| “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” |
| —Philippians 4:6-7 |
I am blessed to have a couple of friends who live and work for a Christian radio network in Australia. A husband and wife, these two fine individuals continually make effective efforts to share the love of the Lord Jesus Christ with tens of thousands of listeners. As a result of sharing their lives with me via frequent Facebook posts, I have developed a new appreciation for the way the Lord is at work in this unique continent. I have also learned a little bit about the Australian culture.
I am particularly taken by the Australian way of responding to the words, “Thank You!” Their expression, “No worries!” embodies the kind of laid back, easy going, yet purposeful lifestyle that marks many of their Australian countrymen.
In thinking about that phrase, “No worries!” I am reminded of the words the Apostle Paul shared with the Christians gathered in the church at Philippi, as recorded in Philippians 4:6-7:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Paul urges the Philippian Christians to set aside any anxiety they might have. Instead, Paul instructs them to rely on prayers, along with thanksgiving, to ask God for His help in meeting the challenges they face in their lives. The Apostle Paul insists:
“Do this, and you will find that God will give you a peace that exceeds your ability to understand it. Furthermore, God will guard your hearts and your minds against the ravages that anxiety often brings. He will do all this because you belong to His precious Son, Jesus.”
Now, dear ones, if we ever needed a special word from the Lord at the beginning of another new day, certainly these words of the Apostle Paul should warm our hearts and set us on the right pathway for the day that stretches out before us. Let’s put aside our anxiety, go to prayer, and allow God to give us His peace at the same time He will guard our hearts and minds.
Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2018
