Overcoming Anxiety, Pt. 5

The enemy of our souls HITs us when we are Hungry, both for physical and spiritual nourishment, Isolated, when we are not in fellowship with others, and Tired, both in our bodies and minds.

Overcoming Anxiety, Pt. 5

"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. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

(Philippians 4:6-8)

We are in a spiritual battle that affects us mentally, emotionally, and physically. The enemy of our souls often HITs us when we are Hungry, both for physical and spiritual nourishment, Isolated, when we are not in fellowship with others, and Tired, both in our bodies and minds.

Philippians 4:8 instructs us to focus on certain things. We are to meditate on that which is good. This has to do with our minds being laser focused on the positive. Anxiety settles in when we allow our minds to wander and get occupied with the negative, the problem, but God commands us to focus on Him and what He tells us in verse 8. The Greek word translated "meditate" is logizomai, which means to count or to number.

What is the result if we choose not to worry, but to pray and meditate on the good? Verse 7 tells us: it is the very peace of God! "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." The peace that God gives is beyond our comprehension. You will find yourself in the midst of storms, thinking that you should be freaking out, but you are not. You are at peace. Jesus had this peace as He slept in the boat while the storm raged in Matthew 8:23-27. He wants you to have this peace.

God's peace guards our hearts and minds. We are completely guarded against worry, fear, anxiety, and depression, because God is guarding us. The word guard is phroureo, which means to place guards or sentinels for protection.

Peace and living without anxiety and fear in this life is truly possible through Christ. To enjoy this life God offers us, we must accept it on His terms, not our own. We must repent of sins and turn to Jesus by faith and be born again by His Holy Spirit. Have you done that? If not, then do it now. Do you need to forgive someone and let something go? Is your harboring of unforgiveness keeping you from enjoying God's peace in your life? Let it go; forgive.

Are you consumed with yourself? If you are always blaming others and never taking any responsibility for yourself, then own up to that, confess it as sin, and ask God to forgive you. He will.

Are you isolated, trying to go it alone? That never works or ends well. Get involved in a community of believers whom you can help, and they can help you.

God is for you! He will help you! I am praying for you.