Philippians 4:1-9 How NOT To Worry

Paul mentioned several things causing him concern, but he did not worry, and here he shows us how to not worry.

My commentary said worry is being pulled in different directions – our hopes one way and our fears another.  “From the spiritual point of view, worry is wrong thinking (the mind) and wrong feeling (the heart) about circumstances, people, and things … The antidote to worry is the secure mind … when you have the secure mind, the peace of God guards you and the God of peace guides you.”

To get this secure mind, we must meet conditions that God lays down here:  right praying, right thinking, and right living.

With right praying, we don’t rush to God and tell him our needs.  Instead, we approach the throne calmly and in deepest reverence and give Him adoration first.  Then we share with Him our needs and our problems.  Finally, we thank Him for His watchcare over us.  We don’t just ask about the big things, either.  We are to take everything to God in prayer, keeping the little things from becoming big things.  Doing this is the first step to victory over worry, I read.

“The peace of God stands guard over two areas that create worry – the heart (wrong feelings) and the mind (wrong thinking).”  About thinking, Paul told us to focus only on whatever is true (not thinking about Satan’s lies;  whatever is honest and just (not focusing on thoughts of dishonorable things); whatever is pure (majoring on high and noble thoughts, not base thoughts); and whatever has virtue (we can’t waste mind power on thoughts that tear us down or tear others down), my commentary said.

Paul also told us to concentrate on right living.  “You can’t separate outward action and inward attitude.  Sin always results in unrest, and purity ought to result in peace … Facts in the head are not enough; we must also have truths in the heart.”

Setting these principles in our lives brings about the peace of God, and “the peace of God is one test of whether or not we are in the will of God … If we are walking with the Lord, then the peace of God and the God of peace exercise their influence over our hearts.  Whenever we disobey, we lose that peace and we know we have done something wrong.  God’s peace in the umpire that calls us out.”

Father, I want a secure mind that causes me not to worry.  Help me to have right praying, right thinking, and right living so that worry will not gain a foothold in my life.  Help me to have Your peace.  I trust You, God!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford