Well that is exactly what the Bible says is possible. But it is so hard—oh my my my it is so hard to give it all to God—to completely hand it all over to our caring Lord and totally dismiss the terror and panic that we sometimes or maybe often feel. I know the struggle first hand. I heard a definition of fear in a movie that has stayed with me: “False evidence appearing real”. This is particularly relevant to Christians because that is exactly how the devil wants us to view those disquieting situations. He grabs ahold of those fears making them even more unreasonable and uses them against us in the most forceful way, trying to keep us from trusting the Father. But dear friend open your heart wide and let your mind soak up the following message.

Philippians 4:6,7  “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.  And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].” Amplified Bible (AMP)

I love the words “anything” and “everything” in this Scripture. Talk about all inclusive.  Anything means whatever is troubling us—from the seemingly most insignificant to the most paramount. Everything means the small, the big, the medium, those things that might seem inconsequential to another person—all are important to our Heavenly Father. Remember Jesus saying that the hairs on our head are numbered? (I think these days it takes Him less time to count mine—LOL). But seriously if something that minor is important to the Lord, for sure the issues that trouble our being, bring tears, shortness of breath—those are definitely at the top of His priority list. Why is it we know and accept exactly what these words mean in any other context but are reticent to give them full acknowledgment when it comes to bringing our needs to the Throne of Grace?  

Then Paul uses the phrase “specific requests”. God does not want us to come to Him with generalizations. He wants to hear exactly what we need from Him.  Envision our gracious Father standing with His arms outstretched saying, “Yes my child. Was there something you wanted to visit with me about? Just ask Me—I am waiting to help you.” 

Observe that Paul says “that peace which stands guard over your heart (emotions) and mind (intellect)”. There is a reason it says both. In order to have true peace it requires both emotions and intellect. I have often read that we should not let our emotions run away with our heads—that because emotions are affected by our circumstances we need to let our heads bring our emotions into reasonableness, etc. And there is truth to that. But this Scripture states that BOTH our emotions and reason can feel peaceful.  

Note the prayer and petition comes first THEN “with thanksgiving”—in other words we make our requests and thank God at the same time as we are asking, for answering the prayer. Of course the thanksgiving also includes the good blessings we already have. 

Interestingly enough just a few verses down from admonishing us to not be anxious, the Apostle Paul (who wrote this passage as a part of his letter to the church in Philippi) adds in verse 19, “ And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Amplified Bible) Umm this could certainly be one of the reasons we are wasting our time with worry and concern—what d’ya think.

I leave you to ponder this: I Peter 5:7 “Casting the whole of your care–all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all–on Him; for He cares for you affectionately, and cares for you watchfully.” 

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