“Be Anxious IN Nothing but IN Everything by Prayer…”
{ Philippians 4:6}
THE ALTERNATIVE TO ANXIETY…
This morning I found myself becoming anxious over a situation, which is Forbidden by God for me to do “Be anxious in NOTHING…” He says in Philippians 4:6.
The verse tells us what NOT to do… “Do not worry” It tells us what to do instead, “But in Everything by Prayer…” Instead of being anxious He wants me to Pray. The Word translated “prayer” in this verse is used 60 times in the New Testament and always used of “Reverence” towards God. So instead of Worrying He would have us Worship Him! Dear friend you were made to worship God. If you have surrendered your life to God and placed your trust in the Lord Jesus alone to forgive you for your sin and Save you from the consequences of sin and give you right standing with God, then as Gods child you as well as me must realize WORSHIP is of Supreme Importance to God.
A. -GOD THE FATHER SEEKS WORSHIPPERS;
– John 4:23 – “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the TRUE WORSHIPPERS will WORSHIP the FATHER in spirit and truth; for such people the FATHER SEEKS TO BE His WORSHIPPERS.”
B. – satan SEEKS WORSHIP FOR HIMSELF-
Matt 4:8-9; -” and the devil took Him {Jesus} to a very high mountain and showed Him all the Kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to him, “All these things I will give You, IF You FALL DOWN and WORSHIP me.”
{To “fall down” is a picture of submission to another…in order to worship…one must first choose to fall down in submission}
C. – The PRIORITY OF JESUS CHRIST FOR YOUR LIFE;
Matt 4:10 – “Then Jesus said to him, “Go satan. For it is Written, YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.”
D. – HEAVEN’S OCCUPATION IS- THE WORSHIP OF GOD;
Rev 4:10 -“the twenty four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the Throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne saying, “WORTHY are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
ALTERATION IN FOCUS…
So I reminded myself of Who HE IS...Perhaps you too may need to be reminded as I was of Him when tempted to worry. Turn the temptation into a Time of worshiping-which is to ascribe Worth to Him…because He is Worthy.
When times of temptation to worry come I often work my way through some letters of the Alphabet and Ascribe an Attribute of His for each letter… as I TURN AWAY from that which may be potentially trying to trouble my mind and distract me form devotion to the Lord JESUS AND THE THINGS of God and what He would have me be to those around me.
Beginning with “A” and working through The ALPHABET as I choose to Turn away from that which Potentially is trying to trouble my mind and heart… I find I am refreshed and refocused…. And honoring God through doing that for which the Father seeks- namely those who will worship Him in spirit and truth.
ALPHABET OF PRAISE… my A-B-C’s of Praise…
My prayer to Him as I address Him using parts of the Alphabet TO REMIND ME of Him and His Character may go something like this…
“Lord, You are Affectionate –
Phil 1:8 – “…with the affection of Christ Jesus.”
“Lord You are Beautiful” –
Isaiah 4:2 – “The Lord will be Beautiful and Glorious…”
“Lord, You are Caring,-
1 Peter 5:7 – “…He Cares for you.”
“Lord, You are my Deliverer “-
Psalm 18:19 – “He Delivered me because He delighted in me.”
“Lord, You are Eternal”
John 17:3 – “This is Eternal Life to know Thee the One True God and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent.”
“Lord, You are Faithful”-
1 Cor 1:9 – “God is Faithful who has called you into Fellowship with His Son.”
“Lord, You are Giving,”
Gal 2:20 -“The Son of God Loved me and Gave Himself for me.”
Lord, You are Holy,”
Isaiah 6:3 – “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God…”
“Lord, You are Immutable.”-
Malachi 3:6 – “For I the Lord Do Not Change.”
“Lord, You are Joyful”-
Nehemiah 8:10 – “The Joy of the Lord is your strength.”
“Lord, You are Kind”-
Romans 2:4 – “…the riches of His Kindness…”
“Lord, You are Loyal”-
Hebrews 13:5 – “I will NEVER leave you, nor will I ever Forsake you.”
“Lord You are Merciful” Psalm 145:8 -“The Lord is Gracious and Merciful.”
Lamentations – 3:22-23 -“They are NEW EVERY morning.”
“Lord, You are Near”-
Philippians 4:5 – “The Lord is Near.”
“Lord, You are Omnipotent”-
Revelation 4:8 – ” The Lord God the Almighty.”
“Lord, You are Perfect”-
Matthew 5:48 – “…your Heavenly Father is Perfect.”
“Lord, You are Righteous in all Your ways” –
Psalm 19:8 – “The Precepts of the Lord are Right, rejoicing the heart;…. the commandment of the Lord is Pure enlightening the eyes.”
“Lord, You are my Savior”-
Matthew 1:21 – ” …Jesus, for He shall Save His people from their sins.”
“Lord, You are Truthful”-
John 14:6 – “I Am … the TRUTH…”
“Lord, You are Unwavering”
James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is NO Variation, or shifting shadow.”
“Lord, You are Victorious”
2 Corinthians 2:14 -“…leads us in His Triumph in Christ…”
“Lord, You are Wonderful”-
Isaiah 9:6 –“… Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace….”
“Lord, You are Wise”-
1 Corinthians 1:21– “…the Wisdom of God…”
“Lord You are, Xcellent – [My own spelling to suit my praise to Him!]
Psalm 150:2 – “Praise Him for His Mighty Deeds; Praise Him according to His EXCELLENT greatness
“Lord, You are my Alpha and Omega….You are my A-Z… My Beginning and my end.
Revelation 1:8 “I Am the Alpha and the Omega … who IS and WAS and who IS TO COME says the Almighty.”
ASCRIBE PRAISE TO GOD
Indeed, with the Words of 1 Timothy 6:15 we can all proclaim and Praise Him….”He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords; who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man can see. To HIM be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.”
PERSONAL APPLICATION TO YOUR LIFE
I am sure, if you as I have … recite and read back to Him the Attributes with each letter….”Lord, You are affectionate, Beautiful, Caring, Eternal, Faithful, Giving, Holy, Immortal, Joyful, Loving, Loyal, Merciful, Near to me, Omnipotent, Perfect, Righteous, Savior, Truthful, Unwavering, Wise, Wonderful, Alpha and Omega….”
You will find as you CHOOSE to TURN your Thoughts that are TRUE, UPON Him several things have happened.
1. -YOU HAVE WORSHIPPED HIM IN TRUTH–
That which is True about Him you have declared back to Him! The Bible says “…The Father seeks for such.” – John 4:23-24
2.- YOU ARE EXPRESSING LOVE TO HIM – John 14:21- Jesus tells us that “He who has My commandments and Keeps them he it is WHO LOVES ME…” When you and I CHOOSE to OBEY HIS WORD- with every step of obedience from a loving heart, we express love to Him.…So in the midst of the temptation to Worry and so sin against God INSTEAD as you chose to Focus and through your obedience to His Word- Phil 4:6
3. – BY CHANGING YOUR FOCUS FROM SELF OCCUPATION TO PRE OCCUPATION WITH THE SOVEREIGN GOD THROUGH WORSHIP OF GOD…YOU will find that you cannot WORRY and WORSHIP at the same time. But as you CHOOSE to Be preoccupied with Him through Prayer and Focus your MIND upon His character, it displaces the problem as prominent and brings it into Perspective, in Light of WHO He is and What He is. Often I find my heart “relieved and refreshed” as I CHOSE to do this.
WHY IS THIS?
Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious in NOTHING…” Do you know what the word “NOTHING,” means here in the original language, Greek? “NOTHING!” That’s right…”Nothing!” The Bible tells me there is never a legitimate reason for me to worry… and that God forbids it!
ATTACK IS FOR YOUR THOUGHT LIFE.
The word translated “anxious” comes from two Greek words that when combined means “TO DIVIDE THE MIND”when they are put together. What is the first and Greatest Commandment? The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 22:37- “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your MIND.” The purpose of your MIND ultimately is to LOVE GOD. The Bible has much to say about our MINDS… What we are to Think on and how we are to Develop a GOD HONORING THOUGHT LIFE.
The Process begins…by choosing to
1. – THINK SCRIPTURALLY –
A. -” RENEW YOUR MINDS”- Romans 12:2
B. -” LAY ASIDE THE OLD SELF… BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND, AND PUT ON THE NEW SELF…”- Eph 4:22-24
C. – “Let this MIND be in you as was also in Christ Jesus…” -Phil 2:5
HOW DO WE RENEW OUR MINDS? How do we Develop the MIND of Christ?
Through The Word of God… which the Psalmist says in psalm 19- “The Law of the Lord Is PERFECT…” IT IS FLAWLESS!
A. – READING GOD’S WORD.- 1 Timothy 4:13
B. – MEMORIZING GOD’S WORD – Psalm 119:11
If you take a 3 by 5 card and write a verse on it and for the next 7 days memorize it. When you have free moments pull it out of your pocket…or if you are a wife and spend time washing dishes …place it on the window and look at it and memorize it every time you go to the kitchen sink…Or if a man place it on your mirror and as you shave in the morning look at it and think on it … Or if a student place it in your bag and pull it out and think on it, talk each word through in the passage…
C. – MEDITATING UPON GOD’S WORD. – Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2
Taking a verse or passage and THINKING through it…asking questions of it…seeing how it is used in the context of the passage you are reading and in the passage and from the Book of SCRIPTURE YOU ARE READING IT.
For example the Lord Jesus says in Matthew 6:33,”But seek First His Kingdom and his Righteousness” The word “But” is there as contrast. To contrast what was said before…regarding things that cause worry, the daily necessities of life and also how those who do not have a personal relationship with the One True and Living God react. The “But” in Matt 6:33 is the way the Lord Jesus desires and requires His followers to respond. “But…” you in contrast to those outside of Gods followers “SEEK FIRST” earnestly pursue as of “FIRST” in Importance, “FIRST” in priority, ABOVE ALL CHOICES you have, out of all the options, and opportunities, and things that come up daily, that which is to be “FIRST” in Priority in every single situation is to be “THE KINGDOM of God and His Righteousness.” His Rule, that which is “Right” in alignment with His Word which is the RIGHT way, because it is Gods Way…
D. – OBEYING GOD’S WORD- James 1:22
“Let the Word of Christ DWELL IN YOU RICHLY”- Colossians 3:16.
We are to be RICH IN HIS WORD… Hiding it in our Hearts and minds and Submitting to it as the Governing and Guiding Authority in our daily living… We are to CHOOSE to LIVE THERE. Saturating ourselves with it.
When I CHOOSE to Worry and sin against God by doubting His character what happens? My mind is DISTRACTED from DEVOTION to the Lord Jesus and the result is anxiety and sinning against the God of Glory!
FAULTY INSTRUCTION;
It is not enough to say “STOP THINKING THAT WAY” to someone. God Always Give the Alternative and INSTEAD we are to START THINKING GOD’S Way.” Through Identifying the thought and Replacing it with that which is True…Honorable, Right, Pure, Lovely, good repute etc… This is a Great way and Gods Way to deal not only with anxiety but bitterness and all forms of lovelessness…
“LET your mind DWELL on these things.”- Philippians 4:8
2. – GUARD YOUR THOUGHT LIFE.
Allow Gods Word, His PRINCIPLE, Promises to Guard and Govern your thought life. Let it be the filter on what you allow yourself to think on…ASK YOURSELF IS THIS THOUGHT accurate concerning God’s character, God’s Promises, God’s Word? If Not then CHOOSE not to think on it and CHOSE TO REPLACE that THINKING with what is TRUE instead. Begin to think on what is TRUE, LOVELY, …etc as Revealed in His Word about Him…Phil 4:8 is the GRID and GUARD for your thought Life. Paul tells the Philippians how to GUARD the Thought Life and DEVELOP GOD HONORING THINKING and indeed How to DISCERN each thought. In Phil 4:8 he writes,
“WHATEVER IS TRUE…”
“WHATEVER IS HONORABLE…”
“WHATEVER IS RIGHT…”
“WHATEVER IS PURE…”
“WHATEVER IS LOVELY…”
“WHATEVER IS OF GOOD REPUTE…”
“IF THERE IS ANY EXCELLENCE…”
“IF ANYTHING WORTHY OF PRAISE…”
“WHATEVER”- It seems a popular word, though Some use it in a disparaging way– “Whatever” is used among our culture today. It is used in a way to discard someone thought or words… but consider how Paul uses the word in Philippians 4:8
Note the Six “WHATEVER’S”… THAT PROCEED EACH CHARACTERISTIC THAT God desires for our Minds to Discern the thoughts that come to us.
Note the Six times “IS” is mentioned. Taking each though through the Grid of Gods Word, ask yourself “IS This TRUE?” If not chose not to focus upon it but instead Choose to FOCUS on what is TRUE… For example Gods Word is TRUE- John 17:17…. His Son is The Truth- John 14:6… This should stop a lot of dishonoring thoughts and disquieting thoughts from distracting and dividing our minds and attention away from focusing our THOUGHT Life on Loving God…. Ask yourself “IS this HONORABLE? If Not then REPLACE it by Focusing on that which Gods Word says is Honorable. Ask yourself, “IS this thought RIGHT? Gods standard is ultimately RIGHT- Psalm 19:8. Ask yourself, “IS this thought “PURE?” If not and does not help in your developing a Pure thought life, then REPLACE it by choosing instead to think on things that are Pure. Psalm 119:9 says Purity is developed though Gods Word….
The NEXT TIME you are Tempted to “Worry”{And believe me there will be a NEXT TIME, if this is not already the TIME} … REMEMBER
1. – It is Sin
2. – It is an Attack on The Character of God.
3. – It Distracts your mind from Devotion to the Lord Jesus. You end up having your mind divided, double-minded, and Distracted from an Eternal view.
TURN THE TEMPTATION TO WORRY INTO AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORSHIP GOD
What is a Believer to do?
1.- STOP WORRYING. – It is FORBIDDEN. Worry is Forbidden by God- Phil 4:8- “Be anxious IN NOTHING.” Stop FEEDING YOUR MIND on that which DISTRACTS you from Devotion to the Lord Jesus and the things of God. You have the Power in Christ to say “No” instead… “Be anxious in nothing BUT…”
2. -START WORSHIPPING GOD – FOCUS. CHOOSE to Change your FOCUS … and Concentrate and fill your mind on Him and WHO He is…. “BUT in EVERYTHING by PRAYER…Remind yourself the word “prayer” as is used here is used to speak of “reverence…worship.” -Phil 4:8. Brake out the “ALPHABET OF PRAISE” AND USE IT TO FOCUS PRAISING AND WORSHIPPING GOD.
ASSIGNMENT
1. – As you read the Scriptures. Look to see who and what the writer Reveals about the character of God. For example in Philippians 1:8 is says …” the AFFECTION of Christ Jesus.” Here we see He is “affectionate.” Stop and Praise Him for being so and recall when and how He has shown this to you.
2. The Book Of Psalms.
This is a Good place to see His Character revealed. Psalm 23 says He is my “Shepherd.” Then it lists what “He ” does as my Shepherd. Personalize what it says, and then PRAISE HIM for each thing you see as True of Him…
3. Can you think of attributes of God by using the alphabet? Go ahead and stop, think and praise Him… no time like the present. Perhaps when you walk you could use the ALPHABET of PRAISE to remind yourself to Worship God.
ARE YOU BREATHING…?
Our nine-year-old son recently walked into our bedroom and asked me if I knew what a certain Psalm said, He went on to recite the verse “Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord.” I shared with him after commending him for his memorization that if we are breathing we are to be praising Him. You are breathing aren’t you? Sure you are! Well, go ahead and Praise Him… He is worthy. The ALTERNATIVE TO PANIC IS PRAYER! Specifically W-O-R-S-H-I-P of God for WHO HE IS and WHAT HE has done and what HE WILL do and What He is Doing! And you know what? When you are in the most difficult times when it is hardest to Praise Him … offer to Him the “sacrifice” of Praise and what a way to express Love and honor to Him…. He is worthy isn’t He…
I hope this little study will be some “FUEL” for your Mind and that you will be encouraged to Love God with your MIND today- For HE CARES for you and Loves you deeply- Look at Calvary!
Thankful to Him for you and those of you who have chosen to labor in the Gospel with us Phil 1:5, Hebrews 6:10
You Are Loved…God bless you