“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.” — Philippians 4:6-7
Free From Anxiety
It’s not sinful to be anxious, but it is detrimental to your spiritual health and growth if you allow your worries to dominate your thinking and emotions. That’s why Paul taught, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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” (Philippians 4:6–7).
This verse requires that we turn away from our anxious thoughts and focus on the Lord. It also offers a pathway to the peace of God through prayer and praise. I encourage you to memorize Philippians 4:6–7, and put it into practice during the quietness of the night when you struggle with your worries. The peace of God “transcends all understanding” because it is peace experienced in the midst of your storms, not the peace that naturally follows after they are over. I have heard it said that many times the Lord wants to calm the storm in you before He stills the storm around you, so that you might learn to trust in Him.
You can trust God, or you can worry, but you can’t do both at the same time.
Don’t overlook the direction toward “thanksgiving” in this roadmap to the peace of God. Many times it is possible to praise your way through to peace. Recounting and meditating on the multitude of God’s blessings reestablishes our confident assurance in Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
— Jerry Birch, Cleveland Cavaliers chaplain
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