Nougat 10

Recently, I found myself in a tizzy. At one point, it dawned on me that the situation had not escalated and, even if it had, did not warrant all that worry. Have you ever been in such a situation? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Worry about Nothing

Before going much further, I hope I’m not the only one who misunderstood ‘careful’. It was somewhat of a relief to realize that the Bible wasn’t asking me to be lazy or careless; rather, it was an invitation to not be full of care (i.e., concern, worry). Or, in other words, don’t sweat the small stuff.

Obviously, the writer to the church in Philippi had not come near to the 21st century. For, in these days, fake and real news offer enough to make everyone worried. From natural disasters to wars to killer viruses and climate-related disasters, the world has something to keep us worried for our entire lifetimes. Yet, the Pauline writer insisted, ‘worry about nothing’.

We’re not left hanging, however. Instead we’ve been offered a not-so-secret secret weapon. For the Philippians (andby extension, you and I) were told that for every single thing that would cause worry … pray, intercede, and praise. Not some of the time, not occasionally, but all the time for everything.

Of course, I see the interplay of opposite thoughts – worry-pray … nothing-everything. It’s a revolution in word pictures and a revolutionary idea. Just think: worry about nothing, but pray with expectation that God will do something. So much so that we’re already giving ‘thanks’! How easy is that?

One songwriter said,

Hallelujah, anyhow,

Never never never let

Your problems get you down,

When temptations come your way,

Lift your head up high and say, ‘Hallelujah anyhow’

Hallelujah, of course, refers to the thanksgiving notes we lift up in the midst of whatever circumstances we face. So when we’re inclined to worry, we pray and raise a Hallelujah.

Can we try it for even one day? If it works, then maybe we can try to make it into a lifestyle?

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May all we seek be found in Christ