Philippians 4:6-7

Introduction

Election day is Tuesday. How are you feeling about that right now?

With Election Day just around the corner, many Americans are on edge. Nearly 70% of respondents said the elections are a significant source of stress, according to a survey out this month from the American Psychological Association.

The survey also found that a majority — 77% — are worried about the country's future, says Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation at the American Psychological Association. "Seventy-one percent said that this is the lowest point in our nation's history that they can remember."

An average person's anxiety is focused on : 40% -- things that will never happen...30% -- things about the past that can't be changed...12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue...10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress ...8% -- about real problems that will be faced

Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all others thoughts are drained.

God tells us in Philippians to be anxious in nothing. How is that even remotely possible? How can we not be anxious? The key begins with a right understanding of what the word translated “anxious” or “worry” is in our passage.

Anxious — to have an anxious concern, based on apprehension about possible danger or misfortune Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 312). New York: United Bible Societies.

It is a concern about a possible outcome. So Christ is telling us not to allow our mind to be consumed and overwhelmed by the possibility of something bad happening.

George Muller — The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. 

So will you allow your mind and heart to rest on what might happen or will you rest in God…His control…His power, ability and intentions toward you?

The Choice

We can pray — We can stress out, worry, be afraid…think of every possible scenario which might bring calamity into our life. Or we can pray…we can lift up every need, possibility, person and circumstance to God and have faith…faith that He is in control, all powerful, all knowing and perfect in love and intentions toward us.

I always think this verse an interesting one in that it is an encouragement to prayer, faith AND thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is more than a holiday in November…it is a holiday for your mind. It can be a break from the constant bombardment of our current circumstances and possible future and instead a rest in what God has done, how He has come through for us…and how His character has proven to be perfect in every way. How His intentions toward us have been love.

The real question is this…have we prayed with faith…prayed with the assurance that God hears our prayers, is all powerful, knowing and perfect in His love? Do we pray with assurance that our prayers make a difference?

Matthew 6:33

We are meant to place our mind on Christ, His Kingdom and the part we play in advancing that kingdom in our time. Not the myriad of possible negative outcomes of every circumstance in our life.

Tuesday we may end up with a new government. We may end up with socialist leadership for the first time in American history. Bernie Sanders is an avowed socialist and has been talked about as labor secretary. Beto O’Roarke as gun czar…a man who has vowed to take many gun rights away. Kamala Harris, the most liberal person in the senate, more liberal than the avowed socialist, as VP to a 78 year old president.

Then there are those who believe President Trump to be a bully, unlikable and someone who might not step down if voted out of office. Although he has time and again denounced white supremacy and racism he has been portrayed as a bigot and many believe it to be true.

People are worried…what about you?

Then there are the riots so many are worried about on Tuesday.

There are a lot of folks very concerned right now about the direction of the country and the fact so many people are buying into socialist policy. But do we worry? Do we stress? Are we to allow our mind to rest on these possibilities and allow it to rob us of our faith and usability for the Kingdom?

The answer to these questions is an obvious no.

Peace

Peace — The Jew understood peace as not only the absence of something but the realization of something. Not only the absence or war and strife but the presence of well-being in every area of life.

This is what God is promising us in our passage. We can have a sense of well-being in the midst of every circumstance if we would pray, give thanks and trust Christ to give us such.

Heart — Seat of our emotions

Mind — The place of our thoughts.

Responsibility for others is one of the chief causes of tension in executives. To prove this idea, an experiment was conducted some time ago with two monkeys. Scientists devised a method of giving one of the monkeys "executive" training under carefully controlled laboratory conditions.The monkey chosen for executive training was strapped in a chair with his feet on a plate capable of giving him a minor electric shock. Then they put a light over the desk and turned the light on 20 seconds before each shock. A lever was placed by the monkey's chair. If he pulled the lever after the light came on, the light would go out and there would be no shock. The executive monkey learned to avoid the shock very quickly.

The scientists then placed another monkey across the room with the same setup, except that the second monkey's lever didn't work. However, the monkeys soon learned that the first monkey's lever would work for both, turning off the second monkey's light and protecting him from shock as well. This made the first monkey an executive, since he was now responsible for preventing shock for the second one.

The first monkey was intelligent. He quickly took over, protecting both himself and his colleague from shock, responding to both lights or either light without difficulty.There was no outward change in either monkey as the experiment continued, but after awhile the executive monkey, responding to the stress of responsibility for another, developed stomach ulcers. The second monkey's health remained unchanged.

Our heart and mind are affected by many, many things. Will you have peace?

Conclusion

Decide today to seek first God and His Kingdom. Make Him the priority of your day and life.

Have faith that God is in control…period

Pray — Believe and pray over everything

Give thanks when you pray

Trust God for the peace He has promised.

REPEAT!