“Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! …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 will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
Philippians 4:4-7 The Message Bible
In the New American Standard Bible, verse 6 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 overcome worry and anxiousness in your life: PRAISE, PRAYER and POSITION.
First, PRAISE. Verse 4 starts right out with the words, “Celebrate God…” and the New American Standard reads, “Rejoice always again I say rejoice.” Have you ever noticed that it’s impossible to fret and worry at the same time you’re praising God? Praise will get you back into right focus.
Secondly, PRAY. The Message Bible reads, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray.” In other words, tell the Father your concerns.
Thirdly, realize your POSITION with the 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, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He’s 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.”