Don't Worry About Anything

DONT WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING. WITH THANKFUL HEARTS OFFER UP YOUR PRAYERS AND REQUESTS TO GOD. Philippians 4.6.

At one time, there were so many things going on in our family and anxiety was running high! One of our young granddaughters was down with fever on her holiday with us. Three other young grandchildren were on a Christian mission trip on a far away island. One daughter-in-law with two of her children left for India on holiday to visit her parents. One son was packing up for a trip overseas. Our daughter was planning a career change. I was recovering from a flu while in the thick of publishing a book. We were planning to set up two or three websites for the benefit of believers. My son and I were busy working on setting up a laser at our surgery. There were the other usual commitments and responsibilities too. Our plates were full and overflowing. Your family is no different and most of you probably can easily relate to this!

Any one of the above is more than enough for one to worry about day and night. That is what most people do anyway! But look at what the Word of God teaches us in today’s text: “Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God”.

Don’t worry about anything! But pray for everything! This is not an isolated teaching from the Bible. The Lord Jesus taught His disciples the same thing, “do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Mt 6.31-32).

Thank God we have Him and His Word! Thank God for the faith He has given us to believe Him and His promise. We pray for everything and commit them to God. The more we pray the less we worry. Slowly faith builds up. We believe God will ‘make a way for us where there is no way!’ Until that happens we keep praying! Praying to God about our anxieties gives less time to be anxious!

Some may try to sink their worries in drink. Others try to forget them in songs like ‘Don’t worry, be happy!’ But we cast our cares on the Lord by prayer and thanksgiving! We have the promise, “The Lord cares for us” (1 Pe 5.7).

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me not to worry about anything, but pray about everything. Let me offer up my prayers and requests to You with thanksgiving. Grant me Your peace that Your Word says we cannot even understand! Amen.