The Day After!
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
But then, when God doesn’t work things out exactly like we thought He would, what do we do with that?
Still… Do not be anxious about anything??????
Maybe just a little???
Nope! But in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Then, and only then, will we arrive at the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
I’ll admit it, (will you?), I’m still a little anxious! What’s going on? Where is my piece of the peace of God?
Hold On, there’s just a “few” things the Holy Spirit is correcting me about…
Do not be anxious about anything – in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving – let your requests be made known to God
Thank God, His Holy Spirit is about correcting NOT failing me. No matter how many times we have to go over this material, He is ready, willing and able to “Train me up in the way I should go”! And no, I am never too old, even if I do have birthdays regularly. Scripture says, “when I am old, I won’t depart from it.” So, evidently, I’m still young enough to need His schooling!
The school bell is ringing…
Do not be anxious about anything – Whoa! I have the reins here. I… need to call a halt to my anxiety… about… anything! Did you notice, earlier, I gave myself permission to be just a little bit anxious… mmmm!
In everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving – But, but, but! This wasn’t just a minor EVENT! And I DID PRAY with PLEADING! Maybe I left thanksgiving off cause you know, how can I be thankful for THOSE PEOPLE praying against my prayers?
Let your requests be made known to God – Pride does indeed go before the fall… my requests are much more dressed as demands with all the bling i can attach to make them palatable to God’s desires. OOPS!!!
My test score for this one? 0 + 0 + 0… Ummm, I think I need Holy Spirit Tutoring! Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! The Lord is near. Philippians 4:4-5
I need to do a little WHATEVER studying! Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
NO, I need to do a little WHOEVER studying! “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
No matter how much bling I dress my “requests” in, they DO NOT WORK like God’s! “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it produce and sprout, And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11
Even Jesus knew the prayer that needed to be said ALWAYS and WITH THANKSGIVING – the prayer that can never fail! And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Luke 22:41-42
Guess what, I am no longer anxious! Most of our my anxiety comes from demanding our way and worrying that I won’t get it. I’ll admit it, will you? I want to do it MY WAY instead of God’s way. When I put my way on the altar of God, I gain the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension! It guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, Who is the greatest Peacemaker of ALL TIME! “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 Peace between God and us!
On this, The Day After we might not have gotten “our” way, however, let us not be anxious, let us become a peacemaker like Jesus.
Here’s His recipe…
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven;” Matthew 5:9,43-45
Much better for our soul and spirit on The Day After… and no anxiety hangover!
**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.