We live in a time of increased anxiety. I do not know about the rest of you but I must confess, especially in 2023, I had a very high level anxiety and this is as a reason of the things that were happening around me.
However, the Holy Spirit gave me a fresh understanding of Phillipians 4: 6-7 and I hope this will help you all that are struggling with fear/anxiety or any kind of mental health issue.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
a) Do not be anxious about anything
Here we are told not to be anxious. Some of the synonyms of anxiety include fear & worry. Did you know the word do not fear is mentioned 365 times in the Bible? I wrote about this in 2018, click here to read more on the Lord encouraging us not to be afraid.
Here we are reminded not to worry about ANYTHING. There is nothing too big that the Lord cannot cannot handle.
b) But in Every Situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God
We are expected to always payer, whatever the circumstances. This is especially harder when going through afflictions, but we are to pray without ceasing. We also are introduced to different types of prayer.
- A prayer of thanksgiving
2. A prayer of petition
A petition means,
- “a document signed by a large number of people demanding or asking for some action from the government or another authority“.
- a formal letter to a law court asking for a particular legal action
A prayer of petition is a different kind of prayer in the sense that this is a formal petition made in the courts of heaven presenting this to God as the judge. There are times when we will be required to present a petition before the Lord especially in when the situation is either serious or of an urgent nature.
We see such an example with Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:2 when she says “For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him.”
Daniel also petitioned God in Daniel 9:3: So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.
C) And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding
John 14:27 tells that the peace of God is different. It says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
The peace that the world has to offer is only temporary. However only the Lord can give peace of mind and heart. This kind of peace is different and can only be found in the place of prayer. Have you ever noticed that after praying about a situation that has been troubling you, you always feel better?
d) Will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
When you pray, make petitions and offer thanksgiving to God, he releases peace over the hearts and minds of men. This peace washes away the anxiety, stress, fear, worry that has been plaguing a person. The reason for this is because anxiety is demonic. And because its origin is dark, when the light of God comes in the demonic has to leave.
John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
