Philippians 4:6 - Turning Worry into Prayers.
Philippians 4:6 (NLT) Dont worry about
anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God
what you need, and thank him for all he has
done.
Philippians 4:6 (MSG) Don't fret or worry.
Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises
shape your worries into prayers, letting God know
your concerns.
OVERVIEW
How do we keep the peace of God in our
lives? (vss. 4-9)
Paul tells us to "be anxious for nothing"
(Phil. 4:6). Fret and worry indicate a lack of
trust in God's wisdom, sovereignty, or power.
Delighting in the Lord and meditating on His Word are a
great antidote to anxiety (Ps. 1:2). in everything
by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving
requests." All difficulties are within God's purposes.
Gratitude to God accompanies all true prayer.
"And the peace of God" (v. 7). Inner calm
or tranquility is promised to the believer who
has a thankful attitude based on an unwavering
confidence that God is able and willing to do what is
best for His children (Rom. 8:28). "Which
surpasses all understanding." This refers to the
divine origin of peace. It transcends human
intellect, analysis, and insight. "Will guard." A
military term meaning to keep watch over." God's
peace guards believers from anxiety, doubt, fear,
and distress. "Your hearts and minds." Paul was
not making a distinction between the two - he
was giving a comprehensive statement referring
to the whole inner person. Because of the
believer's union with Christ, He guards his inner being
with His peace.
And believers are to think on what is
true (v. 8), what is found in God (2 Tim. 2:25),
in Christ (Eph. 4:20, 21), in the Holy Spirit
(John 16:13), and in God's Word (John 17:17). They
are to think on what is "worthy of respect,"
whatever is worthy of awe and adoration, i.e., the
sacred as opposed to the profane. The believer is
to think in harmony with God's divine standard
of holiness and on what is morally clean and
undefiled. Believers are to focus on whatever is
lovely, "pleasing" or "amiable," and that which is
highly regarded or thought well of. If they follow
the truth of God proclaimed, along with the
example of that truth lived by Paul before them, the
God of peace will be with [them]" (v.9). God is
peace (Rom. 16:20; Eph. 2:14), makes peace with
sinners through Christ (2Co. 5:18-20) and gives
perfect peace in trouble (v.7). [MacArthur Daily
Bible 2003]
INTRODUCTION
Sometimes the solution to a huge
difficulty is so near at hand, so obvious, that we walk
right by it. That may be the case with anxiety in
our lives. Anxiety is distress or uneasiness of
mind caused by fear. Even as Christians, we're
troubled by these feelings now and again. But some
people become quickly overwhelmed. In today's
Scripture, Paul writes, "Don't worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you
need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you
will experience God's peace, which exceeds
anything we can understand." Here are two strong
commands in quick succession: Stop worrying. Start
praying. It truly is the answer. If anything "
anything - disturbs your peace, take it immediately
to God. Lay it before Him, and then let it go.
If you have to do this a thousand times a day,
then do it! God's peace will filter back into
your heart like a protective shield. That's His
promise.
Lord, You know me so well. Worries and
fears over the future sometimes feel like a lead
weight on my heart. Why should I carry these extra
burdens? I'm already weak as it is! I bring them once
again to You. Like a warm blanket on a cold night,
I want to feel Your peace today. [A Spectacle
of Glory by Joni Eareckson Tada and Larry
Libby]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Anxious For... Nothing?
We have been taught that the Christian
life is a life of peace, and when we don't have
peace, we assume the problem lies within us. Not
only do we feel anxious, but we also feel guilty
about our anxiety! The result is a downward spiral
of worry, guilt, worry, guilt.
It's enough to make us wonder if the
apostle Paul was out of touch with reality when he
wrote, "Be anxious for nothing." "Be anxious for
less" would have been a sufficient challenge. Or
"Be anxious only on Thursdays." Or "Be anxious
only in seasons of severe affliction."
But Paul doesn't seem to offer any leeway
here. Be anxious for nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero.
Is this what he meant? Not exactly. He wrote
the phrase in the present active tense, which
implies an ongoing state. It's the life of perpetual
anxiety that Paul wanted to address. The Lucado
Revised Translation reads, "Don't let anything in
life leave you perpetually breathless and in
angst." The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but
the prison of anxiety is optional. [You Can
Count On God by Max Lucado]
COMMENTARY
Give Up Your Bag of Burdens
Worry is the burlap bag of burdens.
Its overflowing with whaddifs and
howells. Whaddif after all my dieting, I find that
lettuce is fattening and chocolate isnt? Howell
we pay our babys tuition? Whaddifs and
howellsthe burlap bag of worry. Cumbersome. Chunky.
Unattractive. Scratchy. Irritating to carry and
impossible to give away!
No one wants your worries. The truth is,
you dont want them either. No one has to
remind you of the high cost of anxiety, but I will
anyway. Worry divides the mind. It splits our
energy between todays priorities and
tomorrows problems. The result is half-minded
living!
Hebrews 4:16 encourages us to boldly
approach the throne of our gracious God, where we may
receive mercy and, in His grace, find timely
help. Gods help is timely! God will do the
right thing at the right time. And what a
difference that makes! [from Traveling Light by Max
Lucado at maxlucado.com]
Worry Prayers
Worrying changes nothing, but prayer and
worship connect you with the all-powerful God who
loves to hear and respond. Reframing a worry into
a prayer will transform the way you think
about your situation, and thinking differently
will lower your stress.
What can you praise God for in the midst
of a circumstance that tempts you to worry?
Worship will raise your heart above the circumstance
and help you see God. The psalmist cries out,
"Let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them
ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over
them, that those who love your name may rejoice in
you" (Psalm 5:11).
He will help you. He promises to be right
there with you whenever you call on him. The Bible
says, "If you don't know what you're doing, pray
to the Father. He loves to help" (James 1:5
MSG).
Praying is often the most fruitful thing
you can do, because it brings the all-powerful
God into a situation and changes your mindset.
[The Daniel Plan 365-Day Devotional]
What If We Prayed as Much as We Worried?
If we prayed as much as we worried,
wed have a whole lot less to worry about.
In fact, God doesnt just want you to
stop worrying. He wants you spend time praying,
too?
Its our best antidote for worry.
The Bible says, Dont worry about
anything; instead, pray about everything
(Philippians 4:6 NLT).
God has already promised to take care of
you. If its not worth praying about, its
not worth worrying about. God knows every need
you have. Talk to him about them.
When I was a kid, I went to my dad with
every need I had. Sometimes I had expensive
requests. But I didnt once wonder where hed get
the money. It wasnt my job to figure out
where the money would come from. That was my
dads job. My job was to ask.
Its not your job to figure out how
your needs will be met. Its your job to ask
God to meet them.
When you worry instead of asking,
youre acting like at atheist. Worry is practical
atheism. Its acting like you dont have a
heavenly Father - and that youre a spiritual
orphan.
Many people say they dont pray because
they dont want to bother God with their
problems. But theres nothing too small for God.
Every problem you face is small compared to the
vastness of God.
God is ready and willing to not only
listen to your problems but also to answer them.
The Bible says it rather bluntly: You
do not have what you want because you do not
ask God for it (James 4:2 GNT).
Do you want less stress in your life?
Worry less. Pray more. Worry about
nothing. Pray about everything. [Daily Devotional by
Rick Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
Thank God for All He Has Done
Many people have one goal in life: to be
happy. But they often go about it the wrong way.
Theres good news, though. God has a four-part
formula for happiness that will help you be more
joyful - if you practice and apply it to your
life.
Weve already looked at the first two
parts of the happiness formula: Worry about
nothing and pray about everything. The third part
focuses on the importance of gratitude: Thank God
for anything.
God wants you to talk to him about
anything and everything. But you should pray more
than just give me prayers: God, give me
this. God, give me that.
Imagine if every time you talked to your
parents, you said, Dad, give me 50 bucks. Mom,
give me a car. What kind of relationship would
you have? Parents want their kids sometimes just
to stop and say, Thank you for what youve
already given me.
God is the same way. He also wants you to
stop and say, Heavenly Father, thanks! Thanks
for what you have given me. This is the kind
of prayer that leads to happiness. No matter
how bleak your situation gets, you can always
find something to be thankful for.
The Bible says, Tell God what you
need, and thank him for all he has done
(Philippians 4:6 NLT).
The story of Jesus healing 10 people with
leprosy is a good example of how thanking God for
all he has done affects happiness.
In the Bible, people who had leprosy were
social outcasts. Nobody wanted to get close to them
for fear that they might get leprosy. But Jesus
treated all 10 with compassion, healing each one of
them. Yet the Bible says that, after being healed,
only one turned back: And he lay face downward
at Jesus feet, thanking Him [over and
over] (Luke 17:16 AMP).
Like the leper who turned back, are you
grateful for what Jesus has done for you? Then turn
to God in prayer, and happily thank him over
and over. [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
ILLUSTRATIONS
I have known and loved today's key verse
for years. I've written it on recipe cards and
posted it on my fridge. I've even memorized it. But
truth be told, I haven't fully understood it until
recently.
I've spent a great deal of time telling
God about my needs but too little thanking Him
for all that He's done. The result? Focusing on
my concerns caused me to worry more. But things
have changed since studying Jesus's life.
The story of Lazarus's death and
resurrection resonated with me. Jesus knew He would call
forth a man from the tomb who'd been dead for four
days. He could have focused on the enormity of the
task Instead, He said, "Father, thank you for
hearing me," and then He performed the miraculous
(John 11:41-44).
Rather than fixating on the problem of
how to feed thousands of hungry people, Jesus
thanked God and then fed the masses with just five
loaves and two fish (Luke 9:1417).
God invites us to tell Him about our
needs but doing so is only half of the equation.
Giving thanks for all that He's done is the other
half. As Jesus demonstrated, gratitude turns our
focus from our concerns to the One Who's greater
than those concerns.
Prayer and thanksgiving - two parts of
the equation. Together they add up to bring us
the peace we all desire. by Grace Fox
Faith Step: Give thanks to God for one
thing that He's already done for you. [Mornings
With Jesus 2018 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
Confrontation and Resolution.
C'mon, Sunrise." My golden retriever dove
into the powdery snow. I knew that a walk with
Sunrise into the outdoors winter wonderland would
help calm my nerves. I was facing a situation at
work where I needed to have a confrontation in
order to achieve a resolution.
Instead of relaxing, I fretted as Sunrise
bounded across the field. Suddenly, she dropped and
chewed on her feet, trying to dislodge the snow
that had wadded between her pads. Then she was up
and running. So were my thoughts. I scripted
what I would say... and then what I thought
they'd say.
Sunrise plopped into a drift. She
whimpered as she gritted her teeth and pulled at the
snowballs. By the time I had waded up to her, she raced
off, and so had my inner dialogue.
The snow poofed as Sunrise fell to the
ground. With her teeth she yanked, then yipped in
pain. I checked her hind foot. The warmth of her
pads had melted the snow into icicles with jagged
edges that stabbed her every step. "Oh, Sunrise,
the farther you ran, the worse this got." In my
heart I heard, Just like you. The more I'd
fretted, the sharper the edges of my thoughts had
become. They'd grown from uncomfortable to painful
in a matter of minutes.
After I'd dug out the ice, we headed
back. Sunrise stopped several times to clean out
her feet, and I cleaned out my heart by chatting
with God. His answer was simple. In my
confrontation, I was to just state the facts, no emotions,
and ask how we could move forward. Of course,
how simple. And it worked.
Lord, Your answers are always the
solution. Remind me to ask You first, instead of
fretting. Amen. Rebecca Ondov [Walking in Grace 2021
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
I hated that my parents were worriers
when I was growing up, and I told myself I'd be a
more carefree mother. I'd let my kids climb trees
without saying, "Be careful!" and wouldn't imagine
worst-case scenarios. Then they began to have
accidents. By the time the ER staff greeted my son,
Zachary, by name on our third visit in two months,
I'd turned into my mother. I tried to keep my
three kids safe by anticipating anything that
could go wrong, believing I could somehow keep
them from harm.
Needless to say, it didn't work. I
annoyed my children, modeled fear, and allowed worry
to take over more territory in my life. The
children have flown the nest now, but I still waste
energy and inner peace worrying. It's bad for my
health, shows a lack of faith, and does absolutely
no good.
David, the man after God's own heart,
said, "Do not fret - it only causes harm (Psalm
37:8 NKJV). Worry weighs us down and is a symptom
of wanting our own way. Worry turns us inward
and takes our focus away from Jesus. God's Word
always condemns worry, and never encourages it.
Jesus didn't worry. We don't have to,
either. Here's how: "Instead of worrying, pray. Let
petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers,
letting God know your concerns. Before you know it,
a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming
together for good, will come and settle you down"
(Philippians 4:6-7, MSG).
Sounds good to me. No worries! by Suanne
Davenport Tietjen
Faith Step: Jot down every worry you
have. Then put it out of your mind. During your
prayer time, use your list of worries to shape your
prayers. [Mornings With Jesus 2018 Devotional by
Guideposts and Zondervan]
God Knows More
A young woman wrote to me, My
boyfriend and I split up. I applied for a job and was
rejected. Is God even listening to me?
You need to know that God knows more
about life than we do! And, yes, Hes listening!
One day, my then six-year old said she
wanted me to leave the ministry. I just really
wish you sold snow cones! An honest request
from an honest heart. To her the happiest people
in the world were the guys who drove the
snow-cone trucks. I heard her request, but I didnt
heed it. Why? Because I know more about life
than she did.
Same with God. God hears our requests.
But His answer isnt always what wed like
it to be. Because He knows more about life
than we do? Dont panic. Dont bail out.
Talk to your heavenly Father. Hes still in
control!
Let petitions and praises shape your
worries into prayers, letting God know your
concerns. Before you know it, a sense of Gods
wholeness, everything coming together for good, will
come and settle you down. Philippians 4:6-7
[Max Lucado Daily Devotional at maxlucado.com]
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Pray Instead of Worry
Contrary to popular opinion, God wants
you to be happy. Many people dont believe
that to be true; they think the more dull you
are, the more spiritual you are. But the Bible
says, Happy are the people whose God is the
Lord (Psalm 144:15 GNT).
Not only does God want you to be happy,
but he tells you how to be happy! In fact, God
has a four-part formula for happiness. Its
found in the book of Philippians...
The first part of the happiness formula
is this: Worry about nothing. The Bible says,
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again -
rejoice! ... Dont worry about anything; instead,
pray (Philippians 4:4, 6 NLT).
Worry basically means one thing: Youre
not trusting God in a particular area. Its
the opposite of faith. Its like saying,
God, I really dont believe youve got
everything under control.
Have you noticed how worry never solves
your problems? It only takes up a lot of energy.
It cant change the past, and it cant
change the future - but it can certainly ruin the
present. Somebody once said that worry is like a
rocking chair; it will give you something to do, but
you dont get anywhere with it.
Jesus said it like this: Dont ever
worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will
worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of
its own (Matthew 6:34 GW).
What if you converted the energy you use
to worry about something to pray about it
instead? Rather than pushing the panic button, what
if you pushed the prayer button?
Prayer is your communication with God and
the first thing you should do when you start to
worry - not a last resort. Some people say,
Weve tried everything else. We might as well
pray! Instead, take your concerns to the Lord
first so that you wont waste energy worrying.
You cant worry and be happy at the
same time. Thats why the first step to
happiness is to stop worrying - and start praying!
Its not always easy to do - people are natural
worriers. Give it a try today.
As you stop worrying and start praying,
youll find new power in your life as you live for
Gods purposes every day. [Daily Devotional by
Rick Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
The Secret of Contentment
In today's reading, the apostle Paul says
he has learned the secret of experiencing
contentment in all circumstances, good or bad. Does it
surprise you that he wrote this when he was in
prison, unsure of his future?
We're often discontent even when all is
going well. Consequently, we wonder how it's
possible to be truly content during our most
difficult trials, especially when there's no end in
sight. So what is genuine contentment? Paul is
speaking of a freedom from worry and frustration
about everything in life--even unfulfilled
desires.
It's usually when we cannot control or
change our situation that we feel discontentment.
As long as our satisfaction depends on whether
certain things actually work out, we'll allow
circumstances to cheat us out of peace. I'm not saying
there's some spiritual stage where you will never
again experience anxiety or frustration. But what
matters is how we respond when those feelings grip
us.
This is something that the apostle had to
learn. Paul endured amazing suffering, from
shipwrecks and hunger to unjust imprisonment and
beatings (2 Cor. 11:24-30). He had gone through
countless situations that were uncertain,
extraordinarily painful, and seemingly hopeless. But he
finally discovered that contentment could not be
dependent upon his circumstances.
How do you respond when circumstances are
out of your control? Do you get angry? Do you
try to escape? Does despair make you want to
give up? Paul chose to give his anxieties to
Jesus in exchange for peace that "surpasses all
comprehension" (Phil. 4:7). That same peace is available to
you! [In Touch Daily Devotional by Charles
Stanley at www.intouch.org]
His Presence Is Peace
I have been doing a lot of studying in
the book of Philippians, specifically the fourth
chapter. I was struck by what it really means to have
peace in all circumstances. Isn't that contrary to
what the world tells us?
Many of us grew up believing the only way
we can have joy and peace in our hearts is if
everything in our lives is going right. If everything
was going our way in all circumstances, we
thought we really had something to be happy about.
So we ran from our problems, hid from them,
ignored them. And that brought us just what we
didn't want - more conflict at home or at work.
I now know that true peace is not the
absence of conflict but rather the presence of Jesus
Christ. I am learning to take all my problems to him
rather than pushing them under the carpet and
trying to forget about them. True peace is the
presence of righteousness in the midst of the
conflict. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, he will
guide us along the mountaintops and through the
valleys.
Father; thank you for meeting me and
giving me peace in the midst of my problems and
conflicts. In Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery
Daily Devotional by John & Johnny Baker]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
The more often you turn your thoughts to
Me, the more you will enjoy My perfect Peace.
This is a challenging goal, but it is also a
glorious gift. I, the Shepherd of your soul, am
always accessible to you.
You can train your mind to turn from
other things and focus on Me. When you experience
something beautiful, thank Me for it. When a loved one
brings you joy, remember that I am the Source of
this pleasure. Post reminders of My Presence in
your home or car or office. It's also wise to
memorize Scripture since it is ultimately about Me.
Turning your thoughts to Me demonstrates
your trust in Me. Even undesired things such as
pain and problems can be reminders to communicate
with Me. Focusing on My Presence protects you
from getting stuck on problems - going over and
over them in your mind without making any
progress.
Be creative in finding new ways to turn
your thoughts toward Me. Thus you can enjoy the
wondrous gift of My Peace. (Isa. 26:3; 1Pe. 2:25;
Phi. 4:6, 7) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young]
I am training you not only to endure your
difficulties but to transform them into Glory. This is a
supernatural feat, and it requires the help of My
supernatural Spirit. When problems are weighing heavily
on you, your natural tendency is to speed up
your pace of living, frantically searching for
answers. But what you need at such times is to slow
down and seek My Face. Invite the Spirit to help
you as you discuss your difficulties with Me.
Then lay your requests before Me and wait in
expectation.
Even though you wait expectantly, I may
not answer your prayers quickly. I am always
doing something important in your life - far
beyond simply solving your problems. Your struggles
are part of a much larger battle, and the way
you handle them can contribute to outcomes with
eternal significance. When you respond to your
troubles by trusting Me and praying with
thanksgiving, you glorify Me. Moreover, your practice of
praying persistently will eventually make a vast
difference in you - My loved one crowned with Glory.
(Psa. 5:3; Phi. 4:6; Psa. 8:5) [Jesus Always by
Sarah Young]
Let My peace protect your mind and heart.
Remember that I am near, and rejoice in My abiding
Presence. Spend ample time with Me, presenting your
requests to Me with thanksgiving. This is the way to
receive My Peace that transcends understanding. This
is how I guard your heart and your mind. It's a
collaborative, you-and-I-together effort. You never face
anything alone!
For Christians, aloneness is an illusion
- a dangerous one that can lead to depression
or self-pity. The devil and his underlings work
hard to cloud your awareness of My Presence.
Its crucial for you to recognize and resist
their attacks. Fight back with My powerful Word,
which is living and active. Read it; ponder it;
memorize it; speak it.
Even if you're feeling alone, you can
talk freely with Me - trusting that I am with you
always. The longer you communicate with Me, the more
convinced you'll become of My nearness. Resist the
devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to Me,
and I will come close to you. (Phi. 4:4-7; Heb.
4:12; Mat. 28:20; Jam. 4:7, 8) [Jesus Always by
Sarah Young]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Philippians 4:6 - Turning Worry Into Prayer
And Worship.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200312-1028.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
