Two weeks ago we started a study on anxiety. If you missed the first two, I’ll leave links in the post. Since worry and anxiety are such common problems, I wanted to share with you all some of the truths I talk about in counseling.

Many of the same principles apply whether you have experienced milder versions of worry or full-blown panic attacks. So prayerfully, you will find some truths that will be helpful to you or someone you know.

In week one, we looked at a biblical definition for worry and anxiety and last week we talked about what Jesus had to say about worry in Matthew 6. Today we’re going to look at the second of two very important passages on the subject.

You will, also, find links to the previous week’s other posts. They have covered a variety of topics including the idea that we are all counseling, where we’ll spend eternity, the pain of adultery, and much more.

Winning the Battle over Anxiety – Part 3 – Prayer, Put-Offs & Put-Ons

If you would like to check out the first two posts, you will find them here and here.

Philippians 4.4-9

Today’s passage is found in Philippians 4.4-9. Let’s read through it together. Then we’ll break it down and look at it verse by verse:

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.

Rejoice, Are You Kidding?

Verse 4:

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 

Rejoicing is probably the last thing we want to do when we’re tempted with fear, worry, and anxiety. But look again at that verse and ask yourself some questions.

• When did Paul say we are to rejoice?
• How many times does He give that admonition in one short verse?

Maybe you’re thinking, that’s easy for Paul to say. But was it? Would it surprise you to know that he wrote the book of Philippians from a Roman prison. So, his example should help us realize that our peace and joy are not determined by our outward circumstances. They are not determined by whether or not life is going according to our plans.

Some important reasons are spelled out in the next verse.

The Lord is at Hand

⁵ Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 

• What does the second part of verse 5 say is the reason we can rejoice in spite of our circumstances?

Commentators give several possible explanations for what Paul was referring to by the phrase, “the Lord is at hand.” The first is the fact that He is coming back soon. And we will be with Him forever no matter what goes on in this short (in comparison to eternity) life here on earth. The second is that it refers to God’s nearness through His indwelling Spirit. And third, it may refer to the nearness of the Lord as we call out to Him in prayer (Ps. 145.18).

All of them are ultimately true and should bring us great comfort.

• What does it mean in your life to know that “the Lord is at hand”?
• What should it mean?
• How should that change your responses to issues that cause you worry and anxiety?

Now let’s look at the first part of that verse.

Reasonableness

According to the Reformation Study Bible, the Greek word translated reasonableness means “the generous spirit that rises above offenses, or a forbearing spirit, of which Jesus provides the supreme example … (2 Cor. 10.1).”

The New Living Translation uses the word considerate. The NLT Study Bible adds this thought, “We are to be considerate (reasonable, fair minded, and charitable) to those outside the church, and not just to fellow believers. This means we are not to seek revenge against those who treat us unfairly, nor are we to be overly vocal about our personal rights.”

• Could it be that you are anxious because you have been treated unfairly or fear it could happen in the future?

If so, remember, the Lord is near to you. Nothing is outside of His sovereign control. He will only allow into your life what He can and will use for good (Rom. 8.28-29). And He will help you rise above anything someone else does or doesn’t do (1 Cor. 10.13).

Do Not Be Anxious

Now let’s look at the next verse:

⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

Part of how we change and grow into the likeness of Christ (including growth in peace, one of the fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5.22-23) is through a process we sometimes refer to as the put-offs and put-ons. We are to put off the habits of the old unredeemed man and put on the character of Christ (Eph. 4.22-24). We don’t do this in our own strength but as we call on and rely on Him and His enablement. Philippians 2.13 (NLT) says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

This verse in Philippians tells us that we are to put off anxiety. But the way to put something off is to put something else on in its place. In this case, whenever we’re tempted to be anxious, we should take that need to the Lord in prayer with an attitude of thankfulness. We should be specific with our requests, then leave it in God’s hands though we may have to do this repeatedly until it becomes habitual.

So, the antidote, if you will, to fear, worry, and anxiety is not grit your teeth and try not to get anxious. It’s to turn that anxiety God-ward in prayer and thankfulness. Talk to Him. Be honest about your struggles and feelings. He already knows but He wants you to turn to Him. Then look for things for which to be thankful.

When we do, we can experience God’s peace, a peace which the world cannot know or understand.

⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Questions for Deeper Thought

• Is verse 6 a promise, a suggestion or a command?
• In your own words, what are you to put off in verse 6?
• What are you to put on in its place?
• How can you pray specifically about what is tempting you to worry and become anxious?
• How has God answered your prayers in the past? Thank Him for those answers.
• What are the blessings in your life? Make a list and thank Him for each one.

But wars aren’t generally won after just one battle. You must continue to stay focused on God. So let’s look at the next two verses.

Choose to Think Biblically

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.

Too often, we believe we are helpless victims of our thinking, but the truth is we can choose what we think about.

2 Corinthians 10 says this:

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. ⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 

Consider four words in this passage … arguments, opinion, knowledge of God, and thought. These all have to do with our thinking. We are told to destroy arguments and opinions that oppose the knowledge of God. And we are to take our thoughts captive to obey Christ.

Putting-Off & Putting-On in Our Thoughts

Thoughts that contradict God’s truth, that display a lack of trust in His sovereign care must be destroyed with the truth. For that to happen, we need a steady diet of His Word, especially passages that teach us about His character and His work in the lives of His people. 

This is not about positive thinking, it’s about taking God at His Word. It’s choosing to believe what He says. God repeated says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11.6). Unbelief is sin. 

That means changing in this area begins with repentance. We must see this kind of thinking as sin, humble ourselves, and seek God’s forgiveness. Then we must make the effort to replace sinful thoughts with God-honoring, faith-filled ones. You may have to do it repeatedly in the beginning but you can discipline yourself to think in godly ways.

• What faithless thoughts have kept your heart and mind in turmoil?
• What biblical thoughts should replace them?

This doesn’t means that unpleasant feelings will instantly disappear. But God’s Word is true. So, let’s pray and step out in faith and obedience.

I hope you’ll share your insights in the comments section.

Next week, we’ll continue talking about fear, worry, and anxiety. Sign up for the weekly newsletter so you don’t miss it.

Homework

We grow as we apply the things of God to our everyday lives (Jas. 1.22-25). I believe you will get more out of these studies if you meditate on the things we’ve talked about and apply them in your life. 

Suggested Homework:

• Get a journal or notebook and journal your answers to the questions in this study.
• Meditate on Philippians 4.4-9.
• Make a list of all the things that tempt you to be anxious. Pray about each one. 
• Make a list of things for which you are thankful to remember regularly.
• Write a paragraph summarizing what you learned. If necessary, write out a prayer of repentance and confession.

Now I hope you’ll check out last week’s other posts below.

The Most Read Post

Last week’s most read post along with a little preview:

“To the Victim of Adultery & the Would-Be Adulterer”

Most of us know someone whose life has been turned upside down by the sin of adultery. Perhaps that’s you. While adultery is not the unforgivable sin, the effects of adultery are devastating. It affects our relationships with others, especially our children, as well as, our finances and our testimonies, to say nothing of our relationship with God. If you’re the one who was sinned against you know those things to be true. But what if you’re the one who committed adultery? Or perhaps you’re struggling with the temptation now? I, especially, hope you’ll read this post.

Other Posts:

Here are last week’s other posts:

“Ignoring the Wisdom of God?”

“Where Will You Spend Eternity?”

“Still Making Minimum Payments on Sin?”

“On Dazzling & the Light of Christ”

“To the Victim of Adultery & the Would-Be Adulterer”

“Could You Be a Religious Pretender?”

Winning the Battle over Anxiety – Bible Study Part 2

I hope you’ll check out a couple.

In the coming days, we’ll talk about how to rate yourself on biblical love, the importance of defending your faith and the need to get the logs out of your eyes. We’ll also pose the question, “Could you be raising little hypocrites?” and talk about what it means to preach the gospel to yourself and why it’s so important.

Sign up for my daily emails so you don’t miss any of them.

Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.

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