Don't be Anxious

“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

          I have a question: has being worried or anxious ever solved any problem you were having? I can answer that one from my own personal experiences … NO! and not just NO, but a resounding NO!! We humans have this propensity to become anxious over things we can’t do anything to change. The enemy jumps in our face and says to our subconscious, “Now you’ve really got problems. Do you really think God will get you out of all this?” We must remember, Satan is a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44). He challenges our belief system by throwing flaming darts at areas that are our weakest. Our faith begins to fade far too quickly leading us to spend too much time fretting over things as if God’s word was a lie.

          God’s word is as clear as a newly cleaned windowpane. The word ‘but’ in verse 6 should actually read like this, “Instead of being anxious about anything, pray to the Father about everything … and be thankful in the process.” For people who constantly feel that we need to be doing something to create a change in their situation, here is your solution … PRAY. Pray from a clean heart. Pray from a clear conscience. Pray regardless of your mindset at the time. Pray. Pray specifically by asking that God’s perfect will for your life be done. Give thanks for the opportunity to learn something new and become stronger in your faith. Don’t pray for the situation to disappear, because there is a purpose for everything that takes place in our lives and you were meant to go thru whatever is taking place in your life right now and you may never know why.  Notice that in verses 6 & 7, God doesn’t say He will alleviate the problem or alter the situation. What does He say? That His peace will cover you with the purpose of guarding your hearts and minds. 
          Praying to God with thanksgiving in your heart needs to become as commonplace an action in the face of unpleasant circumstances as breathing in and out. One action sustains life the other sustains your spirit life. Don’t forget all you know and believe about God just because things have taken a turn for the worse. Always remember this: regardless of the circumstances, God is mindful of them and one word from Him can change everything in an instant. Focus on Christ instead of the winds and waves that surround you. It is how we grow in the spirit. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller - bolm