Anxious for Nothing
Philippians 4:4-7 — 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.
Did you know that God has a plan for our peace?
God is Jehovah Shalom! He desires to lead us into peace. Not the kind the world offers, but His peace.
In Philippians, Paul describes a formula for peace. A peace prescription!
Joy + Gentleness + Prayer = The PEACE of God
JOY
We are called to rejoice in the Lord always. Always means at all times. When we get the promotion and when we don’t. In times of plenty and times of need. When it’s sunny and rainy. Rejoice means to express a deep gladness rooted in faith. It is a celebration of Christ’s character and an abiding hope in His promises. Because God never changes (James 1:17, Hebrews 13:8), we can rejoice knowing that our joy is found in Him. It’s a stable joy, a delight that is independent of outcome or circumstance. Writing this is definitely easier than practicing it! However, we know that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10)! His joy strengthens us to worship when circumstances look stormy, when the outcome looks unfavorable, when we’re disappointed and weary.
GENTLENESS
We are called to live at peace with others. We are commanded to love our neighbor as ourself (Mark 12:30-31). When we prioritize loving God and loving others, we are on our way to peace-filled lives. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God (Matthew 5:9). Remaining gentle, patient, kind, forgiving, and tenderhearted allows us to diffuse situations and maintain harmonious relationships that honor God and bear witness to His love for all people.
PRAYER
God invites us to pray about everything. There is nothing you can’t bring to the Lord. He invites us to cast every care and every burden on Him (I Peter 5:7). He commands us: Do not worry. Instead, PRAY!!! Pray with gratitude. Remind yourself of everything God has done and by faith declare what you’re believing Him to do! Present your requests to the Lord, confident that He will meet your needs richly. It is an act of faith.
When we mix the ingredients of…
Choosing JOY
Loving others with the gentleness of God
Praying instead of worrying
…We are promised the peace of God which surpasses ALL understanding. It is a peace so great, so deep, so high that our minds can’t quantify it. It is a strong peace, a peace that guards and protects us against the lies of the enemy, against doubt, against hopelessness, against fear.
Peace is our inheritance in Christ. We don’t have to beg for it. We RECEIVE it as we obey the Lord, being anxious for nothing and being prayerful in everything!
Blessings and peace! XO Elise