Stop Worrying!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

Such a familiar verse, yet one that is so difficult to follow at times. Paul tells me to stop worrying about things.  Then he follows it up with that small, yet important word, BUT.  He doesn't just tell me to stop and leave it at that; he tells me what I should do instead of worrying.  I am to take my worries to God; leave them with Him.  Then Paul goes on to say "with thanksgiving."  The Living Bible states it this way, "...and don't forget to thank Him for His answers."  I am to do so with a thankful heart.  I find that the more I thank God for what He's done and is going to do, the more my focus returns to where it needs to be.  Thanking God for what He's done helps me to trace His hand through various situations and see how He has answered prayers.  He doesn't always answer the prayers the way I think He should, but He answers them in a way that is the best for me or the person for whom I was praying.  I can't stop there, though, because the very next verse tell me that if I stop worrying and take my requests to God and remember to thank Him, then "the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus."  Paul, in Colossians 3:15 commands me to "Let the peace of Christ rule in my heart."  In Philippians, he tells us how I can have that peace...Stop worrying!  Take all my requests to God, and remember to thank Him for what He's done and will do!  When I continually worry, I am telling God I don't trust Him to take care of the matter; not to mention that worrying also has negative effects on my body.  Worrying about something will never solve the problem.

This is a tough verse to follow sometimes.  I know for myself, it seems easier at times to worry than to take it to God, or sometimes I feel the request is too small for God and I don't want to bother Him with it.  Nothing is too small or too big for God.  

Let me close with the Message version of Philippians 4:6-7:

"Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."