Worrier or Warrior

Regardless of what you have heard, I believe worry works!  Because 90 percent of the things I worry about never happen.  : )

We certainly have plenty to worry about these days, but it creates division, discord, headaches, and heartaches when we worry.  

In the Bible, a familiar passage to many is Philippians 4:6-7.

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.

Let me point out a couple of nuggets from this passage.  First, the Greek word translated “anxious” in this passage means “to be pulled in different directions.” Anybody?  Ever feel like you are the rope in a tug-a-war competition? The good news is there is victory over our anxiousness.  Paul, who wrote this letter of joy to the Philippians, had plenty to anxious about, yet he penned the solution to worry from prison.

“Do not be anxious about ANYTHING.”  Anything? That’s right, even the smallest minute things in our life, should not cause us to worry.  Ok, then what do I do with these thoughts and feelings of anxiousness and fear? Solution: Present them to God with an attitude of thanksgiving, knowing God is in control, and realize He is big enough to solve all our problems. When we present our requests to God with adoration for our God’s greatness, it changes our thinking, and our focus is now on Him.   

And the promise is in verse 7:  And the peace OF God, which transcends all understanding, will guard YOUR hearts and YOUR minds in Christ Jesus.

Notice the scripture says. “the peace OF God.”  God does not give out “peace,” it is because of Him we have peace! In John 16:33, Jesus says, “…so that IN ME you may have peace.” Only God’s peace can bring joy and calmness to an anxious heart.

And finally, His peace will “Guard your heart and mind.”  We need a guard over our emotions and thinking. God wants to take us to a deeper relationship with Him, regardless of circumstances, and He tells us just how to do that in these two verses.  

Be a Warrior of prayer, petition, and praise to God and let the Peace of God capture Worry, the thief of all joy!