Day 18 - Pray to Be Less Anxious
Do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
It is human nature to be anxious. We are anxious because we are finite, limited, and susceptible to a variety of ailments, illnesses, and problems. We know that we are not God, and since we are not God, we cannot completely control our environment, relationships, or destiny. This is why faith is a tremendous asset. Faith gives us a foundation in the God who does control all these things. As the psalm says, he is our rock and fortress, our strength and deliverer (Psalm 18:1-2).
Our natural tendency when we are anxious is to worry. We worry about what might happen. We imagine terrible scenarios. We think about our problems over and over. Worrying is a problem that no one likes, but everyone understands. Someone has said that we know how to meditate if we know how to worry. To worry is to think over and over about the bad that might happen. To meditate is to think over and over about God and his promises.
Paul encourages us in Philippians 4 not to be anxious. Instead, make our worries the subject of prayer. Take the things that are worrying us and bring them to God in prayer. How should we do so? Paul says to pray with supplication and thanksgiving. What is supplication? It is simply asking God for what we need. This is a good practice. Put your requests into words. Instead of vague worrying, think of what you really need from God. Put your needs before him. Do so with thanksgiving, remembering the promise that God listens when we pray.
What is the outcome of such prayer? It is the peace of God. The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds. God’s peace is spiritual. That is, it is not always tied to outward circumstances. In fact, God is able to give us his peace in moments when we should not have peace. In that sense it surpasses all understanding. It fills us with God’s grace so that our anxieties do not paralyze us.
Today bring God your needs, anxieties, and worries. Whatever the problems of the day, be sure to lift them to God in prayer because he is able to help. Martin Luther said, “Pray and let God worry.” Try to do that today in your prayers.