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Do you ever get overwhelmed?
Do you have moments of anxiety?
Does your mind go into overdrive?
I was getting all my insides knotted up. Frustrations
and questions overwhelmed my thoughts. I was anxious, upset, and my joy had packed
up and gone on vacation. Thankfully, I noticed, and I turned to the best
passage ever for people who get uptight. It’s Philippians 4:4-9:
4. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and
seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
- Rejoice.
- Rejoice again.
- Be gentle, patient, and equitable.
- Remember God is near.
- Don’t be anxious.
- Instead, pray and tell God what you want.
- Don’t forget to thank God, too.
- God will give you the kind of peace that defies understanding. This peace will guard your heart and mind.
- Think on positive and beautiful things.
- Imitate the godly teachings evidenced in the Apostle Paul’s life.
- God will be with you.
I wonder how many times I’ve had to go to these verses, reminding myself that this is the way I need to live? Too many, I
assure you!
What are your go-to verses for stressful times? Please feel free to share.
That passage is probably the go-to one for anxiety. Some time ago in an F. B. Meyer devotional, he made a point of coupling the latter part of verse 5 ' The Lord is at hand - with verse 6 and making the point that THAT's why we can do what it says in verses 6-7. Even though I "knew" that, I had never seen that passage handled like that, and it made a real impact.
ReplyDeleteAnother that I go to often is II Corinthians 9:8: "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." In one particularly anxious season - I can't remember the situation exactly - it helped to just frequently remind myself "All grace. All sufficiency. All things."
I also like the way the NASB translates Psalm 94:19: "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul."
Really good thoughts, Barbara! Thank you for sharing these insights. God bless!
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