"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."
Our God is a God who calms our anxieties.
In Paul's letter to the Church in Philippi, he gives them great insight on how to get rid of anxiety.
He tell them firstly, to not be anxious, but instead take their troubles to God through prayer and thanksgiving.
This is truly a secret in life that we must all remember; as long as we leave things in God's hands, he will work on the situations that we worry about and we can find peace in knowing that our maker will go into our future and make a way for us.
Prayers really do work, we may not always see immediate answers to our prayers but even so, we must remember that as long as everything works out according to God's timetable, we need not be afraid, because God's timing is the best timing.
If we pray and tell our caring, loving God about our troubles, we can find peace. Not because the storm has passed, but because we acknowledge that God is still on the throne and he is bigger, mightier and more powerful that our fears, anxieties and worries.
If you believe that there is a powerful being who is completely in love with you, working things out for you in your life, would you be afraid or anxious of what tomorrow holds?
No, you won't, because you would understand that your God will work everything out in the best way possible for you.
Secondly, the apostle Paul tells us, in this passage, that we should think good thoughts. He reminds us that it is our thoughts that shape our lives.
Have you ever gone out with someone, maybe you went to the movies or for lunch and, although you were both in the same place at the same time, you both had completely different experiences?
For example, perhaps you went to a movie and while you thought the movie was great the other person didn't like it at all. Or perhaps at lunch, your companion enjoyed the food but you didn't like it in the least.
Why did that happen? You were both in the same environment, your external circumstances were the same, but somehow, your experience and the other person's experience were different.
That's because we all percieve things differently.
It's very difficult to really share experiences with people because we all percieve life differently.
Of course, it's fine that we all have different perspectives but our thoughts dictate our reactions.
For example, if you keep thinking sad thoughts like, "Gosh, I've never been good enough, just look at all the mistakes I've made." Or "I'm not attractive, if I was, I would have met the right person by now."
If you keep thinking these thoughts, you're going to have those kinds of experiences. Not because you're not good enough or not that you're unattractive, but because everytime you face a situation, you're going to reconnect it to your beliefs.
If you don't get the opportunity you wanted you'll think, I guess I wasn't good enough, when maybe, it just wasn't the right one for you. Or, if you don't get the compliments you wanted you may think, I guess I'm just not attractive enough, when maybe, the people around you are too shy to tell you or are too absorbed with their own work to notice.
No one else thinks you're any less, you do.
This is why the apostle Paul tells us;
"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."
He's saying that we need to think good thoughts.
We need to stop beating ourselves up over the past, stop worrying about the future, think good thoughts, be positive, even when it's difficult, because that will help reduce our anxiety.
Remember, John 14:27 says;
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Our God calms our anxieties, he is with us, by our side,
For God, he loves the world so much, he sent his son to be our guide,
Not to condem us, no, he came for our release,
He came to calm our anxious mind and to give us all his peace.
I hope that this evening, and everyday, you will remember to give God your anxieties and accept the comfort and peace he wants to give to you. You are important to God, so stop worrying and feeling burdened by life's difficulties, God has got this, you just need to be still and watch the amazing things he has in store for you in your life.
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