Saturday October 12th, 2019 Philippians 4:4-9
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (verse 6)
Worrying seems to be a genetic human trait. Since the beginning of time, people have worried about their life situations, their family or their future. In the Old Testament, David worried about his son Absalom. Elijah worried so much about saving his life that he ran away to the desert. In the New Testament, the disciples, after the crucifixion, worried that they might be next to be arrested. Centuries later, people are still worrying.
Paul is encouraging his readers not to be anxious about anything, but to turn to God in prayer with their concerns. However, that is much easier said than done! Not to be anxious means giving up our control over the situation. When we give up trying to control a situation, we are actually placing it in someone else’s hands, trusting that it will be taken care of. The blessed thing is that we can turn to God with our anxieties in every situation and with prayer, trust that our life is in perfect hands. With the release of that burden of anxiety, we are freed to live our lives in gratitude and praise.
Compassionate God, strengthen your Spirit within us, that we may turn to you in prayer with our life issues, trusting in your care. Amen. — JW
Contributed by Trust
Worrying seems to be a genetic human trait. Since the beginning of time, people have worried about their life situations, their family or their future. In the Old Testament, David worried about his son Absalom. Elijah worried so much about saving his life that he ran away to the desert. In the New Testament, the disciples, after the crucifixion, worried that they might be next to be arrested. Centuries later, people are still worrying.
Paul is encouraging his readers not to be anxious about anything, but to turn to God in prayer with their concerns. However, that is much easier said than done! Not to be anxious means giving up our control over the situation. When we give up trying to control a situation, we are actually placing it in someone else's hands, trusting that it will be taken care of. The blessed thing is that we can turn to God with our anxieties in every situation and with prayer, trust that our life is in perfect hands. With the release of that burden of anxiety, we are freed to live our lives in gratitude and praise.
