Philippians 4:5b-7 - The Antidote for Worry.

Philippians 4:5b-7 (NIV) The Lord is near. Do not be anxious 
about anything, but in everything, 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.  

This is one of the most memorized verses of Scripture. [Victor 
Bible Reader's 

These verses tell us that God is near - So there is no need to 
worry - after all He is Sovereign and Supreme. 

Worry is blind, and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees 
the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His way 
prepared to bring relief. Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to 
provide for us, of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one 
principle of making the service and honor of God supreme will find 
perplexities vanish, and a plain path before their feet.  {DA 330} 

Prayer with petition and thanksgiving is the antidote to worry. 
[NIV SB mod] 

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.  [Life 
Application SB] 

Prayer combats worry by allowing us catharsis. We can offload 
our stress onto God. Paul said to take all the energy that is used 
in worrying and put it into prayer. This includes praying about 
everything. No request is too small, difficult, or inconsequential to God. 
Paul encouraged the believers to pray in everything -- good times and 
bad -- giving petitions and thanksgivings to God. It may seem 
impossible not to worry about anything, but Paul explained that this can 
happen if believers truly give their worries to God. Worry and prayer 
cannot coexist. (Life Application Commentary) 

Prayer is so much more than asking God to do what we want done.  
Prayer is trusting Him enough, and in all situations and conditions of 
life, to do as this verse tells us to do and pour out our hearts to 
Him! Our hearts are often full: full of pain or anger; of bitterness 
or resentment; of fear and confusion.  How wonderful it would be to 
pour all of these out before Him who loves us and cares for us.  We 
can do this "pouring out" through prayer.  And we need to. When is 
the last time you did a heart-inventory?  Did you find your heart 
full of anguish from some of the things listed above?  Why not stop 
right now and pour it all out before Him; then commit to doing it as 
often as you need.  You can trust Him in this!  [In His Time Walk With 
Wisdom] 

While he already knows about our needs and feelings, our sharing 
these with him builds our relationship. It allows us to rely on God as 
we sort through decisions or need encouragement in the middle of 
trials. It allows us to give God alone the praise when his answers come. 
Presenting our needs to him does not guarantee that God will say yes to 
every prayer. Jesus prayed that the cup might be taken from him, but 
it wasn't; Paul prayed that the thorn in the flesh might be 
removed, but God chose to work through Paul despite his problem. In 
prayer we are to present our requests to God, but we must focus on 
God's will, not ours. When we communicate with God, we don't demand 
what we want; rather, we discuss with him what he wants for us. If we 
align our prayers to his will, he will listen; and we can be certain 
that if he listens, he will give us a definite answer. (Life 
Application Commentary) 

What worries do you have? Do they center on family, friends, 
money, education, or illness? Maybe you have a big decision to make and 
you don't know what to do. You're worried about making the wrong 
choice. Before you became a believer, what did you do when you faced 
such situations? You fretted, you vacillated, you figured that you'd 
just have to hope for the best. You talked to all your friends. You 
probably also worried. Now that you're a believer, you face all those 
same situations--and you probably also still feel worried because you 
just can't help it. Worry is a natural human reaction. Paul says to 
change your worries into prayers. How can you do that? (1) Talk to God 
about whatever is troubling you. Nothing is too small for his care. 
(2) Keep on praying. It doesn't matter if he's heard it before. 
Whenever you feel worried, pray. (3) Watch and listen for God. Just 
because you pray doesn't mean everything will immediately work out. But 
God does promise to hear and answer. When you trust him, you will 
gain the peace of knowing that he'll guide your choices and help you 
make the right ones. [The One Year Bible for New Believers re 
Phil.4:6, 7] 

When we pray, we must always remember three things. We must 
remember the love of God, which ever desires only what is best for us. We 
must remember the wisdom of God, which alone knows what is best for 
us. We must remember the power of God, which alone can bring to pass 
that which is best for us.  He who prays with a perfect trust in the 
love, wisdom and power of God will find God's peace. [Barclay 
Commentary] 

Anxiety should never be found in a believer. In spite of the 
magnitude, quantity, and diversity of our trials, afflictions, and 
difficulties, anxiety should not exist under any circumstances. This is 
because we have a Father in heaven who is almighty, who loves His 
children as He loves His "one and only Son" (John 3:16), and whose 
complete joy and delight it is to continually assist them under all 
circumstances. We should heed His Word, which says, "Do not be anxious about 
anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, 
present your requests to God." 
"In everything"-not simply when our house is on fire or when our 
beloved spouse and children are gravely ill, but even in the smallest 
matters of life. We are to take everything to God-little things, very 
little things, even what the world calls trivial things. Yes, we are to 
take everything, living all day long in holy fellowship with our 
heavenly Father and our precious Lord Jesus. We should develop something 
of a spiritual instinct, causing us to immediately turn to God when 
a concern keeps us awake at night. During those sleepless nights, 
we should speak to Him, bringing our various concerns before Him, 
no matter how small they may be. Also speak to the Lord about any 
trial you are facing or any difficulties you may have in your family 
or professional life. 
"By prayer and petition "-earnestly pleading, persevering and 
enduring, and waiting, waiting, waiting on God. 
"With thanksgiving"-always laying a good foundation. Even if we 
have no possessions, there is one thing for which we can always be 
thankful-that He has saved us from hell. We can also give thanks that He has 
given us His Holy Word, His Holy Spirit, and the most precious gift of 
all-His Son. Therefore when we consider all this, we have abundant 
reasons for thanksgiving. May this be our goal! 
"And the Peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will 
guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7). This is 
such a wonderful, genuine, and precious blessing that to truly know 
it, you must experience it, for it "transcends all understanding." 
May we take these truths to heart, instinctively walking in 
them, so the result will be lives that glorify God more abundantly 
than ever before. George Mueller, [Streams In The Desert By Cowman] 

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. Believers are given peace with God when they believe (Rom 5:1), 
and they have the inner quiet of the peace of God as they daily walk 
with him. God's peace surpasses all understanding. We simply cannot 
comprehend such peace. It is not a natural reaction in calamity, sorrow, or 
pain. Such peace cannot be self-generated; it comes from God alone; it 
is his gift to us in a difficult world. (Life Application 
Commentary) 

Some realities cannot be fully conveyed by dictionary definition 
-- the peace of God, for instance. We could read books about it, 
but somehow never totally understand it. Paul knew the shortcomings 
of words to describe God's peace, so he just admitted that it 
transcends our human knowledge. How do you find this peace? First, it is 
found only in Jesus Christ. Trust him as your Savior and Lord. Second, 
God's peace is attained only by practice. Trust Jesus daily in the 
small worries of your life so that you're ready to trust him when big 
problems strike. Tell him your needs and anxieties. Third, you can have 
peace only through prayer and meditation on God's promises. Have you 
discovered God's Word? Have you prayed through the promises? There is no 
better time to start than today. And there is no smarter way to invest 
the first moments of your morning. (Life Application Commentary) 

God can't give us happiness and peace apart from Himself because 
there is no such thing. C. S. Lewis 

Death was walking toward a city one morning and a man asked, 
"What are you going to do?" 
"I'm going to take 100 people," Death replied.
That's horrible!" the man said.
That's the way it is." Death said. "That's what I do."
The man hurried to warn everyone he could about Death's plan. As 
evening fell, he met Death again.  
You told me you were going to take 100 people," the man said, 
"Why did 1,000 die?" 
I kept my word," Death responded. "I only took 100 people. Worry 
took the others.  
"Worry is, and always will be, a fatal disease of the heart, for 
its beginning signals the end of faith. Worry intrudes on God's 
compassionate ability to provide. When we allow our problems to overshadow 
God's promises, we unknowingly, doom ourselves to defeat. That was 
never part of God's eternal plans. [author unknown] 

God loves to destroy doubt and worry, and he does it best when 
you are on your knees. End your Bible reading today with a time of 
prayer. Ask God not simply to change your circumstances but to change 
your character as well. Then watch your doubts melt like fog in the 
warmth of God's trustworthy promises. [Daily Walk Bible re Jer.30-33] 

The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the 
distance between your knees and the floor. [source unknown] 

HELP IS JUST A PRAYER AWAY! [Church Member]

WORRY!  WHY PRAY?
PRAY!  WHY WORRY?
[VA Patient]

Regarding this verse, consider the godly aged. In our society 
older saints often feel they are not doing their part.  They can't 
help with the children; their bodies won't cooperate to do certain 
physically hard work; they have difficultly hearing or seeing; they feel 
like they can't contribute anymore. This idea must be eradicated! If 
you are someone like this, or know someone like this, consider Anna 
who was very old (Luke 2:36,37). She spent her time worshiping, 
fasting and praying.  Praying. And she was shown the Savior, in answer 
to her prayers! Older saints today need to be encouraged to pray 
and not be permitted to think they are second class servants!  God 
has ordained His power be bent to earth to do His will, THROUGH 
PRAYER.  Encourage older saints in this manner.  They are literally on 
the front lines, bringing God's power to bear on the things of the 
earth. [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom re Psa.34:15]