Be Anxious For Nothing
ICS Daily Devotions
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) 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.
As believers, we are not exempt from challenges in this world, but we can take comfort that we have peace with God and the peace of God. Just as a pilot’s reaction to emergencies will reveal whether he or she has taken the flight manuals and simulations seriously, when faced with anxiety-provoking situations, our response will also reveal whether we have taken God’s Word seriously by allowing it to take root in our lives to develop faith, because this is what lays the foundation for us to face life’s storms with God’s perfect peace.
The devil’s strategy is to try and steal the seed of God’s Word from our hearts through tribulations and challenges, but instead of being overcome by fear, we can choose to stand firm by allowing God’s peace to guard our hearts and minds through meditating on His Word.
Anxiety is real, so we must be compassionate when others experience it. People have varying stress thresholds, so it’s essential to understand that our spouse’s ability to handle stress may differ from ours.
There are countless sources of anxiety. Business owners may worry about their company’s performance, and employees about their job security in the face of an economic slowdown. If we are not grounded in our identity in Christ, our boss’ opinion of us can cause anxiety. Health issues can trigger anxiety while waiting for medical results or experiencing troubling symptoms, whereas retirement needs and our children studying overseas may also cause worry.
We like to dwell on the concerns that trouble us and meditate on negative scenarios that might not even happen. Focusing on the unknown not only does not solve problems but leads to hopelessness and depression. To combat anxiety, we must intentionally refocus our thoughts on God’s Word because our minds can only concentrate on one matter at a time. Therefore, we have a choice of whether to meditate on negativity or on God’s promises. By intentionally shifting our focus from the “what if’s” to God’s Word, we are pulling down those thoughts before they become strongholds in our minds, so that we can find hope and peace.
Therefore, be anxious for nothing and cast your burdens upon God and trust in His unfailing love. Meditate on His Word and we will have the peace of God that will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Sermon Series: Keep the Peace
