Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Here is the same passage from two other translations.
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (The Message)
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (The New Living)
In a world filled with anxiety and worry, God has provided peace for his people. The peace of God is one thing that sets us apart from the world. The world does not have peace, but God gives peace to the church.
The foundation for the peace of God is found at Calvary. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5 NIV) The punishment that brought us peace was upon him.
God attacks the root of the problem, not the fruit of a problem. If you destroy the root, the fruit will automatically perish. In Mark 11:23, Jesus cursed the fig tree. It withered from its roots. Sin is at the root of every problem of man. The fruit of anxiety, worry, fear, shame, poverty, depression, sickness, and disease all comes from the root of sin. When Jesus went to the cross and bore our sin, that punishment also provided peace for those who accept that sacrifice.
So, why do so many in the church worry when Jesus provides his perfect peace. (See Isaiah 26:3) Well, some believers simply don't believe that God will provide for their needs. But, there is also what I call "the deception of worry." When faced with problems, people think that worry is part of the responsibility in dealing with the problem. In fact some people think you are not responsible if you do not worry. Nothing could be further from the truth. Worry is not only irresponsible and nonproductive, it is counterproductive. Worry will not lead you to the solution, rather it will lead you away from the solution.
What is the solution? Paul clearly stated the solution in our text. I like the steps given in the New Living translation of this passage.
We cannot live in denial of our problems. We cannot pretend they do not exist. But, we must not worry about them. We should obey the Word of God and pray about everything. Tell God about the situation, and enter into thanksgiving. Then receive that peace from God that passes all understanding.
- Don't worry about anything.
- Instead pray about everything.
- Tell God what you need.
- Thank him for what he has done.
- Then you will experience God's peace that is beyond what the human mind can understand.
In James 1:5, God's invites everyone who lacks wisdom to ask for that wisdom. God will give wisdom to everyone who asks no matter the depth of the folly of their situation. In the subsequent verses James tells us that the man who asks for wisdom must ask in faith. He must not doubt, but he must believe that God wants to give him that wisdom. The double minded man cannot expect to receive anything from the Lord.
We must not worry because it displays a lack of trust in God. Also, we must not worry because God has the wisdom for every problem that we face. Whether it is a minor issue or a major crisis, God desires to show you the way out. When we are consumed with worry, our minds are so active that we cannot hear the wisdom of the Holy Spirit on the inside of us. God leads us through our spirits. John said that greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world. (See I John 4:4)
Many years ago I was in a situation in which I needed the wisdom and direction of God for my life. I was striving to hear the voice of God, and to see what direction that he had for my life. At one church service, the pastor had a prophetic word for me that was right on target. He said that I was striving so hard to hear from God that I couldn't hear him. Rather, I needed to relax, and to be still. Then, I would be in a position to hear God speak.
God does not usually shout at us. He directs us by the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us. Normally, we hear regularly from God when we quiet our hearts and minds and then listen for that voice that often comes as "a still small voice." That is why the peace of God is so important. Don't worry....pray about everything...tell God what you need....thank him for what he has done. Then as you experience God's peace you will be in a position to hear the wisdom of God necessary to solve your problem.
God will often lead us by his peace. Paul said, Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15 NIV)
When a believer walks in the peace of God, then often he will know the right path to take without actually hearing the voice of God. Let's say parents are considering the following three options as their young child begins school. Either they will place him in public school, the private Christian school, or home school their child. They have followed the steps outlined by Paul in Philippians 4:6-7. As they allow the peace of God to rule in their hearts, and to guard their hearts and minds, then they realize they have peace about one option, but they do not have peace about the other two options. They are actually being led by the peace of God.
Walking with God was never intended to be difficult. As we walk with God day by day in his peace, he will guide us every step of the way. Do not allow worry to muddy the waters and confuse you. God has every answer you need, and you will be those answers in the God's peace.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org
Wisdom From the Word
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