The PROBLEM with Anxiety when we yield to it is that we end with it dominating our thoughts, displacing God and His Word as our goal and guide.

We keep going over and over the PROBLEM as though God doesn’t exist and if He does, He either doesn’t care or is unable to help! That’s how we live when we END with The PROBLEM PRE-OCCUPYING our mind rather than the PROBLEM SOLVER! GOD, and HIS WORD!

IT’S A COMMAND! Paul tells the Philippian believers to “stop habitually worrying.” This was a sinful habit they had and he tells them how NOT to do so. There is no point in saying to others or ourselves, “stop worrying, stop worrying” because what are we thinking on when we say that? “Worry!” He tells them to “stop habitually worrying,” because they as have all followers of Christ the POWER to do so.-{Read Philippians 2:13; 4:13; 2 Peter 1:3-4}. And he tells them how to do so, “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God….”-{Philippians 4:6 Amplified Bible}.

CHOOSE TO EXCHANGE;

Exhange the direction of your THINKING to PRAYER TO GOD… Petitions to God… Thanksgivings To God… Specific Requests to God! Note, who he ends with…GOD! Worry and anxiety end with self… Paul tells them to end with…GOD!

ATTACK  THE ANXIOUS THOUGHTS WITH THANKFUL PRAYERS!

And in this message I want to concentrate on THANKSGIVING. Note it is not called “Thanks- GETTING” but Thanks- GIVING!”

  • Paul does not want them to pray with complaining, doubts, but with the GIVING TO GOD…THANKS!

Think on what to Thank God for. Who He is, What He is like, His Promises, will and ways as revealed in His Word-The Bible. Such as, “Give thanks TO the Lord, for He is GOOD ; His LOVE endures forever.”- {Psalm 107:1}, The LORD is the OBJECT and focus of the Psalmist THANKS GIVING. He GIVES THANKS For His GOODNESS and LOVE that endures FOREVER!

In Philippians 4:1-9 Paul is speaking of spiritual stability, “stand firm” verse 1 speaks of. And anxiety will make them and us unstable, mentally, emotionally and at times affecting our bodies. So, with regards Thanks- GIVING. Paul wants them to pray with thanksgiving as part of becoming spiritually stable not doubleminded, doubtful, despairing.

We can thank Him for His Person. Power, Promises, Purposes, Providence and Pre-emience in our circumstances, difficulties, and even these He promises to “work all things together for good to those who love God and are the called…”-{Romans 8:28}.

It is a fight to be sure, against our anxious, fearful  feelings, circumstances, but faith is not “blind”  when it is in the God of the Bible. This God origionated faith in the believer,  persuaded by the Spirit of God to trust God and His Word, and so the believer is empowered to express faith in God!

PRACTICAL APPLICATION;

When an anxious thought comes to mind, immediately turn to God and pray with thanksgiving, knowing He will GUARD your mind and heart with His peace just as He promises!-{Philippians 4:7}

By doing so you are exercising faith in Him as you are choosing to do what He says when anxious thoughts come to mind-it is an expression of your confidence in Him to do as He says!

Ask Him to remind and teach you to do so and He will! And you will develop a new God honoring habit!

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”-{Philippians 4:6-7}

God Bless,

Aidan,