Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 122

May 2;   Philippians 4:6;   178/260(I);   ‘Anxious For Nothing’

 Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

 Anxiety, panic attacks, affect an incredible number of people.  There are also an incredible number of ‘remedies’ offered by the secular world.  Some of these remedies may help to a certain degree.  The Lord offers those who suffer from anxiety complete freedom from the bondage anxiety is.  What does this verse teach?  The Lord tells us not to be anxious about anything.  That must mean we can choose not to be anxious, or else the Lord has told us to do something we cannot do.  He must have a way to be free of anxiety or else He would be unkind telling us not to be anxious.  We are told by the Lord that in ‘everything,’ every circumstance you find yourself in, that may cause anxiety, here is what you do.  You pray, sincerely, knowing from the Word how much you are loved by the Lord and that He would not have you troubled by anxiety.  ‘Supplication’ is also prayer, but with an intensity for an extended period of time.  The length of your supplication is not to gain merit for your many words, but to fully transfer the burden of the anxiety upon the Lord.  ‘Thanksgiving’ is really faith speaking.  We are the Lord’s children, He loves us and our prayers and supplication are offered to the Lord by thankful gratitude, fully believing the Lord will deliver you from the torment you have been experiencing.  Verse 7 teaches that when you do this, God’s peace, that passes understanding will calm your spirit and your mind.  The word guard in verse 7 means a soldier standing guard not allowing anxiety into our heart and mind.  The Lord loves us, we can always go to Him for help.