Worry! Worry! Worry!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious 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 surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7

It seems that, sometimes, all we can do is worry.  How are we going to pay the bills?  When will the government reopen?  How bad is Tropical Storm Karen going to be when it hits? How can I deal with he frustrations I'm having with the apathy of my students? There is so much to worry about.  Everywhere we turn there is a new fear, concern, or trouble.  With the state oft he world today, and the state of our own country, it's easy to get caught up in all of the fearful thing around us.  If we aren't careful, we can spend ever waking our of everyday worrying about or being afraid of something.

Be encouraged!  In the above passage, Paul encourages us to stop our needless worrying and deliver those worries to God through prayer.  It is good to know that in these uncertain and ever changing times that God remains unchanged.  It really doesn't matter what the situation is, God is and always will be on control.

Be thankful!  Paul also reminds is to submit our prayers to God with thanksgiving.  We always have tot hank God for His grace and mercy.  Chief among our requests should be that God's will be done.

Be peaceful!  If we are encouraged and thankful, our hearts and minds will be guarded by he peace of God, a peace that comes from knowing that God is interested in us and the things that happen to us.

So think about this: if your heart is full of worry, then you leave no room for the peace of Christ.