“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.” (NASB)
Philippians 4:4-5
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petition and praises shape your worries into prayer, 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. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (The Message)
Philippians 4:6-7
Have you been faced with some challenge lately in your business or family where you have anxiously worried over it? If you don’t deal with the worry, it will rob you of your joy and strength. In these verses God is teaching you how to deal with worry.
First of all, you need to get your focus in right perspective. When He says, “Rejoice in the Lord, again I say rejoice.” Have you noticed you cannot praise God and at the same time be consumed with worry. So start praising Him. Secondly, God reminds you that He has not left you no matter what you are going through. “The Lord is at hand.”
He is there for you. And thirdly, you need to replace worry with prayer and the promise is that His peace will prevail and guard your heart and mind from fear and worry.
DECLARATION: Instead of worrying and fretting I will praise you,
Heavenly Father, in all circumstances