BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING

“Do not be anxious about ANYTHING. But in EVERYTHING, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING present your requests to God,” Phil. 4:6 NIV

Be anxious for NOTHING? Not for anything? Really? Is that even possible? Its easy to say, very hard to do. Anxiety breaks down the door it seems no matter what I do. I hear bad news, or there is a hitch in the house buying plans and anxiety crowds my mind. This happens sometimes no matter what we say or do. This is normal, but what God is talking about is staying in that anxiety. The verse could read, do not stay in your anxiety for long. Do not dwell in it. Do not live in it.

Still pretty hard to do when I was trying to find a home to live in and there were just not many options. Being faced with having no home, no shelter, no place to be mine, is a fearful thing indeed. No matter what I did no matter how much I prayed, anxiety ran rampant.

After much searching, God kept leading me back to this house in Sentinel Butte, ND. A 104 year old house that needs some updates. I was reluctant to take on such a project, but the doors kept closing on other options. Plus I would love to live in Sentinel Butte where I can name most of the 55 residents and I know where they live.

Oh so much prayer and supplication going up to Heaven’s portal. With thanksgiving. When things looked like they were going good, something would cause a wrinkle. Sometimes I just didn’t feel I could go on, that I just could not deal with another hitch in the works. That is why Paul first instructed, “Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. I will say it again. REJOICE!” Phil 4:4 NIV

For it is in rejoicing in Him that I turn my eyes from the problem and onto His glorious face. It is in worshiping Him and praising Him that I am aware of His presence. I can run to Him and lay my burdens down, but under His wings I can rejoice and sing.

He lifts up those who are bowed down with burdens. I have been bowed down. Trying to find a place to live, now in the process of buying and facing a 1,000 mile move, all alone with no husband is enough to bow me to the ground. He wants me to come to Him with my troubles. He wants me to lay my burdens in His hands. He want me to trust Him to lead me down the best path for my life. He wants me to hide under His wings. But its in rejoicing and praise, that I see Him. For when I rejoice my focus is on Him, not the storm raging around me. I am near His side, under His wings, leaning on Him.

So after a long process we finally had a purchase agreement signed by both parties and now John’s nephew is working on my loan. The next hurdle is the appraisal, which has been ordered. But it seems God is leading me this way. There are no other doors open. He closed all other doors. I am faced with the huge, overwhelming job of packing up our household.

When anxiety sneaks in or busts down the door, I give it to Him first. Then I rejoice in His goodness. He is Glorious. He is Good. He is Great. He is Gracious.

He is Mighty Creator, Elohim. He is Abba (daddy) Father, who loves me and cares for me. He doesn’t just love me, but He takes care of me. He sustain me, He guides me, He advises me. He is El Roi, the God who sees me and helps me. He is Yawey Yireh, who provides for me. He is Yahweh Shalo, the Lord of Peace. He is Yahwey Tsuri, my solid Rock. He is Yahwey Roeh, my Shepherd. He is Ish my husband. He is Basileus Basileon, King of Kings. He is Sar Shalom, Prince of Peace. He is Christos Mashiah, The Christ and Messiah. He is Iesous Soter, Jesus, my Savior. (don’t ask me to say all those names!)

He is Almighty God, lover of my soul.

I thank Him for who His is. I thank Him for what He has done. I have seen His hand working in my life. He straightened out (with John’s brother Bob’s help) a problem I had with movers that I was trying to cancel but they would not recognize my 22 emails I had sent to cancel a move job John has reserved. With brother Bob’s phone call and persistence they canceled the job, the day the truck was supposed to come, and are supposed to send the deposit money back. I haven’t seen it yet, but hopefully it will come. So one burden off my back. One burden gone. “Come to Me”, Jesus said, “And I will give you rest”.

So when I rejoice in who He is and give Him my troubles and thank Him for what He has done and what He is going to do, He gives me peace. He guards my heart and my mind from anxiety, from Satan’s fiery darts, from my own doubts and fears, from strife and fretting with a peace that transcends all understanding. But I have to give it to Him often as I take it back.

So every time anxiety knocks on the door. Every time fear sneaks in the window, every time doubt finds a foothold, I need to run to Him. To rejoice in Him. To give my burdens and requests to Him and to thank Him.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again. Rejoice!

Let your gentleness (forbearance) be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends ALL understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:4-7 NIV

An angels wing?