Philippians 4 - 7.9.25
Scripture
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Observation
Paul was in prison when he wrote Philippians. In those days, the prisons were horrible, with prisoners shackled on feet and hands to the walls. Yet Philippians is one of the most joyful epistles in the Bible. Paul repeats the word “rejoice” 6 times! Paul had a lot to be anxious about in human terms. But he writes “don’t be anxious about anything”. Though Paul is the writer, the author of Philippians like all the other books of the Bible is the Holy Spirit of God. God commands us, “Do not be anxious about anything”.
Anxiety is a natural human response when we are encountered with difficulties or anticipate problems in the future. Anxiety is another form of fear. Anxiety cripples us. God wants to spare us all that. He invites us to trust Him. What should we do when we are anxious? The answer lies in verse 6. Pray about the things that are causing anxiety with “thanksgiving”. To give thanks, we need to remember what we are thankful for. Look back and remember God’s faithfulness. Thank God for the times He has delivered you, protected you, removed harm, and answered prayers. And with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. When we do that in obedience to God’s word, He will fulfill the promise in verse 7. He will send the peace of God which transcends all understanding to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Application
When anxiety hits us, let us go to the feet of Jesus with an open Bible and prayer. Let us pour out our hearts before Him, and look at his word for guidance. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night or in the wee hours of the morning, feeling anxious with the weight of the world on my shoulders! Trying to fall asleep while being tormented with anxiety does not work for me. I have learned the antidote. When I am awake, I go to my prayer closet, and go through my Bible reading of the day, and I finish my daily prayers. And I discover that the anxiety that woke me up is gone! I go back to my bed, and sleep like a baby.
We are commanded to cast all our anxiety upon Him, because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7). When we give our problems to Him in prayer, we receive his peace, knowing that He has heard us, and He will take care of whatever is worrying us. Our God is faithful, and we can trust Him. Jesus personally commanded us not to worry. In Matthew 6:25-31, Jesus repeats the words “do not worry” 4 times. Jesus says, do not worry about your life, or what you will wear or what you will eat or about your future (Matt 6:25,28,31,34). Our Father knows that we need all this, and when we seek His kingdom first, all these things shall be added unto us (Matt 6:33). Our Father knows what we need even before we ask (Matt 6:8), and He is Faithful to provide.
Anxiety is closely linked with depression. Dwelling on our anxious thoughts will make us depressed. In Isaiah 61:3, God calls depression a spirit - the spirit of heaviness (KJV) or a spirit of despair (NIV). God says He gives us a garment of praise instead! Covering ourselves with a “garment of praise” (Is 61:3) is the key to break free from anxiety. Let us think about the goodness of God and thank Him and praise Him. Let us make our requests known to God with thanksgiving, and the peace of God which passes understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7).
Prayer
Dear Father, thank you for loving me and making me your child. Help me to bring all my worries and anxieties to you in prayer with thanksgiving. I thank you because I can trust you. I thank you because all the good gifts I have in my life have come from you (James 1:17). I have got nothing apart from you. I can do nothing without you (John 15:5). I am more than a conqueror through You, who loved me (Romans 8:37). By You, I can run against a troop, and by my God I can jump over a wall (Ps 18:29). Help me to cast my burdens on you. I thank you because the battle belongs to you (1 Sam 17:47). Thank you because You will meet my needs according to the riches of glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). Thank you because You are my protector (Ps 18:2). Thank you because You will keep me from all harm (Ps 121:7). Thank you because you are my victory. I roll all my worries to you. I rest in You (Ps 37:7). I receive your joy, which is my strength (New 8:10). I receive your peace that passes understanding to guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7). In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
- Asha Chacko George
