~Philippians 4:6-9~

Ulcers. Headaches. High blood pressure. Neck and back pain. Heart trouble. Indigestion. These are just some of the damaging effects that anxiety has on our physical bodies. Considering the consequences of stress, I don’t suppose that anyone would question that Paul’s statement to "be anxious for nothing" is good advice.

However, I do suppose that there are some who may question whether or not it is actually attainable. Perhaps Paul knew that some may ask or think, "Is it really even possible to control my anxiety and find the ‘peace of God’?"

Sure it is. And Paul goes on to tell us how. Warren Wiersbe, in Be Joyful, notices the following three prerequisites for peace.

Right praying (vs. 6-7). If we desire peace, then we would be wise to pray about everything. This includes the big things as well as the small things—the good things and the bad things. You see, a person who saves his or her prayers for the really bad times will likely not find the peace he or she is looking for. Peace comes through a life of prayer. As I heard Josh Wyatt once say, the best way to be prepared for an emergency is to be preprayered. Prayer should be our steering wheel rather than our spare tire. In other words, prayer should help guide our life; it is not something to be placed in the trunk and saved for emergencies.

Right thinking (vs. 8). In this verse we learn that it is impossible to fill our minds with the filth of the world and possess the peace of God. Thoughts are more powerful than we often give them credit for. It has been said, "Sow a thought, and reap and action. Sow an action, and reap a habit. Sow a habit, and reap a character. Sow a character, and reap a destiny." In the words of Robert Taylor, "What we think today, we shall be and do tomorrow."

Right living (vs. 9). If our lives are patterned after the gospel (and after people whose lives are patterned after the gospel), then we can have the peace of God. And this peace, like a garrison of soldiers protecting a city from its enemies, will guard our hearts and minds from worry and anxiety.

Here’s an idea: the next time you start feeling the effects of stress, take a dose of Philippians 4:6-9.

~Daniel Hope