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Philippians 4:6-8 - CURE FOR ANXIETY AND WORRY.Philippians 4:6-8 (KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Philippians 4:6-8 (NLT) Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:6-8 (MSG) Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. 7 Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. 8 Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. WORD STUDY Anxiety Ain't Fun Anxiety is a meteor shower of what-ifs. The sky is falling, and it's falling disproportionately on you. Anxiety ain't fun! One would think Christians would be exempt from worry but we are not. It's enough to make us wonder if the apostle Paul was out of touch with reality when he wrote in Philippians 4:6, "Be anxious for nothing." Is that what he meant? Not exactly. He wrote the phrase in the present active tense - implying an ongoing state. "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. Could you use some calm? Of course you could. We all could! We all could use a word of comfort and God is ready to give it. [Max Lucado Daily Devotional at maxlucado.com] INTRODUCTION Imagine never worrying about anything! That may seem impossible; everyone has worries on the job, at home, 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. Also take time to listen to what God has to say to you, and thank him for all the good work he has done - in your life, in your church, in your community, and in the world. God's peace is different from the world's peace (see John 14:27). True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from trusting God to work everything out in a way that is best for you as you fulfill your role in God's work in the world. Our citizenship in Christ's Kingdom is sure, our destiny is set, and we can have victory over sin. Let God's peace guard your heart against the anxieties of this world that try to bring you down and keep your focus off Jesus. When we trust God, he gives us a peaceful perspective in a traffic jam, on a difficult phone call, in a troubled relationship, and even when death draws near. What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words, desires, and actions. Paul tells us to train our minds to focus on thoughts that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Do you have problems with impure thoughts and daydreams? Examine what you are putting into your mind through movies, the Internet, books, conversations, television, video games, and magazines. Replace harmful input with wholesome material. Above all, read God's Word and pray. Ask God to help you fill your mind with good and pure thoughts. This takes practice, but it can be done. [Life Application SB 2019] COMMENTARY PEARLS 1. Pray with Thanksgiving Pray About Your Problems What do you do when you have a problem? Do you worry? Most of us do. But does worrying solve the problem? No, it does not. Then if worry doesn't solve the problem, why worry? The Bible's account about Hezekiah gives us an idea for problem solving: "Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD" (2 Kings 19:14-15). Instead of turning to God as a first resource, we so often turn to Him as a last resort. Follow Hezekiah's formula. Turn to God first with your problems, for only He is capable of handling them in a way that will be in your best interest - and according to His perfect will. Pray before you panic. Did you receive bad news? Pray. Have a big decision to make? Pray. Is a loved one far from the Lord? Pray. Prayer is the greatest tool of the believer. [Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham] Running To - Not From - God The word worry in this verse means "to rip into pieces." It's the same for the word anxiety in Scripture. Anxiety and worry tear our minds and hearts apart. That's why we have the phrase, "I was worried to pieces." Worry turns our peace into pieces. But here's the good news: God wants us to bring every little piece to Him through prayer. That's the first step in how God brings us peace. Back in Paradise when Adam and Eve sinned, they immediately felt guilty, and hid from God. That's our natural response when we know we have missed the mark and fallen short of His glory. We run from God when we need to be running to Him. If you're stuck in the mire of worry and think there's no way out, don't try to fix it on your own. Instead, call out to Him. Invite Him into the web of anxiety, and turn the negative energy of worry into the positive action of prayer. Dear God, I actively turn toward You in prayer and invite You into what is worrying me. I don't want to live in pieces, anxious and afraid. I want Your peace, so lead me today. [Grace and Glory by Louie Giglio] That's Why We Pray Don't you love drive-thru restaurants? You pull up to a speaker and shout what you want to eat. Then by the time your parents drive forward in their car, your food is ready to go. The popular California-based restaurant In-N-Out Burger claims to have created the first drive-thru in 1948 with two-way speakers. Other historians say Red's Giant Hamburg in Springfield, Missouri, had the first drive-thru window. While Red's is long gone, In-N-Out Burger has only increased in popularity with nearly 300 restaurants in five states. Some fans of the fast-food chain love the Bible verses on the food packaging as much as the burgers. Soda cups feature John 3:16 printed on the bottom. Shakes have Proverbs 3:5-6. Hamburger and cheeseburger wrappers point to Revelation 3:20. Hungry people find Nahum 1:7 on doubledoubles (that's double the meat and cheese), while Proverbs 24:16 is printed on french fry holders. Only the references can be found on the In-N-Out products, so if you want to know what the verses say, grab your Bible and look them up. Some Christians treat God like a drive-thru restaurant. We bow our heads in prayer and give our order. Then we expect God to answer as soon as we "pull forward." And if God doesn't do what we ask, we get angry or think he doesn't hear us. God always hears our prayers, and he wants us to pray to him about everything. Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." That means God wants to hear when we're worried about a math test, need wisdom for how to deal with a friend, or desire strength to do well on the athletic field. But prayer is much more than asking for something. When you talk with God, remember this acrostic: P=Praise. Tell God about the things you're thankful for. Acknowledge his amazing power. Praise him for being active and alive in your life. R=Repent. Admit your failures. Have you lied, had jealous thoughts, or been selfish? Ask for forgiveness. A=Ask. Tell God your desires. Ask for his help. Y=Yield. Let God know that you want to serve him. Tell him that you want to follow his will for your life. Prayer isn't putting in an order. It's connecting with God, which is much more satisfying. [Case For Christ For Kids by Les Strobel] 2. Meditation One antidote to worry is meditating. In Philippians 4:8, Paul called us to consider or let our mind dwell on "whatever things are true... noble... just... pure... lovely... of good report... [of] virtue... [and] praiseworthy." When we contemplate such things, they are more than a worthwhile distraction from worry. The Holy Spirit works those values into our lives. [Being Still With God Every Day by Henry Blackaby] For More on Meditation Go To: Philippians 4:8 - What Are You Feeding Your Mind? https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240509-0838.html ILLUSTRATION My friend Judy and I were walking on a trail when a young man pushing his bike walked toward us. "The worst thing ever just happened," he said. "A part fell off my bike and now I can't ride it." He showed us where the missing piece used to be. As a bike rider, I knew exactly what it looked like. I told him we'd look for it and if we found it, we'd get it to him. His shoulders slumped, and I sensed his hopelessness as we walked off in opposite directions. Judy and I thought it impossible to find the tiny part on the trail with knee-high grasses aligning both sides. But Jesus encourages believers to pray about everything, including lost things. He told three parables about loss. A lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son (Luke 15). Judy and I prayed that God would show us the lost bike part. After walking a bit, I looked to my left and spotted it on the ground. "I can't believe it," Judy said. "It's a miracle!" A young woman was jogging toward us. We stopped her, handed her the bike part, and gave her the mission to deliver the piece to the man pushing his bike on the trail ahead. She sprinted off. We imagined his joy when she caught up to him. Like this young man, I, too, feel hopeless at times. Thankfully, the Finder of lost things - and souls - walks with me, reminding me that hope is only a prayer away. Jeannie Blackmer Faith Step: Are you feeling hopeless today? Turn your discouragement into a hope-filled prayer and ask Jesus to help you find joy. [Mornings With Jesus 2024 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] CLOSING PEARL 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 330.1 LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Philippians 4:6-8 - CURE FOR ANXIETY AND WORRY. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220624-0817.html Philippians 4:6 - Turning Anxiety and Worries into Prayers. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220531-1039.html Philippians 4:8 - Thinking That Leads to Joy in Jesus. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211126-1031.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |