“Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6
Dear Ones:
Perhaps one of the greatest weaknesses we have is “anxiety.” The reasons for this are several, the first of which is found in our sin nature, that nature that we inherited from Adam. We know from Genesis 3, that there was no sense of fear and shame, until Adam sinned. There is no question as to when fear and anxiety came into the world. When the Lord came seeking Adam, “walking in the garden in the cool of the day,” (v. 8) … Adam hid himself. So the first thing we see here is that fear, anxiety, and shame did not enter into the world until sin entered in. And let us remember that “sin” in and of itself, is an attitude and act of independence from God. Isaiah puts it like this: “…we have turned every one to HIS OWN WAY, and the Lord hath laid on Him (Christ) the iniquity of us all.” 53:6) Secondly, we see that these sentiments and attitudes do NOT belong to Christ, only to sinful man, who has become self-centered, self-protected, self-conscious, and self-absorbed, as a result of his faithless attitude towards God.
A second reason for the “weakness” of anxiety is that it is a clear and evident denial of God to BE and to DO what He has declared. Faithlessness in God has cut off man from the strength and life of God in Christ. The believer who has truly committed himself, or herself, to God by the grace of God, has committed ALL to Him. He or she has come to grips with His sovereignty, His will and purposes, and His means and sufficiency to meet their every need, so that they can glorify God on this earth. To be anxious is to be like Peter, when walking on the waves of the sea. All was going well until he “…saw the wind boisterous.” It was then that faith turned to fear, and anxiety entered in. He has ceased to rely wholly upon the Lord, His Sovereign, the Almighty God to whom he had committed all. Is it not the same for us? It is when, usually by the failure of not worshipping the Lord, lack of prayer and felllowship in the word, that we SEE circumstances being greater than the power of God to meet us in them. It is then that we become anxious and fearful, for we have reverted back to looking at ourselves rather than “…looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of Faith.” (Heb. 12:2)
One of the things that is so remarkable about Paul’s instructions to the Philippians are these words by the Spirit: “…Be anxious for NOTHING.” What is the basis for calling us to live above and beyond anxiety? It is because there is NO anxiety in Christ. He is never anxious. His peace and strength are ours every moment, every hour of the day. What then are we to do? We are to give Him access to every need, believing Him to reign and rule, regardless of sense and thought. As God and as our Father, He is ready and willing to take all in hand, and to give us in return His peace. “…in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the PEACE OF GOD, which passes all understanding will keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (v.6,7) David wrote: “I have set the Lord before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall NOT be moved.” (Ps. 16:8)
Dear Father, give us grace to embrace Thy sovereign and wonderful work in our lives by refusing to be anxious about anything or anyone. On the contrary, strengthen our hearts to pray, even with supplication, for Your certain intervention in every matter. Give us consistently thankful hearts, rejoicing in Thee for thy faithfulness and goodness, knowing that Thy peace will indeed guard our hearts and minds in Thee. We praise and thank Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad