Anxiety and Prayer

Anxiety, that’s the topic I wanted to discuss tonight. And the passage I wanted us to look at is Philippians 4:4-9

Billy Graham said, “Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.”

“Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear." Corrie Ten Boom

“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.” ~Charles Spurgeon

- Corrie Ten Boom

Read more: https://www.christianquotes.info/quotes-by-topic/quotes-about-worry/#ixzz5WST1ewDi

Webster’s defines it as “characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency. The Old English root from which we get our word “worry” means to strangle. The greek word translated anxious in means “to be pulled in different directions”, our fears pulling us in different directions. Worry has physical consequences. It causes headaches and neck aches, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure. If affects our sleep, our concentration.

But We don’t really need a definition for the word anxiety or a description of it’s clinical symptoms.

I think all of us know exactly what those words mean to each of us.

We don’t really need a definition for the word anxiety or the word worry. I think all of us know exactly what those words mean to each of us.

It’s the way you feel when you’re in your 40’s with a wife and family to provide for and you’ve just found out that you lost your job. It’s sitting down with your doctor after weeks of medical test after test and hearing them say “I’m so sorry but you have cancer”. It’s a teenage girl lying in her bed unable to sleep trying to understand why her parents no longer love each other and are getting divorced.

We have so many things to be anxious about today. In fact here in the United States we have the dubious honor of being the most anxious nation in the world. Anxiety disorders in the US are the number one mental health problem among women and second most common in men after alcohol and drug abuse. As a pediatrician I see so much more anxiety in children today than when I first started in practice 17 yrs ago.

So that brings us to the passage I wanted us to look at tonight:

The New King James Version Chapter 4

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

The New King James Version Chapter 4

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The New King James Version Chapter 4

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

If anyone had an excuse for being anxious or worrying , it was the Apostle Paul.

So lets go back 2000 yrs in our minds and try to imagine Paul, sitting in Roman prison cell. By now he’s a weathered 60 yrs old, he’s been a christian for 30 yrs. He’s traveled so many miles in his life and endured so many hardships. He’s been imprisoned, he’s lived through storms and shipwrecks, nearly starved, He’s been beaten and left for dead, He has scars from the five times he received 39 lashes and three times he was beaten by rods.

If anyone had an excuse for being anxious or worrying , it was the Apostle Paul.

He’s probably half blind and awaiting trial before a Roman emperor by the name of Nero who has made a name for himself by killing Christians to gain favor in the eyes of the Roman citizens.

His heart is also weighed down with his concerns for these newborn churches. He hears of bickering and disagreements, people preaching out of pride and envy. It was causing division in the church and he couldn’t be there to help them.

So can you see him? Plenty to complain about to be anxious about. But instead of shaking an angry fist at God, he lifts his hands in praise and thanksgiving

He was imprisoned or at least under house arrest most likely in Rome, there was even the possibility of his own death.

And he writes these precious words:

So where does he start? He says in

1. Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice. Rejoice in the Lord sometimes? Rejoice in the Lord only in the good times? In we are reminded that even in the bad times we are to :“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds”. Paul, sitting in prison, maybe with shackles clanging as he writes these precious words : Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice. Christians need to be a people known by our joy! But joy is not found in the right circumstances or having a positive attitude about life. It only comes when Jesus is Lord of our lives. Joy is only found in the Lord.

(ESV)

4 Delight yourself in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Like Paul, we can rejoice in the Lord because we know that He is sovereign, He is on His throne, He is in control.

Romans 8:28

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

2. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. Another way to say that is let your gentleness or graciousness be known to everyone. The word contains an element of selflessness or yielding our rights or privileges. Perhaps a practical way to have joy is by exhibiting gentleness/graciousness to all.

4:4. Again Paul returns to the key theme of this letter: joy. He calls believers to rejoice at all times and repeats the call for emphasis. This includes the bad times as well as the good (compare ). Christians should be known as joyful people. Such joy resides not in circumstances or positive attitudes toward life. Joy reigns in the heart only when Christ is Lord of life. Joy is always in the Lord.

16 Rejoice always,

4:5. A practical way to have joy is by exhibiting gentleness to all. This lets the church and world see that you belong to the Lord. The Greek word epieikēs means “yielding, gentle, kind.” It includes the ability to go beyond the letter of the law in treating others, to provide something beside strict justice. It does not insist on personal rights or privileges. Christ embodied such gentleness in his dealing with all people (; compare ; ; ; ). Why should we surrender personal rights for others? The Lord is near. In both time and space, God is available to us. He is not far removed in heaven but present in our hearts to hear and relate to us. His nearness also means he knows us and what we are. In time, God is near, for he is coming again. Then we will receive our rewards for living like Christ rather than like the world.

3. (ESV)

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. It’s probably easier if Paul had said don’t be anxious on Friday’s or try to be less anxious but he says don’t be anxious about anything. This probably seems impossible because it is. We cannot stop being anxious

4:6. Joy replaces anxiety in life, so Paul advises the Philippians not to be anxious about anything. The cure for anxiety? Prayer! Worry and anxiety come from focusing on your circumstances such as imprisonment or persecution which Paul and the Philippians faced. Anxiety or worry doesn’t accomplish anything, but prayer does (). Jesus warned against worry which demonstrates a lack of trust in God ().

Max Lucado in his book Anxious for Nothing says “The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional.”

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Faithlife Study Bible Introduction to Philippians

Philippians is about remaining steadfast in the faith and joy of the gospel. This is clear from Paul’s own response to his hardships: His imprisonment could have led him to despair, but instead he chose to give thanks, to be content, and to rely on God’s strength (1:12–19; 4:10–13). Paul advises the Philippians to take this same approach, urging them to stand firm together for the gospel (1:27–28).

Throughout the letter, Paul uses personal examples—Christ, Timothy, Epaphroditus, and himself—to show that faithfulness involves humility and often suffering. In several places, he encourages believers to be of one purpose (2:2; 3:15; 4:2)—serving Christ, who Himself provides the pattern to live by (2:5–8). Humbling ourselves enables us to find unity with fellow believers in Christ, to stand together in the midst of suffering, and to rejoice no matter the circumstances. Even when we are afflicted, God’s power—the same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead (3:10–11)—is at work in us, transforming us (3:12–21). And there is nothing more valuable than Jesus (3:8–9).

We all know anxiety well.

It comes with most trials and heartache. It rises when opportunities fall through. It speaks up when I’m at a loss for words to comfort my wife, or when that unexpected invoice pings my inbox, or when I turn on the news to witness another heartbreaking story of injustice. It’s easy to be paralyzed by my current “newsfeed” of reality, and forget everything I know to be true.

“God has promised to supply all our needs. What we don’t have now, we don’t need now.”

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The effect of faithful prayer here is stated first negatively, then positively. Negatively: “Don't be anxious about anything.” Positively: “The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Paul promises that a life of faithful, Christ-dependent, Christ-exalting prayer will be a life protected from anxiety (and its many sinful fruits) by God's peace.

If you want victory over worry and you want to have the steady enjoyment of God's peace, then here is Paul's prescription: “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Don't miss the words “in everything.”In everything . . . let your requests be made known to God.” Pray about everything. Stay in a mindset of prayer all day. Don't just pray in crises. Pray about everything—that whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do you would glorify God ( ). The most crucial prayer for every situation and action is: “Hallowed by Thy name ().

How shall we do this? Paul uses three words. In everything “ by prayer ”—that's the broad word of spiritual devotion, including different kinds of prayer. And “ supplication ”—that's the narrow word that focuses on the kind of prayer, namely, asking for help. “ With thanksgiving ”—that's the humble, non-demanding mindset that flavors all of prayer. Making requests thankfullymeans that we will be content and thankful with whatever God wisely and lovingly gives us. And we know that he will hear our prayer and wisely and lovingly give us what's best for us.

When we let our requests be made known to God like this—in the devotion of prayer, in many specific requests for help, with a heart that is thankful for everything God designs for us, the pleasures and the pain—then his peace will guard our minds and free us from anxiety in a way that defies mere rational explanation; it surpasses all understanding.

Oh, that the Lord might make you feel the joy and the wonder and the power and privilege and the peace of a life of prayer!

When we bring our worries to God in prayer, we will never meet a deaf ear or a reluctant glance. We will instead find a Father who gladly bends his shoulder to bear our burdens.

The children of God, Müller says, “are permitted, not only permitted but invited, not only invited but commanded, to bring all their cares, sorrows, trials, and wants to their heavenly Father. They are to roll all their burdens upon God.”

We cannot place too much weight on God’s shoulders. Not one of our worries is too heavy for the God who has already traveled to the depths of our misery, carried our curse on his back, and then thrown off the chains of death (). To every worry, want, or weakness, no matter how big, he says, “I will supply every need of yours according to my riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (see ).

“It is not simply great matters we are to bring before God, not simply small things but ‘everything,’” Müller writes. “Therefore, all our affairs, temporal or spiritual, let us bring them before God. And this for the simple reason that life is made up of little things.”

He says, “Now this is what we may have to do: not simply to mention our request before God but to go on asking again and again with earnest prayer and supplication until we receive.” Sometimes, relief from our worries comes only on the other side of earnest, pleading prayer, as when Paul received comfort for his thorn only after three petitions ().

God delights in the prayers of his children, and extended seasons on our knees can cultivate that same delight in us. When God calls us to roll our worries onto him not once or twice, but continually, he invites us to press deeper into his promises, linger longer in his presence, and eventually find, as so many of the psalmists did, that “the Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” ().

Draw near to him through Jesus “with thanksgiving” (), and know that the God who bore yesterday’s worries is able to bear today’s as well. Take your burdens, one by one, and learn to roll them onto him.

Of course, the command to not be anxious is humanly impossible. But as with nearly every other command for the Christian, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” ().

The only way we can fulfill this command is “by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving,” making our requests known to God, trusting a specific promise. Then his peace, surpassing all our understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ (). We cast our anxieties on God (), and cease to be anxious in the strength he supplies ().

Corrie Ten Boom

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. Corrie Ten Boom

Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centred in anything short of God and His will for us. Billy Graham

Billy Graham

“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.” ~Charles Spurgeon

Commentary

4:5. A practical way to have joy is by exhibiting gentleness to all. This lets the church and world see that you belong to the Lord. The Greek word epieikēs means “yielding, gentle, kind.” It includes the ability to go beyond the letter of the law in treating others, to provide something beside strict justice. It does not insist on personal rights or privileges. Christ embodied such gentleness in his dealing with all people (; compare ; ; ; ). Why should we surrender personal rights for others? The Lord is near. In both time and space, God is available to us. He is not far removed in heaven but present in our hearts to hear and relate to us. His nearness also means he knows us and what we are. In time, God is near, for he is coming again. Then we will receive our rewards for living like Christ rather than like the world.

4:7. The peace of God comes from prayer involving both asking God for earthly needs and thanking God for his presence and provision. The expression appears only here in the New Testament. God’s peace reflects the divine character, which lives in serenity, totally separate from all anxiety and worry. Such peace is like a squad of Roman soldiers standing guard and protecting you from worry and fret. Such peace is not a dream of the human mind. The human mind cannot even comprehend this kind of peace, wholeness, and quiet confidence. Such peace protects the two organs of worry—heart and mind that produce feelings and thoughts. Such protection is real, available in Christ Jesus. Those who do not trust and commit their life to Christ have no hope for peace.

4:8. Continuing his strong imperative style, Paul suggested what should occupy our minds rather than anxiety and worry. Paul understood the influence of one’s thoughts on one’s life. Right thinking is the first step toward righteous living. What is right thinking? It is thinking devoted to life’s higher goods and virtues. Thus Paul picked up a practice from secular writers of his day and listed a catalog of virtues that should occupy the mind. Such virtues are not limited to the Christian community but are recognized even by pagan cultures.

Anders, M. (1999). Galatians-Colossians (Vol. 8, pp. 261–262). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians C. Joy in God’s Peace (vv. 4–9)

True is that which corresponds to reality. Anxiety comes when false ideas and unreal circumstances occupy the mind instead of truth. Ultimately, thinking on the truth is thinking on Jesus, who is the truth (John 14:6; Eph. 4:21). Noble refers to lofty, majestic, awesome things, things that lift the mind above the world’s dirt and scandal. Right refers to that which is fair to all parties involved, that which fulfills all obligations and debts. Thinking right thoughts steers one away from quarrels and dissensions to think of the needs and rights of the other party. Pure casts its net of meaning over all of life from sexual acts to noble thoughts to moral and ritual readiness for worship. Thinking on the pure leads one away from sin and shame and toward God and worship. Lovely is a rare word referring to things that attract, please, and win other people’s admiration and affection. Such thoughts bring people together in peace rather than separating them in fighting and feuding. Admirable is something worthy of praise or approval, that which deserves a good reputation. Pondering ways to protect one’s moral and spiritual image in the community leads away from worries about circumstances and possessions that project a different image to the community and which thinking cannot change.

The catalog of virtues Paul sums up in two words: excellent and praiseworthy. The first encompasses what is best in every area of life, the philosophical good for which every person should strive. Here it is especially the ethical best a person can achieve. The second term refers to that which deserves human praise. The catalog of virtues thus reflects the best life a person can live and the best reputation a person can thereby achieve in the community.

Finally, in this verse, Paul gets to his point: think on these things. That, joined with prayer will relieve all anxieties and lead one to praise God and live life the way he desires.

Anxiety and Prayer

Anxiety Definition