Dear Friends,
Not having peace in your life can have terrible consequences. The effects on our health can be devastating. Harvard medical journal shares some effects.
Research on the physiology of anxiety-related illness is still young, but there’s growing evidence of mutual influence between emotions and physical functioning. Yet anxiety often goes unidentified as a source of other disorders, such as substance abuse or physical addiction, that can result from attempts to quell feelings of anxiety. It’s often overlooked in the myriad symptoms of chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or migraine headaches.
Nearly two-thirds of the estimated 40 million adults with anxiety disorders are women. What people with these disorders have in common is unwarranted fear or distress that interferes with daily life. Anxiety also plays a role in somatic symptom disorder, which is characterized by physical symptoms such as pain, nausea, weakness, or dizziness that have no apparent physical cause.
Anxiety has been implicated in several chronic physical illnesses, including heart disease, chronic respiratory disorders, and gastrointestinal conditions. When people with these disorders have untreated anxiety, the disease itself is more difficult to treat, their physical symptoms often become worse, and in some cases, they die sooner. Lacking peace is has huge effects on all our relationships. The way we handle stress can have long-term impacts on relationships.
Jesus calls us to have peace in our inner life. to operate from a place of peace and contentment. Spending time understanding and learning how we can move to a more peaceful heart is essential. Please take time to reflect on your own level of peace. We will not likely have a world with less stress. We must learn and teach the way of peace to handle life and share peace.
Can’t wait for you to share this,
Joe
STEPS TO PREPARE
PRAY FOR THE SERVICES AND FOR YOURSELF
AND ME AND THE OTHER TEACHERS.
PRAYERFULLY READ THE SCRIPTURES
AND CONSIDER THE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS.
MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND A PREACHING SERVICE AND A SMALL GROUP.
INVITE SOMEONE TO COME WITH YOU.
PREPARING FOR SUNDAY: SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
What are the top three things that really stress you out?
How was stress handled in your home growing up?
How did that affect you?
What are common ways we deal with internal turmoil?
Joh 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.Joh_14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
Joh 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
How often do you feel content?
Php 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
How do you learn contentment?
What is the relationship between expectations and contentment or personal peace?
1Ti 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
Heb 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
How can anxiety or anger affect your marriage or close relationships?
What is the relationship between your prayer life and inward peace?
Share an experience where prayer brought you peace you couldn’t explain?
Php 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
How often should look to God as you pursue peace?
Joh 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Isa 26:3 God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.