Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Paul exhorts the Philippians to pray about their circumstances instead of worrying over them. Be anxious for nothing: Although the same word in Philippians 2:20 describes Timothy’s concern for the Philippians, here Paul uses the word to refer to worry. He prohibits the Philippians from worrying about their own problems. Instead they are to commit their problems to God in prayer, trusting that He will provide deliverance.
Can you imagine never being "anxious about anything"! It seems like an impossibility - we all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school. But Paul's advice is to turn our worries into prayers. Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray.
Will guard: Paul’s choice of a military term implies that the mind is in a battle zone and needs to be “protected by a military guard.” Since the purpose of such a guard in a wartime situation is either to prevent a hostile invasion or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from escaping, the peace of God operates in the same way: to protect the mind from external corrupting influences and to keep the mind focused on God’s truth.
God's peace is different from the world's peace (John 14:27). True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. Our citizenship in Christ's kingdom is sure, our destiny is set, and we can have victory over sin. Let God's peace guard your heart against anxiety.
Father God, it is my prayer today that when I become anxious while living in this fallen world, I will immediately come to you in prayer. Thank you Lord for guarding my heart, mind and soul from the influence of the world so I will have the peace, joy and happiness that only a relationship with you can bring. Lord, let me always remember that You are in control of everything that happens in my life. Lord, I place my life in Your hands and I seek to be more like you each day. I pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.
References: NKJV Holy Bible, Life Application Bible (NIV), and the Nelson Study Bible.
Can you imagine never being "anxious about anything"! It seems like an impossibility - we all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school. But Paul's advice is to turn our worries into prayers. Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray.
Will guard: Paul’s choice of a military term implies that the mind is in a battle zone and needs to be “protected by a military guard.” Since the purpose of such a guard in a wartime situation is either to prevent a hostile invasion or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from escaping, the peace of God operates in the same way: to protect the mind from external corrupting influences and to keep the mind focused on God’s truth.
God's peace is different from the world's peace (John 14:27). True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. Our citizenship in Christ's kingdom is sure, our destiny is set, and we can have victory over sin. Let God's peace guard your heart against anxiety.
Father God, it is my prayer today that when I become anxious while living in this fallen world, I will immediately come to you in prayer. Thank you Lord for guarding my heart, mind and soul from the influence of the world so I will have the peace, joy and happiness that only a relationship with you can bring. Lord, let me always remember that You are in control of everything that happens in my life. Lord, I place my life in Your hands and I seek to be more like you each day. I pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.
References: NKJV Holy Bible, Life Application Bible (NIV), and the Nelson Study Bible.
27 comments:
Thank you for sharing this message I was truly meant to read it!
:-)
I recently have been somewhat anxious about a few things... but will trust in Him... after all He loves us and He knows all when we know so very little. That trust must extend to everything... even those things that we think we can control.
Thanks Lloyd... :)
Larry
Hi Lloyd,
This is a good post that really ministers. I particularly like the analogy of the soldier on guard duty. Your question, "Can you imagine never being 'anxious about anything'!" brings the topic into focus.
It is a matter of committing our problems to God in prayer and trusting Him to provide the answer.
Blessings and peace.
MTJ
Such a touching post.
Great post and comments, too. This is something we needed to be reminded of almost daily.
That works for me. Prayer is really good at removing anxiety. Sometimes I need a LOT of it!
This particular verse comforted me when my father was dying from colon cancer back in '97. It's true that the peace that comes from the Lord is nothing like peace in this world. It's not superficial. It's having "joy" no matter what circumstances surrounded us at that time. God bless you bro. Lloyd. Be strong in the Lord's mighty power!
As a compulsive worrier (actually I had been diagnosed as having an "anxiety disorder" leading to depression) I can testify to the power of prayer, and to the joy and peace that only comes when you "Trust and Obey".
God bless you Lloyd for another great post.
This is very important post. I had neurosis and depression - it is common, that people with this have anxiety. My friend had depression too, and she had big anxiety. This is epidemic of 21th century. But God is the best Doctor for our soul. Thank You very much :)
Excellent reminder! Sometimes it is easy to be overcome by a circumstance instead of taking it immediately to the Lord. God really does care and does not want us to be anxious. Great post!
awesome post...
I know this helps.
:)
HI Lloyd,
Great post and a reminder to take our cares to our Lord. Thank you for sharing this, as it is what I needed to read today.
Blessing, Celestina Marie
I needed to hear this today Lloyd!
Thank you.
Blessings,
Terri
Thanks for a really great post. I wish we could get every Christian to understand what they have available.
The sermon at my church was about this subject. It's hard to do unless your life has been full of chalenges. I've found God brings us to our knees so we can pray.
Thank you for the invite to visit you blog but I'm not really into the higher power / god thing and superstitions but hey what ever works for you is fine.
Some people find peace in their mind in it but I just doesn't make any sense to me at all.
An excellent message. I'm sure there are a lot of us that could heed this.
I'm so glad you found my blog! I needed to read this! I worry way too much and I need to learn how to pray instead of worrying! Thank you
Thank you for this, it was just wanted I needed.
This is terrific, Lloyd. It brings to mind my parents' response when my brother or I would get worked up about something we couldn't control. "Go ahead," they'd say. "Why pray when you can worry?"
Thanks for the reminder!
Blessings,
Tim
I want to thank each of you for your visits and comments.
Carrie - Sometimes God uses other believers to get His word out to us. Thank you so much for your visit.
Larry - I can relate to you because just recently I lost my mom, plus I ended up getting a subpoena for a murder case that I worked over twenty years ago which ended up putting a guy on death roll here in Oregon. The defense attorney had me on the stand about three hours brow beating me and wanting to know why I could not remember all of the details of the case. All I could do was say, "I can't remember". God's blessing too you.
MTJ - As hard as I try to hand everything over to our Lord Jesus, I still seem to worry too much. I guess I need to learn how to give "ALL" my troubles over to Him. God bless.
RCUBEs - It also comforted me when my dad died in 1998, when my son died in 2004, and when my middle son got word that he had leukemia in 2008, and when my mom died last month. You are so right about the "Joy and Peace" that only comes from Him. God bless you.
Philip - Thank you so much for your visit and comment. What an inspiring testimony you have regarding your strong love and faith in our Lord and Savior. God's blessings too you.
Zimbabwe - Thank you so much for this wonderful testimony on God's power over depression and neurosis. I will pray for you that He continues to work in your life. God bless.
GODthinker - You are so right about how easy it is to be overcome by our circumstances. I am still learning that God wants us to give Him 100% of our life, not just the part we feel comfortable about giving to him. God bless.
Celestina Marie - Thank you so much for your visit and I am so happy that this post was a blessing to you. I always want readers to know that all the credit goes to Him that died on the cross for my sins. God's blessings too you.
Terri and Dfish - So glad this post was a blessing too you.
Chris - You are right. Sometimes we forget to go to the Lord in prayer when everything is going great, but as soon as something "negative" happens.... Boy does that make us fall to our knees in prayer. Thank you so much for your visit and comments.
Dad and Mom - I want to thank you for your visit and honest comment regarding your beliefs. Please read 1 Corinthians 1:18 and it will explain to you why the Bible doesn't make any sense to you. Thanks again for your visit. God bless.
Debbie, Jenna and Territory Mom - Thanks for your visits and encouraging comments. Jenna, please try talking with our Lord Jesus just like you would talk to your most loved and best friend. There are no secrets about praying. Just speak honestly from the heart. God bless.
Tim - Thank you so much for your visit and comments. I can just see your mom saying this to you and your brother. My question would be, "Did the reverse psychology work?" God bless.
I love this blog!....Having anxiety and panic attacks is what drove me to the Lord. He healed me from them, but the enemy tries to remind me ever so often. I do trust that God has my back!....:)
Taking all our anxieties to Him in prayer is so important indeed. I prayed your closing prayer along with you.
Thank you for sharing friend.
Amen! I remember a song from my younger years that said...
"I believe...so why should I worry or fret..
Freebiejunkie – Thank you so much for your visit and comments. The one truth of the Bible that I just love is that He will never leave us no matter the circumstances. All we need to do is to reach out and call upon His name. God bless.
One Heart – Thank you so much for your visit and praying with me. God bless you my friend in Christ.
Karen - Seems like I recall that tune also. Sometimes it is easier said then done, but the closer we get to our Lord the easier it is to give Him 100% of our heart, mind and soul. God bless.
i needed this reminder to pray instead of worry!
Lloyd-- this post spoke right to my heart as I just came off of a prescription SSRI prescribed for anxiety. A five week wash out period is required before I can consider any other anxiety reducing meds and the LORD has called me to use that time to learn to use prayer, instead of medication. Great post. -- Lou
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