“Do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
This was the Bible Gateway Verse of the Day last week. Its popping up in my email, coupled with the fact that I moved out of my condo this week (yay and aaahhhh at the same time!) made me think this is a good week to post a devotional I wrote for a church newsletter a few years ago. The words still ring true!
I love this verse. I remember my church memorizing it as a church body, and I still have
the bulletin insert with the printed scripture in my Bible. This is one of the verses God brings to my mind frequently because I tend to overthink and over-plan and create solutions to every possible problem. It’s exhausting, and I don’t recommend it. God often brings these words to the forefront of my mind when I start to worry. Each time I read it or quote it, a new word sticks out.
“Do not be anxious about anything”. Although easier said than done, God tells us not to
be anxious at all – not about big things or things that may seem nearly insignificant.
“But in everything. . .” God wants us to bring all our concerns before Him. As our Father
nothing is insignificant to Him.
“With thanksgiving. . .” What a pointed reminder that no matter what life throws at us,
we still have God’s blessings to be thankful for. He doesn’t have to listen to us, and He doesn’t have to love us, but He does, and for that we can always be thankful.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding. . .” We often try to
rationalize God by putting Him in a box constructed from our own understanding. The problem is that our understanding as humans is limited, so we shouldn’t try to fit God in a box. Instead, we can trust that He will give us His peace simply because He says that He will, not because we understand how it works.
“Will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” God is our protector, and His
peace will protect our hearts and minds from wandering through the various scenarios of what could possibly happen in our current situation.
Although I find strength in these verses, I also take comfort in the verse that preceeds
them: “The Lord is near.” I love when scripture is so straight forward that I can’t miss its
message. “The Lord is near.” That’s why scripture says in the next verse that we don’t have to be anxious about anything.
Back up further to verse 4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Rejoice always, even when we’re anxious and don’t feel at peace. God calls us to rejoice because He is near.
How thankful we can be that we can take comfort in that!
What are you anxious about at this very moment? How can you use prayer and thanksgiving to give your anxious thoughts to God?
“Do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
