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or the prospect of possessing what one desires
• One reason for confusion with the word, “Joy” is a misperception of what joy looks like.
o Like so many things in life, it’s all about perspective.
James 1:2 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity
for great joy.
o We get to “consider” how we are going to view our circumstances

THE LORD IS NEAR – He knows your situation and cares! This isn’t here by accident
o God is sovereign and God is good. This should change our view every circumstance

DON’T BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING
• Anxiety is rampant in America today. We are the most anxious country in the world
• Anxiety is a feeling. How could Paul command us to not be anxious?

o Paul wrote the phrase in the present active tense, which implies an ongoing state. It’s the life of
perpetual anxiety that he wanted to address.

“The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional.” Anxious for Nothing, Max
Lucado

• For many of us, the physical effects of anxiety have their roots in a spiritual problem. We have broken
beliefs and habits that cause physical, mental & emotional problems.

THE PEACE OF GOD, THAT TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS
IN CHRIST JESUS

• That peace comes not from our circumstances, but from the knowledge that we serve an almighty, loving
God and that we have constant access to Him

• The Power of Prayer
o Prayer is to help the person during the circumstances, not necessarily to change our
circumstances
“It has been found that 12 minutes of daily focused prayer over an 8-week period can change the brain to such an
extent that it can be measured on a brain scan.” Switch on Your Brain, Dr. Caroline Leaf
o Prayer actually changes the chemistry in your brain. It renews our mind!

THINK ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS. “Our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts.”
Winning the War in Your Mind, Craig Groeschel

o We can choose to direct our life toward God or the world (Romans 8:5-6)
o Why do we think on things that are noble, right, pure, lovely & admirable? Because thinking
about these things causes us to be more joyful! We choose joy!
“Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately
everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.” Choose Joy, Kay Warren
o Sometimes joyful feelings produce right thinking. Other times right thinking produces feelings of
joy.

APPLICATION
o Make a God box
o Create a new habit that will renew your mind – Habit Stack
o Take the 12-minute a day prayer challenge for 8 weeks

Small Group Discussion:
Scriptures to consider: 1 Kings 19:9-13, Phillipians 4:4-7 , Hebrews 4:16, Psalm 145:17-19
Questions
1. When have your emotions led you to make a really good (or really bad) decision?
2. On a scale from 1-10, how significantly do your emotions affect your thought life? 1 being not at all, 10
being they affect all my thoughts.
3. What circumstances or dynamics exist in your life right now that regularly create anxiety for you?
4. Read the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:9-13, what can you do to lean in and hear God’s whisper among all
the wind, fire, and earthquakes going on around you now in this circumstance?
5. How do you keep your emotions in check when making decisions?
6. How does rejoicing or thankfulness change your perspective? How does that affect your emotions?
7. When are you most likely to rejoice? What makes it hard for you to rejoice?
8. Who do you know that is consistently joy-filled? What about them makes you say they are joy-filled?
For more resources go to: https://bit.ly/Mindbattle