Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
How do you worry less? Telling yourself to quit worrying is not the antidote. Have you tried that when something heavy was looming over you? Did that completely make you stop worrying? You are not alone. Paul didn’t just give a command to stop worrying when he wrote to the Philippians. He knew it is not that simple. Instead, he stated if you want to conquer this problem and break the habit of feeling worried, uneasy about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome, the solution is prayer and supplication. God is concerned about everything in our lives, be it big things or small things and Paul used three words to describe the antidote for worrying, which is: prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving – all three.
Solomon stated in Proverbs 16:3, “Commit your work to the LORD and your plans will be established.” As I lay out my day to the Lord, I have conversations with Him in what I anticipate will be ahead of me in my workday and issues. Then verse 10 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” As I pray about my thoughts and concerns over my day, that is my communication with God – it is having a dialogue. Praying is a broader term. But supplication means I am asking God directly to do something in a situation I might be uneasy about, a deep burden, and feel uncertain about what I should do, or for a family member or friend in need. These two verses in Proverbs 16 are parallel to Philippians 4:6-7, in what Paul lays out as the formula for abiding in having the God of peace, give you the peace of God. He will be with you throughout those disturbing circumstances that are part of life. He provides guidance and wisdom where and when it is needed. This received peace will guard your heart and mind against anxiety.
We will always have those “but what ifs” in life. Praying to God is the first step toward conquering our fears. I also think of Psalm 46:10a which states, “Be still and know that I am God.” Sometimes we need to then pause, wait, and listen for the Lord to bring verses to our mind so we can know better how to pray about a certain situation. Lastly, each prayer needs to be seasoned with thanksgiving no matter how tragic the circumstance, as 1 Thess. 5:18 instructs, “In everything give thanks.” Thanksgiving activates peace in our prayers.
What do you need to ask God to do in your life today? What holes need filling that are from heartaches you have been carrying?
Pray about everything and be thankful for three aspects of peace relating to God:
- Peace from God.
- Peace with God.
- Peace of God – beyond our own power of thinking (Philip. 4:7) and is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).
This peace is what we have in Christ Jesus. This is what the world needs to see illuminated on our faces because we have spent time with the Lord God almighty. Remember, Paul was chained to a Roman soldier who guarded him all day and all night. He had constraints on his life at that time. Yet Paul lived out in that jail cell, God’s peace guarding his heart and mind against fear, distress, anxiety, and distress about his life, because he kept praying, kept petitioning God about his own concerns, and his concerns for the church people in Philippi. That is how Paul was able to have a quiet confidence within his heart and mind, regardless of his circumstances. That was his antidote for worry.
I am praying for God to show His glory and blessing in your life today. Layout all your anxieties, insecurities, and inadequacies before God. Don’t leave anything out. Thank Him for His goodness, how He has carried you and answered burdens in the past. Then be still. What verses come to mind? That is God speaking to you.
Listen to Natalie Grant – Praise You In This Storm (Official Lyric Video). You Tube 6/16/2020.