Trading Worry for Worship
📖 Matthew 6:25–34 | Acts 16:25–26

Intro: What Is Worry?
Worry, anxiety, and fear are related but different:
Worry is in our thoughts—often focused on “what if” scenarios.
Anxiety is how those thoughts make us feel—triggering physical and emotional responses.
Fear is our response to real or perceived danger.
Big Idea:
Worry grows when we focus on ourselves.
Peace comes when we focus on Christ.

How Do We Begin to Defeat Worry?
📖 Matthew 6:25–34
Jesus calls us to shift our focus from ourselves to God.
Our worry doesn’t change anything—but trusting God changes everything.

The Parable (Jesus’ Perspective)
Jesus modeled peace by living in the moment, trusting God, and observing the beauty around Him—birds, flowers, and everyday life.
He invites us to do the same: to seek God first and trust Him with our needs.
Matthew 6:33 reminds us that when we prioritize God, everything else falls into place.

Worship as an Antidote to Worry
📖 Acts 16:25–26
Worship shifts our attention from our problems to God’s presence.
Even in hardship, Paul and Silas worshiped—and experienced freedom.
Worship is a practical and powerful way to interrupt worry and recenter our hearts.

Trust in God’s Sovereignty
God created and sustains everything, including us (Colossians 1:16–17).
If God cares for the grass of the field, He certainly cares for us (Matthew 6:30).
Isaiah 26:3 reminds us that peace comes when our minds stay fixed on God.

Conclusion – Catch, Check, Change
Catch anxious thoughts as they come.
Check them against God’s truth and promises.
Change your focus through worship, Scripture, and trust.

Practical Challenge:
Start each day with worship and gratitude. Before checking social media or the news, spend five minutes worshiping and refocusing on God’s presence.