Do Not Be Anxious About Anything
Date: July 16, 2024
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
B - Bible Verse in NIV (Philippians 4:6-7) 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.
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray Dear Heavenly Father, we come to You with all our worries and concerns. Help us to trust You completely and to bring everything to You in prayer. Thank You for the promise of Your peace that goes beyond our understanding. Guard our hearts and minds, and help us to rest in the freedom of Your love and care. In Jesus' name, Amen.
E - Explore the History and meaning Paul wrote this letter to the church in Philippi while he was in prison. Despite his difficult circumstances, he encouraged the believers to find joy and peace in Christ. In these verses, Paul is giving practical advice on how to deal with anxiety and worry, reminding the Philippians (and us) that we can bring all our concerns to God and experience His amazing peace.
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
"Do not be anxious" - This is a command to not worry or be overly concerned.
"Prayer and petition, with thanksgiving" - This describes how we should approach God with our concerns.
"Peace of God" - This is the calm and tranquility that comes from trusting in God.
S - Summarize and Share Have you ever felt like worry was just taking over your life? We all face times when our minds are racing with concerns about our health, our families, our finances, or a hundred other things. But you know what? God has given us a wonderful recipe for freedom from all that anxiety.
In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul tells us exactly what to do when worry starts to creep in. First, he says, "Do not be anxious about anything." Now, that might sound impossible at first, but stick with me here. Paul's not saying we won't ever feel worried; he's telling us we have a choice in how we respond to those worries.
Instead of letting anxiety take over, Paul says we should take everything to God in prayer. And not just a quick "help me" prayer, but really talking to God about our concerns, asking for His help, and - this is important - thanking Him too. Even in the middle of our worries, we can thank God for His love, His care, and all the ways He's helped us in the past.
Now, here's the amazing part. When we do this, God promises to give us His peace. And this isn't just any peace - it's a peace that "transcends all understanding." That means it's a kind of peace that doesn't always make sense to our human minds. We might still be in the same situation, but somehow, we feel calm and protected.
This peace acts like a guard for our hearts and minds. It's like God puts a shield around us, protecting us from being overwhelmed by worry and fear. And that, my dear friends, is true freedom - the freedom to face life's challenges without being controlled by anxiety.
So, the next time you feel worry starting to take over, remember this verse. Take a deep breath, and start talking to God about what's bothering you. Thank Him for His love and care. And then, watch how He replaces your anxiety with His amazing peace. That's the kind of freedom Jesus wants for all of us - freedom from worry and freedom to trust in His loving care.
3 Bible Cross References:
Matthew 6:25-26 - "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
1 Peter 5:7 - "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
My question for you today is, are you willing to try bringing your worries to God in prayer this week, trusting Him for His peace? If so, type "Yes" in the comments below. Let's encourage each other to take this step of faith!