Stress Management Starts in the Mind

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES The Habits of Happiness

Stress Management Starts in the Mind By Rick Warren — Feb 9, 2016 “Think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.” (Philippians 4:8 NCV) The battle with stress in your life is going on between your ears. The battle is in your mind! It’s in your thought life. What you fill your mind with determines the level of stress in your life. If you want peace of mind, you’re going to have to start controlling what you allow in it. Whatever you put in your mind is going to come out in your life. The Bible says to “think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected” (Philippians 4:8 NCV). If you want to lower your stress, you have to change what you think about and control what you allow in our mind. In this verse, the Bible gives us eight tests for whether we should allow something in our mind or not. Ask yourself, “Is it good? Is it worthy of praise? Is it true? Is it honorable? Is it right? Is it pure? Is it beautiful? Is it respected? Doesn’t that sound like television? Not at all! Television is getting worse and worse. The heroes on TV today are zombies, vampires, serial killers, crack addicts, corrupt politicians, and perverts. And you call that entertainment? There’s enough of that in the world without inviting it into my home. When you think about things that are good, worthy of praise, true, honorable, right, pure, beautiful, and respected, you’re really picturing God. Paul is saying in Philippians 4:8 to think about God. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (NLT) What you think about determines how stressed and worried you are. If you fix your thoughts on God, he will keep you in perfect peace. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over If you were to ask the eight questions of your favorite TV shows, would they pass the test? Does the answer change anything for you? What can you do to help direct your thoughts toward God more often throughout the day? Our Gift: The Habits of Happiness Complete Audio Series Now—more than ever—people are yearning for true happiness. In this brand new 6-session DVD study kit study called The Habits Of Happiness Pastor Rick Warren will teach you “exercises for a happy heart”, and offer biblically based ways to develop a perspective of contentment. LEARN MORE Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes all complete sermons from the Rick Warren The Habits of Happiness teaching series. LEARN MORE Series Summary Message 1: Grow Healthy Relationships Message 2: ​​​​​How ​to Be Happy No Matter What Message 3: ​The Humble Path to Happiness Message 4: ​How to Keep Your Heart Happy Message 5: ​Happiness Can Be Learned Message 6: ​Five Daily Habits for Happiness Message 7: ​How to Keep From Stressing Out Message 8: ​God's Promises to the Generous PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at rickwarren.org. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He’s the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including "The Purpose Driven Church" and "The Purpose Driven Life," read by more than 100 million people in 137 languages. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered across America. This devotional © 2016 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences  |  Unsubscribe