“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by 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 minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:4-7 (NKJV)
Have you had a situation come up lately, perhaps in your family or in your business life, that you’re worried about? If not dealt with it can suck the energy right out of you. God teaches us how to deal with worry in Philippians 4.
First, He is talking about getting your focus in right perspective when He says, “Rejoice in the lord always. Again I will say rejoice!” Have you ever noticed that you cannot praise God and at the same time be consumed with worry?
Secondly, He reminds you that He has not left you, no matter how bad the situation may be, when He says, “The Lord is at hand.” Listen, my friend, He is still on the throne no matter what the situation might be, and He’s there for you always.
And thirdly, He tells you to replace your worry with prayer and be specific in your praying, telling God exactly what you’re worried about, and the scripture tells you His peace will come. We can’t really explain it, but it will come, and that peace will guard your heart and your mind from worry, anxiety, and all that goes with it.
Philippians 4:6 in the Message Bible will encourage your soul. “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.”