“Don’t fret or worry. 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. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
Philippians 4:6 (Message Bible)
The New American Standard version of this verse reads, “Do not be anxious about anything.” The word anxious means “uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency.” There are three things that will help you to overcome worry and anxiety in your life. Praise, prayer, and position.
First, praise. Philippians 4:4 (Message Bible) starts right out with the words, “Celebrate God” and the New American Standard reads, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Have you ever noticed that it’s impossible to fret and worry while you’re praising God? Praise will get you back into the right focus.
Secondly, pray. Philippians 4:6 says, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray.” In other words, tell your concerns to the Father.
Thirdly, realize your position with your heavenly Father. Who are you as His child? You are an overcomer. John 16:33 (NASB) says, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” You are more than a conqueror. Romans 8:37-39 (NASB) says, “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He is your strength. He’s your protector. He’s your helper. He’s your provider. Matthew 6:30 (NASB) says, “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!”