[Faith-talk] "When Anxiety Strikes" - Daily Devotion for 11/10/2008

[Everett Gavel]

When Anxiety Strikes
In Touch Ministries, with Charles Stanley - Nov. 10, 
2008
http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/in_touch/


Philippians 4:6-7

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your 
requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all 
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in 
Christ Jesus.


If you needed a consultant, would you hire just anyone? 
Of course not. You'd want to be sure your advisor had 
experience to back up his suggestions. The apostle Paul 
was certainly qualified to teach on the value of 
contentment-he wrote from a prison cell.

In today's passage, Paul says that prayer safeguards 
the believer's heart from anxiety. Praying 
appropriately will result in the most effective 
protection, so we are wise to follow the pattern Jesus 
gave us. The Lord's Prayer underscores adoration of the 
Father and de-emphasizes self-talk (Matt. 6:9-13). God 
does desire to hear our concerns (Phil. 4:6). But if 
problems are all that keep us on our knees, then we 
have missed the main point of our relationship with 
Him.

Why does the Lord expect us to honor Him when what we 
want is immediate help for our problems? Because where 
the mind dwells, the heart follows. Focusing on His 
greatness puts our needs in perspective and encourages 
us to rest easy. He is in charge and at work (Matt. 
6:30; Rom. 8:28). Consider Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane. 
(Matt. 26:36-46) Even as the Lord was crying out for 
relief, He nevertheless submitted to the Father's 
greater will (v. 39) As a result, a supernatural peace 
fortified Christ and enabled Him to face His 
executioners.

Paul offered a radical peace plan: Praise the Lord 
while suffering persecution; thank Him when facing 
trial; and pray about everything. Each prayer braces 
your heart against anxiety. That's solid advice from a 
man who practiced what he preached.