"I will not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything (every circumstance and situation) by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, I will continue to make my requests known to God. And the peace of God (that peace that reassures my heart), which transcends all understanding, will stand guard over my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, AMP---personalization and paraphrasing added for emphasis). I say affirmations. Out loud. Every day. My mouth needs to speak what my heart and mind need to hear. " ...faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Thoughts are not heard by the hearing of our ears. Thoughts are internal; they are in our head. Thoughts that are spoken by our mouth are heard, and what we hear often enough, we believe. And what we believe, we become. So, I say affirmations, like the verse from Philippians above, so that my heart and mind are hearing the truth, in order that I might believe the truth, through repetitive hearing. "Saying" the truth in my head will not bring about the most effective change; it's saying it out loud that causes my head and heart to most effectively believe it. For example, a child is told they are stupid from a very young age, whenever they do anything wrong, whenever they express their heart, whenever they are awkward or confused, they are repeatedly told they are stupid...over time they believe that they are stupid. As an adult they have no confidence, no esteem for themselves, they are shy and withdrawn, and they make no attempt to accomplish anything significant because they believe at the core of who they are that they are stupid. They believed what they heard repeatedly and acted accordingly. We live in a world where anxiety and worry run rampant. But the verse above says that we are not to be anxious or worried about anything! How is that possible? The answer is in the 'everything.' Everything is all-encompassing. Nothing was left out. That means that no matter what or who is causing your anxiety, God has made provision and peace for it all. We don't have to worry about anything because in everything we are covered. Through prayer, petition, thanksgiving, and requesting we can have peace. Peace that exceeds our understanding. Peace that guards our hearts and our minds from the anxiety and worry that would threaten our faith. Peace that floods our soul and our circumstances with the calm assurance that He is our everything, He knows our every situation and circumstance, and we can rest in Him moment by moment, day by day. Prayer: Acknowledging God as God and asking in faith. Petition: Earnestly pleading for something that I can't get or accomplish without God's help and believing that He is the only one who can make it happen. Thanksgiving: Grateful praise offered as if I already have what I have asked for. Requests: Specifics--- Asking with Ooomph! So what are you worried or anxious about today? What has your insides in knots? What is plaguing your mind? Your health? Your job? Your finances? That wayward child? The unanswered questions? The overwhelming responsibility? The diagnosis? Your past? Your future? All of the above, and more? There is an answer. You were not meant to live in constant anxiety. Say it with me and maybe for the first time, really hear it and believe it: "I will not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything, in every circumstance and situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, I will continue to make my requests known to God. And the peace of God, that peace which reassures my heart, which transcends all understanding, will stand guard over my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus." Written by Anne Marie Hawke July 2019 If you would like to know more about my writing, or to subscribe to my blog, please visit my website at hawkewriter.com
3 Comments
Lisa M
7/19/2019 06:34:59 am
All I can say is Amen!
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Brenda McMurray
7/21/2019 05:33:01 am
The picture of the FROG, has become a reminder to me of this very very verse: Fully Relying On God. Thank you this beautiful written reminder. Miss you!!
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Carol Brownawell
7/31/2019 01:49:54 am
Thank you for the reminder and strategy. One of Meg’s favorite too ❤️
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