Seven Exercises to Mental Wellness

1. Read: Philippians 4:4-9

2. About the Text:

1) The church at Philippi had some concerns about persecution.

2) Read Phil.1:27-30.

3) They had heard Paul was in prison.

4) Paul did not want them to lose heart over these things.

5) While there was turmoil without, he encourages them to have peace within.

6) This same prescription is effective for us today as we deal with life’s problems.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil.4:4).

2. The Christian has everything to rejoice over.

3. Let’s live lives of joy that are motivated by what God has given us.

4. All things are ours in Christ. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

1. “Let your moderation be known to all men.” (Phil.4:5a).

2. Christians should not give themselves over to extremes.

3. There is the extreme of excesses.

4. There is the extreme of isolation.

5. “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (1 Corinthians 9:25).

1. “The Lord is at hand.”(Phil.4:5b).

2. God is present everywhere and in everything.

3. When we truly realize this, we will understand that we are never alone.

4. We will also understand that someone always understands what we are going through.

5. “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5b).

1. “Be anxious for nothing” (Phil.4:6a).

2. Christians are not supposed to worry about things in this life.

3. God is in control; God will provide.

4. “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” (Matthew 6:31).

1. “But in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil.4:6b).

2. We need to pray to God every day.

3. He wants us to tell Him our needs, requests, and we need to be thankful.

4. Prayer lets us put things into God’s hands and keeps us humble.

5. We are to pray “always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).

1. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Phil.4:8).

2. Our thoughts can really bring us low if we allow them to control us.

3. We need to be actively controlling our thoughts and not allowing negative thoughts to run wild.

4. We must love God with our mind (Matthew 22:37).

1. “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil.4:9).

2. We need good examples to follow in our lives.

3. Jesus has provided the best example for us.

4. “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

1. What are the seven exercises to mental wellness?

1) Rejoice

2) Be Moderate

3) Recognize the Presence of God

4) Don’t Worry

5) Pray

6) Think Positively

7) Follow Good Examples

2. Invitation