ZPCBlog

About the author: Sara and her husband Ty have been members of ZPC since moving to Zionsville 19 years ago. They are the parents of two adult children, Riley and Madison. Sara has volunteered in Children’s Ministry, served as a Deacon, has been on Great Banquet and Awakening teams, and now volunteers to hold babies in the nursery on Sundays.

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 love how The Message states this familiar passage: “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

Worry, anxiety, fretfulness are too often words that can be used to describe the season leading up to Christmas. Students are anxious about finals while parents worry about getting just the right gifts and creating the perfect Hallmark memories. Anxiety among Christians is so commonplace that author Max Lucado devotes an entire book, Anxious For Nothing, to encouraging readers to pray and rely on their faith instead of being fearful and anxious.

If anyone had a reason to be anxious, it was Paul, the author of this familiar passage. He was writing these words of encouragement to the church at Philippi from a Roman prison – talk about a stressful situation! He was in prison for his faith, yet he was giving the church practical instruction on how NOT to be anxious. So how can we as modern followers of Jesus put these verses into action? Max Lucado suggests using the CALM acronym to follow Paul’s instruction in Philippians 4:4-8:

C - Celebrate God’s goodness. (v. 4)

A - Ask God for help (v. 6)

L - Leave your concerns with him (v. 6)

M - Meditate on good things. (v. 8)

I pray that in this busy season, you will find peace and calm by coming to Christ Jesus and casting your anxiety on him.

Activity:

Do you know a student who could benefit from the reassurance of Philippians 4:6-7? Text them today and let them know you are praying for them during finals.

Prayer:

Father God,
Thank you for the beautiful gift of this scripture, that resonates with us thousands of years after it was written. Help us to focus our minds on your goodness as we ask for your help, knowing that we can leave our cares with you and that you will calm us down.
Amen.

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