Do you struggle with worries?

Good News! You're not alone. Anxiety is the number 1 mental health diagnosis in America, in other words, people are worried. Paul writes in Philippians 4:6: "Do not worry about anything; instead pray about everything."

The phrase in Greek is μηδέν μεριμνάτε (mēdein merimnate) is an imperative command to be worried (μεριμνάτε) about nothing (μηδέν). The same word for worried is used in the positive sense in chapter 2 when he instructs the Philippians to be concerned about the welfare of others, but here it carries a negative meaning. Here in verse 6, the context is for those attempting to carry a burden they were not meant to carry. Those worrying about the future, or with unreasonable anxiety. Those worrying about things they cannot control, echoing Jesus' words from the sermon on the mount (Matthew 6:25-34).  

A better translation than worry about nothing, would be stop worrying! This is good news, because it means that God knows we will worry about things. It is in our nature because we want to be in control and worry is about things that our out of our control. Worrying focuses our attention on things of this world that are beyond what we can do, so we need to shift our attention.  

• Stop Worrying, instead...Pray

Shift your attention for the worries, from the tomorrows, from the people, from whatever it is that is pulling you down, and bring the need to God. Shift the focus from the problem, to The Solution, to God himself. He is ready supply all of your needs, to take care of you (Philippians 4:19). When we are ready to shift our thinking and bring our burdens to God, He is ready to meet the need. So instead of worrying, Pray! Thank God for what he has done in the past and remember how he has been there for you time and time again

• As a result...God's Peace (Philippians 4:7)

When we start to focus on the things of God and we give our worries to him, He gives us His Peace for our hearts and minds. That means we don't have to struggle in our worries, but we can be free. So what should we focus on instead of our worries?  

I'm glad you asked! Well Paul continues with a list of things that would be best for us to focus on: 

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9

I don't know about you, but I know I could use more peace in my life. Put this into practice and watch the God of peace fill you with his peace today!  

I'm praying for you everyday!  

Blessings,

Pastor Kory Labbe

Romans 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."