Philippians 4:6
“Do not worry about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.”
“Do not worry!” I think that can be rephrased as “don’t be anxious.” Then there is the motto of just “be prepared”. I’m just making sure I have my “bases covered”! We have various ways that we politely admit we are worried. The last two weeks I had dermatology “stuff” to deal with. One spot was a “cut and sew.” The other was “mohs” that I call “scoop and sew.” My husband had it on the back of his hand and no one noticed. The one on his chin looked “manly.” But knowing my face might end up scarred led to … worry.
Paul is in jail when he writes these words. Perhaps he too felt helpless and realized worry did no good. His advice is to pray and plead (supplication) but then he adds “with thanksgiving.” Thanksgiving challenges the soul to think positive. I prayed that the doctors and nurses would have a good night’s sleep and be rested. I prayed that I would not cry when given the Novocain shots. I prayed my children would not worry. I prayed that my friend who went with me would not be too inconvenienced. Focusing on the aspects of the situation where I believe God could intervene for a positive outcome helped me not to focus on the potential catastrophe, social discomfort because of a scarred face, that I feared. Thanksgiving factors God into the equation and worry forgets God is there mediating the evil that can touch me.
I looked on the Internet for worship songs that deal with worry and found a new one I had never heard by Casting Crowns, a more modern group, It’s called “Just be Held.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIZitK6_IMQ.
For those who want a more meditative tone, may I suggest the time honored favorite, “Be Still My Soul.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2dWpkAuFyw
As we head into Thanksgiving and Christmas season, may we guard our hearts and minds from worry and may we voice all our concerns to God in prayer with supplication and thanksgiving. V is for ….., O is for ….., I is for ……, C is for ….., and E is for ……. Blessings.
On the Way to Wonder 