Fret Not / Think on these things

 

Philippians 4:6-9 (Amplified Bible)

6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (^[a^]definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

    7And God's peace [shall be yours, that ^[b^]tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall ^[c^]garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

    8For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

    9Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of ^[d^]untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.

 

Have no anxiety about any thing. A tall order seemingly, but God won’t ask us to do something He won’t enable us to do.

 

How can we be asked to do such a thing as not worry?

 

Look back at verse 5 for the answer;

Philippians 4:5-6 (English Standard Version)

5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.⁽A⁾ The Lord is at hand; 6⁽B⁾ do not be anxious about anything,⁽C⁾ but in everything by prayer and supplication⁽D⁾ with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

 

The Lord is at hand, He is always near, He never leaves us (although we might wander off at times), He will never forsake us. He will abide with us forever.

SO STOP WORRYING!

 

Peter walked on the water because Jesus was with him in the storm. The disciples made it to the other side because Jesus was in the boat with them. Paul and all those with him made it safely to land because God was with him. No matter the storm we might be facing God is with us as well.

 

Jonah called upon the Lord from the belly of the whale, he was definitely surrounded by contrary circumstances, and God heard him and delivered him. We like Jonah may have gotten ourselves in dire straights but God will have mercy on us if we will call upon Him.

Jonah said, “they that observe (dwell or meditate on) lying vanities forsake their own mercies”. Lying vanities are worthless, vain words, words and thoughts contrary to the truth. The origin of these words and thoughts is not God, but the father of lies. The fish was real, the seaweed was real but Jonah set his heart upon the Lord, not the circumstances or the accusations, threats and fears the enemy was no doubt screaming at him. No Jonah called upon the mercy of God and offered a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

 

That’s what the Holy Ghost through Paul is telling us to do. Make your request known, give thanks for the answer and think on the right things (observe) the truth, look at the Word.

Just as a reminder you don’t have to be in the belly of a whale or in a storm to call upon the Lord. We can come with assurance and confidence to the throne of God and obtain mercy and grace at any time.

 

SELAH