May 7, 2021
The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5a-7 ESV
“Do not be anxious,” easier said than done. Our culture seems to thrive on fear and its companion, anxiety. The first emotion that advertisers seek to invoke in consumers is fear—which drives us to buy the product or service they are promoting. But when we seek the only One who can satisfy our deepest longings through prayer with thanksgiving, we will find what we are looking for: peace that surpasses all understanding. Resultantly, we will gain a healthy perspective of our problems and concerns. The issue may not go away, but when we express gratitude for even the smallest blessing amid our trials, we begin the process of reframing our seemingly hopeless circumstances and will eventually gain insight into why God is allowing this to happen and where we need to mature in our faith.
Father God, help us to cast our fears and anxieties onto you with sincere thanksgiving, knowing that you will work all things for our good (Romans 8:28). Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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