An Infusion of Courage

Philippians 4:6-7  (ESV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Worry is concern about an uncertain outcome.  It is the opposite of faith.  Uncertainty makes you reluctant to step out in faith.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Prayer is the remedy of anxiousness. There is no problem too big for God to handle, or too small for God to care about.  

1. Anxiety IS the real problem not the problem that you're worried about. 

2. Prayer remedy's the worry.

3. Prayer releases peace in our lives; therefore, peace is the byproduct of prayer.

We are not to be the carriers of our problems, but the courier of our problems to God.

1 Peter 5:7  (ESV)

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  

God therefore is owner of our problems after we've given them to Him not us.  To take them back, is taking what's God's not ours. 

If we do not leave our problems at the feet of Jesus, we are in effect questioning the reliability of God's character.  

We have the name of Jesus to sign His name on our prayers which gets God's attention.  He is our hope in our hopelessness.  

Psalm 34:3 (ESV)

3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

    and let us exalt his name together!

What we magnify exerts influence over us.  

Psalm 68:19 (ESV)

19 Blessed be the Lord,
    who daily bears us up;
    God is our salvation. 

Lord, we repent from carrying our own burdens.  

Lord, in you, your promises are yes and amen. 

2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV)

20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Lord, our great commission is to reach the lost.  Help us to reach the lost, and populate heaven.

Psalm 55:22  (ESV)

22 Cast your burden on the Lord,
    and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
    the righteous to be moved.

Lord, give us an infusion of courage to do your will and to reach the lost.

Lord, give us strength in our weakness for hurting people.  

Lord, raise up laborers.

Brian Bagwell, Church of the Highlands, Oxford Campus