Thoughts on Phil. 4:6-7

Here are some thoughts that Alison wrote that she wanted to share with you all...

“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.” Philippians 4:6-7 (TNIV)
This is a clear exhortation to me not to fret or be anxious about anything. But why is it so difficult to live out? Perhaps because I still rely inexcusably upon my own power and abilities, rather than the power of the Holy Spirit within me. Perhaps because the enemy likes to foster a niggling doubt that God truly does want the best for me and will work all things together for my good. This anxiety renders me ineffectual, not just in my daily life, but more importantly, for His Kingdom purposes. And that’s right where the enemy wants me. He doesn’t want me to recall the lesson that, over many years, I have come to learn—that tomorrow, things will look differently than today. Even in my most fearsome circumstances, things change in the light of a new day. God always has me covered because He is the Lord over all things.
These two verses in Philippians are packed with so many counter-cultural truths and revelations about anxiety. First, I am told to present specific requests to God, through not just prayer (communing with my Friend) and petition (imploring Him to act), but also with thanksgiving. I am to present my request out of a grateful heart—not out of fear, anxiety, or worry. Rather, out of a heart that pays homage to God’s present love and faithfulness to me in the past. A heart that humbly and thankfully acknowledges that God always comes through for me in every circumstance. A countenance that affirmatively believes that tomorrow, things will appear differently than today. I cannot let my anxiety blind me to His presence or His earnestness to hear my request. This posture of the heart requires me to lay down control of my life to the One who receives my supplications. I must be willing to entrust the petition to Him before I bring it.
Second, I am instructed to take every situation to God. These absolute terms leave no room for qualitative or quantitative weighing of whether a situation is appropriate to take to Him. His Word says every situation, which means that every circumstance I go through is worthy of the Lord’s attention, particularly if anxiety is accompanying it.
Third, if I will comply with these exhortations, the peace of God will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. The Amplified Bible says “garrison” the heart and mind, which calls to mind a fortress to ward off and keep out the spirit of anxiety and unrest. Peace is the antithesis of anxiety. And God’s peace is even better than what man can envision or experience with the senses. The Word promises that it transcends (goes far beyond) all understanding. That peace only comes if I am willing to leave my own limited understanding behind or, better yet, to surrender it to my Lord.
It is a cyclical process. If, rather than succumbing to anxiety, I approach the Father with a thankful heart, which requires a remembrance of His faithfulness and trust that He will come through again in this situation, I will find what I am seeking. A peace that transcends my understanding. A peace that will “garrison” my heart and mind from the battle being waged against them to accept anxiety over trust. What a beautiful promise from a loving Father, if I will only obey.