Do Not be Anxious

Do not be anxious

“Let your gentleness 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. 
                        Philippians 4:5-7.
I live with Bipolar Affective disorder and an anxiety disorder. I remember one day at church the anxiety was acting up. I for the most part kept it under control but the pastors wife noticed and in her wisdom quoted Philippians 4:6,
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
After she said it she realized that it was the chemical imbalance in my head that was causing it and she apologized.
I said there was no need to apologize because when I get anxious I do go to God in prayer.
With all the advances in treatment of mental illness the doctors are still very limited in what they can do. Medication only works so well. It’s not a hundred percent effective.
Thus one of the coping strategies I’ve found to be effective is just what Paul says,
“but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
It works for me. When I get anxious I try to find a quiet place and pray to God. I meditate on God’s word. I sing and listen to worship songs. I spend as much time as I need focusing on God and his love for me. It helps me get balanced again.
In the morning before I get out of bed I ask God to be with me throughout the day. It really helps.
As Paul writes,
“the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”   
It works all we have to do is take the time to focus on God.
Think about it.