DEVOTION / Peace over anxiety

Yesterday at the Bible study I led we talked about defeating anxiety. We focused on Philippians 4:4-7.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Do not be anxious

We spent some time on verse 6, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

We noticed that we can choose not to be anxious. Anxiety is not an emotion we have no control over.

Peace and thanksgiving

Next, we noticed that anxiety is defeated, no matter the reason it occurs, by talking to our Father about our anxious thoughts. This stood out: When we talk to him about our angst and apprehension, we wrap our prayers and petitions in thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving for our anxious state? Yes. Because even as our minds conjure up visions of a horrible future, Christ-produced peace staunches our fears. The wondrous truth that God's grace constantly covers us, the truth that outstrips our ability to grasp it, assures us all is well, all is under our Father's control, all will work for our benefit.

Peace is guaranteed in Jesus

Romans 5:1 assures, Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Because we are continuously declared not guilty in God's courtroom, we also have continuous peace. The peace of God that is ours in Jesus reigns, no matter the monsters our anxiety has created.

No wonder we can rejoice in the Lord always.