"Do Not Be Anxious..." But, How???Sample

Frisk Your Thoughts

After instructing us about not being anxious but instead presenting our requests to God with thanksgiving, Paul gives us a game plan for ensuring that our thoughts don’t drift back to our worries.

Here are his words: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4: 8)

When we find ourselves drifting back to familiar patterns of fear-filled thinking, let’s check them against this list in Scripture.

Think of it like airport security. What are you allowed to take with you in that carry-on backpack? Thoughts that are untrue, ugly, and ungodly are like banned items at airport security. They are the bottle of shampoo, the pair of scissors, or that Swiss Army knife that must be confiscated and thrown in the trash. Frisk your thoughts. Check them against the truth of God’s Word. Ask God to sieve those thoughts and fill your mind with uplifting thoughts that reflect your trust in a good, good Father.

Will those anxious thoughts come back? Without a doubt, they will. But as Martin Luther said: “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.”

Don't get comfortable when you find those ‘birds’ flying dangerously close to your head. Instead, go to Scripture and replace the lies with God's truth.

Let the peace of God guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.

Reflect

Have I measured my thoughts and fears against the checklist of Philippians 4:8? Have I taken the time to identify and discard the thoughts that have no grounding in the truth? Have I prayed about my situation? Have I persisted in prayer till I experienced the peace of God?

Respond

Father God, You know my thoughts from afar. You know how I tend to play out different situations in my mind till they grip my heart with fear. Father, today I recognize that those patterns of negative, untrue thinking are often a ploy of the enemy to distract me and steal my peace. Today I choose to reject those thoughts and replace them with the truth from Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen