Breaking Free Week 13

Breaking Free from Stress

Message by:
Pastor Terry Crawford
Covenant Church
Shepherdstown, WV

Stress is allowing
the fear of failure
to rule your mind.

So how do we break free from Stress?

1. Run to Daddy.

Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Prayer puts life back in the right perspective.

Romans 8:14-15 (NIV)
¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Matthew 10:28 (NIV)
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell

James 4:12a (NIV)
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.

There are rewards for those who pray.

Matthew 6:6 (HCSB)
But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

2. Refuse to be God.

Romans 12:3 (NLT)
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

3. Rest in God’s Peace

Peace and fear can’t co-exist.

John 16:33 (NIV)
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 14:27 (NIV)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

NEXT STEPS

• Today I will go to God in prayer about areas of stress in my life.
• Today I will thank God for the good things He has given me.
• Today I decide to trust in the peace of Jesus, not in the fear of failure.