This sermon from the "Anxious for Nothing" series addresses rising anxiety in the wake of recent tragedies like school shootings and the 9/11 anniversary, attributing societal violence to humanity's sin problem and the removal of God from public life. Building on Philippians 4:6-7, Pastor Matt presents prayer as the primary antidote to worry and anxiety, explaining that Paul wrote these instructions while imprisoned and facing potential execution, demonstrating their effectiveness even in dire circumstances. The message includes practical teaching on prayer as conversation with God about everything, contrasts biblical meditation (filling the mind with Scripture) with Eastern meditation (emptying the mind), and references Jesus's own teachings and example of turning to prayer during distress. The core promise is that supernatural peace follows prayer—peace that transcends understanding and guards the heart and mind regardless of circumstances, as illustrated by Peter's water-walking experience where focusing on Jesus enabled stability while focusing on circumstances caused him to sink. The sermon concludes with four practical steps for managing anxiety: surrendering to Jesus Christ (overall and in each situation), turning anxious thoughts into prayers, relying on the Holy Spirit's help, and memorizing Scripture, emphasizing that peace with God through salvation must precede experiencing God's peace in daily life.

Join Pastor Matt and Luke for a conversation about anxiety, fear, and finding peace in Christ. In this episode, they dive deep into the new sermon series "Anxious for Nothing" based on Philippians 4:4-7, sharing personal stories of overcoming anxiety and practical steps for trusting God in difficult circumstances.

What You'll Discover:
- How to cultivate joy even in challenging circumstances
- Practical steps for battling anxiety as a Christian
- Real-life stories of trusting God during family emergencies
- The difference between happiness and biblical joy
- Why "The Lord is at hand" changes everything about our anxiety

Featured Scripture:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

In this opening message of a series on anxiety, Pastor Matt shares personal experiences with anxiety, including worrying about a sleepwalking child and awaiting his wife's medical test results. While acknowledging that anxiety is on the rise in our society, he emphasizes it's not a new problem but rather a spiritual one at its core—a divided mind and restless heart weighed down by fear instead of trusting God.

Pastor Matt examines Philippians 4:4-9 as a battle plan for anxiety, focusing this week on verses 4-5. He unpacks the surprising command to "Rejoice in the Lord always," explaining that joy isn't mere happiness but a deep, Holy Spirit-given delight in God regardless of circumstances. This joy is possible because "the Lord is at hand"—God's nearness is our greatest source of stability. The simple solution to anxiety is fully surrendering to Jesus Christ, who brings three levels of peace: peace with God through salvation, peace within that surpasses understanding, and peace with others through reconciliation.