Read Philippians 4:1-9

Many folks worry about things that never happen, like the patient in the mental hospital, holding his ear close to the wall, listening intently.  The attendant finally approached.

"Shhh!" whispered the patient, beckoning him over.

The attendant pressed his ear to the wall for a long time. "I can't hear a thing," he finally said.

"I know," replied the patient, "it's been like that all day!"

Paul wrote some of the earliest recorded advise for those who struggled with consuming worry. To combat disabling anxiety he exhorted the Philippian church to some positive praying and worship. Philippians 4:6 hits where many of us struggle; "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

Peace in the heart (v. 7) and a closer walk with God is the result of replacing worry with prayer.

As people who believe God knows what He is doing, we can decide to replace our anxious thinking with the activities of prayer and thanksgiving. Praying with thanksgiving reminds us that God can do something about our impossible situations. It gives Him proper place in our lives while giving us a sense of Someone else bearing our trial with us.

So, would you rather worry today or let God do the worrying? Would you rather fret or pray? The choice is yours.

~~ The Circuit 'Riter ~~