OVERCOMING ANXIETY PART 3: "Prescription for Peace"

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

In our first meditation on overcoming anxiety we saw that anxiety is a toxic emotion that none of us can afford to indulge in. Then in our second meditation we saw that, thanks be to God, there is an antidote to anxiety: the peace of God which passes all understanding. The question remaining to be addressed is: how can I, in a very practical way, experience the peace of God in stressful times?

Fortunately, Paul provides us with a simple, step-by-step method for experiencing God’s peace:

Step 1: “Have no anxiety about anything;” that is, recognize the presence of anxiety in your heart and prepare to deal with it at once. Sometimes it can be very helpful to list everything you've been stressing about on a piece of paper.

Step 2: “In everything by prayer and supplication … let your requests be made known to God;” that is, turn your anxiety into prayer. Go down your list and make each item the subject of a simple, direct prayer. Be as specific as possible. For example: “God, I am worried about my son because (fill in the blank) and I put his well-being in your loving hands.”

Step 3: “With thanksgiving.” Heartily thank God for hearing and answering your prayer. Do not neglect this step. Gratitude is a powerful spiritual weapon in the battle against anxiety.

The result? Scripture’s promises that the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ.

Sound too simple to be true? Here’s how it works.

Everything you are anxious about is like a heavy stone in a canvas bag you are carrying on your back. The more things you are worried about the more you will be weighed down and crushed by the load. As you turn these “stones” into prayers, you are putting them into God’s hand and allowing Him to do the heavy lifting. Thus you empty your bag of stones and lighten your load.

But what if I pick the stones back up again? Most likely you will at first. Simply go back to step 1 and repeat the process – again and again if necessary. Remember: this is a spiritual discipline that takes practice. But be assured that the more you practice these principles, the more you will overcome anxiety and experience the wonderful peace of God.

Does Your Soul Need Restoring?

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters;

he restores my soul. (Psalm 23:2-3)

Our souls need maintenance as we travel the road of life. What potholes and rutts are to cars, stress is to souls. Sometimes stress comes as a downpour that rocks our world: major illness, loss, or unemployment. Sometimes it’s a constant drizzle of trials and assorted aggravations. Either way, we may find ourselves swamped in negative emotions and feeling spiritually depleted.

At such times we need to remind ourselves, “The Lord is my shepherd.”

Psalm 23 is a true spiritual restorative. Healing virtually pours out of its promise of green pastures, still waters, and fragrant anointing oil. If we find ourselves in the valley of darkness, we have the consolation of God’s presence and the security of his rod and staff. If we are beset by enemies, he prepares a banquet for us. His goodness and mercy follow us always.

So why not spend a few quiet moments with the Good Shepherd and his Psalm? It’s healing words will restore your soul.

We need to remind ourselves: The Lord is my Shepherd.