"Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7 CSB)
- Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything.
We use tremendous mental energy when we worry, yet we accomplish nothing. We lose sleep, create stress on our entire body, and take time and focus away from other important things.
Worrying puts us in a state of anxiety as we imagine potential scenarios to solve or avoid potential threats and their potential consequences. It’s our way of trying to pre-plan how we might control the uncontrollable through hypothetical risk analysis.
Paul instructs us to “…shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.” (Philippians 4:6 MSG) So the next time you find yourself ruminating over your list of what-if-worst-case scenarios, try verbalizing those swirling thoughts into prayers, letting God know what is troubling you.
What would you say to a friend if you picked up the phone and called to talk about your problems? That’s exactly what you can do when you talk to Jesus. He’s available 24/7 and happy to listen, even when your worried thoughts keep you awake at night.
- Peace displaces worry.
The wonderful thing about praying our worries to God is that once we lay our cares at His feet, His “peace which surpasses understanding” will settle in and displace our churning anxiety. This divine peace creates a deep sense of inner calmness amid tumultuous trials and is so shocking that it is beyond our explanation.
- Peace stands guard at the gates of your mind and heart.
The word “guard” in Philippians 4:7 gives us a visual image of soldiers guarding a city gate…from INSIDE the gate. So by praying about your cares and concerns to God, God’s peace will move in and stand guard inside the gates of your mind and your heart to prevent an invasion of fear and worry from overtaking you.
- Instead of worrying, try this:
Let God transform your worry into peace by trying this: “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (Philippians 4:6-7 MSG)
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Dear Lord,
Thank you that I can bring all my concerns and worries to You. Thank you that you are always ready to listen. Help me trust that You know what’s best for me in every situation and that You can make all things work together for good1…even the things I’m worried about. Remind me that with God all things are possible.2 Thank you for Your peace that stands guard at the gate of my mind and my heart. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Related Scriptures:
- 1“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NKJV )
- 2“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” (Matthew 19:26 NIV)
- “You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.” (Isaiah 26:5 CSB)
- “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” ~Jesus (Luke 12:25-26 NIV)