You don't need to worry about anything.
Here's what I want you to do instead - pray.
Talk to Me about what you need - physically, emotionally, spiritually - tell me ALL of it.
Be thankful for who I am, and remember the things I have done.
That will help you trust Me with your prayers.
Replacing worry with prayer will give you peace. My peace.
The circumstances won't change - but you will.
MY peace is so much more than just absence of anxiety.
It has power behind it.
It will guard your mind from the enemy's thoughts and taunts.
And it will guard your heart from doubting.
Live in my Son - He is the way to Life!
Just one more thing.
There are so many things in life to distract you from what’s really important.
You have to watch out for that.
It’s important to stay focused.
What you put into your mind determines what comes out in your words and actions.
So here’s what to do. Fix your mind – glue your spirit – to things that are:
True – Discard things that are not from Me. Don’t lie or believe lies. Don’t be fooled by false teaching. Be on the lookout for the devil’s deceptions.
Honorable – Behave with dignity, and treat others that way, too.
Right – Do the right things. Have integrity. Don’t lean on your own understanding to determine what’s right and wrong. Sometimes it’s just not black and white. Life is really full of gray. So, ask for My guidance and discernment.
Pure – Keep a clean and clear conscience. Your body is My Temple. My Spirit lives there. So, dirty thoughts or actions have no place in the Most Holy Place.
Lovely – There’s so much in the world that’s dirty and ugly. Sin destroys so much. But focus on the beauty that I have put there. It’s all over the place. Look to small things in creation, and big things. Have an eye tuned to "lovely."
Admirable – The world admires politicians, celebrities, and athletes. Are they worthy of being admired? Most of the time, no. Follow the example of people who look like Me. BE a person who looks like Me!
Excellent – Don’t just settle for good or good enough. Perfection belongs to Me. But make it your goal to strive toward excellence. I want you to be "a cut above" – I want you to put aside all things that don’t shine.
Worthy of praise – Yes, this is My desire for you. I want the fruit of My Spirit to grow mightily in you. Be a follower who lives a life that people will praise – for they will be led through your example to praise Me.
You know what I’ve taught you so far.
Keep putting that into practice.
Be a person who "talks the talk" AND "walks the walk."
Look at the life of My Son – Jesus.
He is the example of My perfection.
Look at everything He said and did.
And then, go and do likewise.
I am a God of peace.
And I AM with you.
(This is my paraphrase of Philippians 4:6-9)
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
Hi Sharon -
ReplyDeleteThank you for this GOD talk this day! Oh Hallelujah - Praise His awesome name.
I especially embraced this that you expressed,
"BE a person who looks like Me!
"...strive toward excellence. I want you to be "a cut above" – I want you to put aside all things that don’t shine.
"...I want the fruit of My Spirit to grow mightily in you. Be a follower who lives a life that people will praise – for they will be led through your example to praise Me.
"Be a person who "talks the talk" AND "walks the walk.
"Look at the life of My Son – Jesus.
He is the example of My perfection.
Look at everything He said and did.
And then, go and do likewise."
Praise His name!
I think many of us needed this post! Whew...thank you Lord for taking our burdens and giving us strength.
ReplyDeleteI have been guilty of worrying - I try to leave it to God, but sometimes I fail.
ReplyDeleteLove, sandie
Believe it or not, this was our Sunday School lesson this past Sunday. (I think you know the teacher....talks a lot, writes a lot, makes you laugh, makes you cry...). Clearly I must need this info since I've seen it twice in four days.
ReplyDeleteI just love your insight and inspiration. Thanks so much for sharing.
Blessings Sharon,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful paraphrase extension of Philippians 4:6-9, even more than your initial one that you wrote as an answer in Breaking Free! You have been a great student of God's Word and exceeded this "talk the talk and walk the walk" with this SUM: of PRAYER and Focus or fixing our mind on these things which bring God's Word and promises clearly to our hearts and lives! Bravo! You certainly took this one step further, but this too was a great (off the cuff) response:
"1. How would you paraphrase Philippians 4:6-7 into a formula for anxiety?
You don't need to worry about anything. Here's what I want you to do instead - pray. Talk to Me about what you need - physically, emotionally, spiritually - tell me ALL of it. Be thankful for who I am, and remember the things I have done. That will help you trust Me with your prayers. Replacing worry with prayer will give you peace. My peace. The circumstances won't change - but you will. MY peace is so much more than just absence of anxiety. It has power behind it. It will guard your mind from the enemy's thoughts and taunts. And it will guard your heart from doubting. Live in my Son - He is the way to Life!"
I am truly blessed and I know this ministers from the heart of God to us, freeing us and encouraging us in God's PEACE! Great application! Thanks for sharing Sharon!
Peace, love and JOY,
Peggy
Worry. What is it about worry that is so...worrisam? (Either I just spelled that wrong or I came up with a new word. No worries!)
ReplyDeleteAnyway. Why is worry so difficult for the average person to "shake"? I've wondered that a lot. I think one reason is because it is tied into our feelings. Once "emotions" get involved...well, for many people - it's downhill from there.
But we HAVE to discipline our minds anyway. We don't WANT to...but it is necessary - and when we redirect our thinking to God's Word and His promises, it's like a new "path" develops in our minds. New neuro pathways are actually developed! When the Bible tells us of the importance of transforming our minds - it meant it!
Isn't God amazing!?
Thank you for this post, Sharon.
God Bless You!
Shay :)
I worry way too much. thanks Sharon for this....
ReplyDeleteSharon, such a powerful paraphrase of that passage. Very timely for me today. I appreciate your consistency in allowing yourself to be a vessel that God uses.
ReplyDeleteDear Sharon, I love how you have paraphrased Philippians 4:6-9. I hope you won't mind if I print it out to put on my refrigerator? Can I ask you something Sharon? Can I ask You something Heavenly Father and Almighty God? "Yes, of course Kerrie." Can you help me? I want to understand anxiety. I mean the anxiety that happens that causes me to have a panic attack. Yes, me - with sadness in my heart I write this. I suffer from panic attacks. I have asked my doctor over and over. I just don't get it. I really don't. I certainly know what anxiety is, what it feels like, and I can certainly recognize it. BUT, what I don't get is the 'silent anxiety' that is deep rooted and can flare up at any given time. It's the anxiety that causes a panic attack, when you mind has thought a thought but your brain is completely unaware of it, until the body reacts. I know this may seem strange to someone who doesn't suffer panic attacks, because it is strange to me! They are silent thoughts, and can be a silent killer. Thank you for listening to me from my heart. With love and care from Kerrie. xOx
ReplyDeleteSandra - Thanks for coming by and celebrating this "Hallelujah" with me! He is the Author of Peace - whom we can turn to with EVERYTHING!
ReplyDeleteParsley - Oh, yes! He is the Lifter of our Burdens - I can't tell you how that releases me and gives me a sense of peace. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Sandie - I fail ALL the time on this one. Trust is so tough for me - because I'm such a worrywart. Still growing on this...
Denise - Yup, I know that wonderful teacher!! Thanks for stopping by - and I've been hearing this "theme" about worry a lot this week, too. Hmmm...I'm thinking God's got something for me to hear!!
Peggy - Oh thanks!! Your study was indeed a great launching point for my thoughts on this. I'm going to do this from time to time I think - it was very meaningful to "personalize" Scripture this way. And it was fun, too!
Shay - I loved what you had to say. Your comment would make a wonderful post in itself! Making new pathways in our minds - that is an awesome thought. Letting the Holy Spirit transform us, quite literally means changing (neuro pathways, perhaps?) the way we think!
Sarah - So do I. That's why the things I write about worry and/or trust are really directed to my own heart. And I'm just glad that God uses it to bless other people. I so hunger for His peace, don't you?
Wanda - How kind. Thank you. A lot of people have been telling me that they're dealing with worry/trust/fear issues lately. I just thought that God's Word is SO very comforting on this subject.
Kerrie - Oh my friend! How I so understand what you're saying. I haven't had panic attacks per se, but my anxiety attacks are brutal. They seem to come from nowhere, just as you said. It's like they're bubbling around under the surface of my awareness, until they explode to the surface like a volcano. Many days I wake up with tingling in my arms and hands - just crazy nervous - for no particular reason. It's so discomforting. I think there are hereditary factors involved in anxiety, and biological factors, too - my anxiety problems got much worse right around my "change of life" years. Also, the devil operates out of visual sight - I think he works on our spirits. Sometimes when we're not even aware of it, he's toying with our subconscious. That's why we need the help of the Holy Spirit - He works in our "inner man" where so many of these anxiety thought processes start.
(Sidenote: I'm sending you a comment with an email that you can use to reach me if you ever feel like talking about this more - or anything else!)
GOD BLESS - and may God's peace be with you all!
Get out of my head, Sharon...
ReplyDeleteWe have GOT to stop thinking alike.
It's scary.
You should probably be even more scared than I.
Debbie - You crack me up. I am a little more scared - but I also feel a little sorry for you. NO ONE should have to think like me!! (If you ever come visiting inside MY head, be sure to bring a flashlight. It's awfully dark in there. Watch out for the echo, too. Empty places are like that).
ReplyDeleteAre you having some fun with focus, and worry, and trust - like me???
Oh Lord, help us...!!
GOD BLESS!
I read the word "worry" in this title and had to skip down to read the entire post. I have been trying for years to replace worry with prayer. Sometimes I am successful and sometimes not so much. Thank you so much for sharing your insights on the subject!
ReplyDeleteAlisa - Thanks so much for stopping by, and for your honesty. ANY of my posts about "worry" and "trust" are really directed at my own heart. I have such a hard time with this issue. I'm not glad that you battle with this - but I'm glad I'm not alone. It helps to know that someone understands. And of course, we have Jesus - the One who knows ALL of our weaknesses, and yet loves us through them all!
ReplyDeleteGOD BLESS!