Don't be Anxious!

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 4:6-7

Anxiety seems to plague the population these days. How many people do we know or have heard of who are suffering from anxiety, people who suffer panic attacks due to anxiety, people who are stressed out due to anxiety? Some are on medication and others are trying to cope with it, while others are oblivious to the reason for the tension in their bodies. The definition of the word anxious is: full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous: Her parents were anxious about her poor health. It is derived from the word angere which means to strangle, pain, distress. (www.dictionary.com)

Anxiety is a tool the enemy uses to cause you not to trust God. Jesus used a parable about seeds that were thrown in four different types of ground – the wayside, the stony ground, the thorns, and the good ground. When we become anxious, we forget the promises of God. We forget that God has promised to provide for our needs. We forget that we are children of the King and He is the owner of the silver and the gold. He is Jehovah Rafa our healer. He is Jehova Tsidkenu our righteousness. When we become anxious for our needs or anxious about our future, we become like the seed that was sown among the thorns, that the cares of this world choked its growth. When we become anxious our trust is no longer in God and it affects our health, our finances, our relationships.

Ahhh but when we trust in God and make our petitions known to Him through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, we are guarded by His peace that surpasses all understanding! People may not understand how you can be so calm and your refrigerator is empty or your rent is overdue and you don’t have the money to pay it. They will not understand how you can keep it together when you have just been diagnosed with a terminal disease! The reason you can is because through prayer and supplication, you have made your request for healing known to God with thanksgiving and He has filled you with His peace because you trust Him! You have asked for provision with thanksgiving knowing that He is faithful and He will provide for you! This is the reason why you can be calm and you can keep it together when you are facing diverse circumstances. The God that you and I serve is very aware of our situations and when we come to Him and put all of our trust in Him, He will make a way where there is no way for us! Praise God!! Be anxious for NOTHING, but in EVERYTHING make your petitions known to God. He is never early, never late, but always ON TIME!! Glory to God!! Thank you Jesus for Your faithfulness and Your peace.