I’m working through a passage of Scripture right now in my time with Jesus that has been such a needed reminder. So simple to read and even copy down…yet I am pretty sure it will take a lifetime of sanctification to truly grab ahold of…as the Lord desires.
It’s a portion of Scripture you all know well, Philippians 4:4-7: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
I’m a pretty “upbeat” person, by nature. I’m typically prone to see the cup “half full” instead of “half empty”; the “Tigger” out of the group who probably drives the “Eeyore” crazy ;) But I am amazed how quickly the worry can creep in…the very thing God says there should be none of.
-Where will my kids go to college? Will they get enough scholarships? Will their debt be too great? How will it all work out?
-Why do we seem to keep getting sick? Are we ever going to find a healthy “normal”? How long are we going to keep battling all this gunk…and how are we ever going to keep up with the busyness of each day when we are not feeling well?
-How am I going to balance home life, working and ministry without burning out or making poor choices that affect my family and even hurt those around me?
-How do we get all this condensation off of the windows??!!! Do we really have to buy more dehumidifiers?! And will that stinking cute puppy that we just “had to have” ever sleep for more than 7 hours at a time at night?!!!
As you can see, some worries, once spoken out loud, seem to carry less weight and might even lead to a giggle or two. Some worries just need to be put into proper perspective. Often that comes as I pray for others and realize the magnitude of trials they are going through and how small mine are in comparison. Some worries need the counsel of others to “wade through the hard” with help and wisdom. And some worries are long term realities that need to be seen in light of eternity.
But one thing is certain, ALL worries need a transformation. All worries actually need eradication. Because our great God says that we are not to worry about anything. Instead…we are too pray about it all. Our worries need to be left at the Throne of Grace, transformed into prayers and petitions that are wrapped up in hearts of thanksgiving.
How is that possible?
It starts with remembering, as Scripture tells us, that the Lord is near. That, my friends, changes everything…because when we really KNOW who the Lord is…there is not one spot in our hearts where worry can find a resting place.
Who is the Lord?
-He spoke creation into existence! Yep…look around you. All. From. The. Breath. Of. His. Mouth!
-He led an entire nation out of oppression and slavery and kept them alive…with food each day and clothing that never wore out.
-He shut the mouths of lions, killed a giant using a boy with a sling, defeated whole armies by having them turn on themselves, saved an entire nation through a prophet who didn’t even want to be there…and on and on we could go!
-He gave up His only Son to bear the wrath we deserved….and then raised Him from the dead so we, too, could have victory over death and the grave.
This is but a glimpse of the glory, majesty, power, and worth of the One who is near. In fact, as a child of God, He can’t get any closer to you…because He is IN you! (Col. 1:27)
When we begin to comprehend this reality, doesn’t it make us want to tell Him everything; to cry out in total dependence with a heart filled with great hope? Doesn’t it cause thanksgiving to well up inside of us because, despite whatever the circumstance may be, He is enough and He is ours?! Apart from Him we have nothing…so, to have Him is to have everything our souls ever needed or will ever need! (Psalm 16:2)
When we wear these “Gospel Glasses”, we begin to experience a peace that lasts. It’s a peace that ONLY comes from God and can never be bought or manufactured by anything or anyone here on earth. It’s a peace that guards our hearts and minds FROM worry and helps us to give thanks, even when the situation or trial we are in feels dark and unending. It’s an anchor of hope that keeps us tethered to Jesus…who is our life.
This passage is a familiar one…but I pray it’s truths embed themselves deep down into our hearts and that, through it, the Holy Spirit grows the fruit of a deeper knowledge of our Lord, a deeper dependence through prayer, a deeper delight as we pursue thankfulness and a deeper peace as He guards our hearts and minds through His Word.
“Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
(I had just finished writing this post when this song popped up on Pandora. It's been one of my favorites for over 10 years...and I do think it's a beautiful conclusion to what I wrote...so, thought I'd share it here!)
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