I really needed to hear this today....

This was in my email this morning. Our pastor sends out email edifications every Wednesday and I thought I would share this one. I know I needed to hear it and I bet a few of you do as well.

God Bless and Happy Trails
Ranchwife










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)





Anxiety. Webster’s dictionary defines it as “distress or uneasiness of mind caused either by the fear of or the expectation of coming events.” Take a moment to read that definition again.



Anxiety is normal. As God calls us not to be anxious, He is not condemning us for having anxiety. Consider this real picture in Psalm 94:19:

In the multitude of my anxieties within me

Your comforts delight my soul.

That is an honest assessment that each and every one of us can attest to. So very often, there are many things that worry us and can give us anxiety. Hear me clearly, in nothing I am writing today am I condemning you for having anxiety...anxiety is normal.



Anxiety is damaging. One person put it this way “Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” Again, take a moment to read that again. Anxiety can become paralyzing. It can rob us of our days, our thoughts and joys. Charles Spurgeon said it this way “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows but only empties today of its strength.” Doctors have traced many physical aliments to the strain of anxiety. Anxiety is truly a robbing, taxing and damaging thing. Thus God calls us to deal with anxiety.



God can meet us and help us in our anxieties. Consider again the description of the psalmist.

In the multitude of my anxieties within me,

Your comforts delight my soul.

The Psalmist found comfort in God, comfort that turned anxiety into delight, real delight that was deep in the soul - not just some surface expression - but anxiety turned to true delight. So, the question for you and I is how do we do that? How do we put away anxiety, how do we find delight in God instead. Our passage today gives us three vital helps.



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)



1st – Be Prayerful. This is the most important part of this, for with three different descriptions in this same verse, we are called to take and tell our anxieties to God.

by prayer and supplication...

let your requests be made known to God

Talk to God, tell Him all that is causing you anxiety. He cares, He is able and He is good. Christian, you have access to the greatest power and source in this world – God. It seems to me, that God is in a very special and specific way calling His people deeper into prayer in this season in our world. So….pray about everything – take it all to Him! HIO - Hand It Over to God! Prayer is the cure God gives us for anxiety!



2nd – Be Thankful. Truthfully, this call is a part of our call to pray.

by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,

let your requests be made known to God

As a part of our praying to God about things that worry us, we are called to give specific time and voice to thanksgiving. One of the things that worry does is lose sight of the good things around us and that we have in God. In the midst of turning it all over to God – specifically focus on thanksgiving for practical things you see God doing. Yet so much more be thankful for who God is – that He is good, sovereign, working all for good and more. Turn your heart to thankfulness.



3rd - Be Peaceful. God tells us that the outcome of our praying and being thankful will be peace.

the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Yet notice specifically, it is a peace that passes understanding, not a peace that comes from understanding. One of the things we often think we want and need in our worries is an understanding of what is happening, why it is happen and where it is going. Yet, notice God is not offering you a peace that comes from knowing what is happening in our world or your life. That is not this peace. This peace is a tranquil heart, that may still not have the answers – but finds itself resting in a faithful God. Having His peace.



Can I just hold this out to you today - finding comforts that delight your soul - transforming your worries to His peace is possible. The key is to pray...pray to Him!



Yet, finally...just note that this is ours in Christ Jesus. Christians, this is for you, a promise, a potential you have in Christ. Yet, if you are reading this, it does not work for you. Such a wonderful benefit is found in Christ...and we appeal to you today...if you are not His, if you are not a Christian, that you would surrender your life to Him...and know this peace is one of the many valuable wonders of being a Christian!



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)



In the multitude of my anxieties within me,

Your comforts delight my soul.

(Psalm 94:19)



Jim