DIGGING DEEP NO. 931 – April 18, 2022 THE SECRET OF VICTORY OVER WORRY Phil. 4:1-9.

If anybody had an excuse for worrying, it was the Apostle Paul. His beloved Christian friends at Philippi were disagreeing with one another, and he was not there to help them. We have no idea what Euodia and Syntyche were disputing about, but whatever it was, it was bringing division into the church. Added to these burdens was the possibility of his own death. Apostle Paul had a good excuse to worry, but he did not; instead, he took time to explain to us the secret of victory over worry.

What is worry? The Greek word translated anxious (careful) in Philippians 4: 6 means “to be pulled in different directions.” Our hopes pull us in one direction; our fears pull us the opposite direction; and we are pulled apart. From the spiritual point of view, worry is wrong thinking and wrong feeling about circumstances, people, and things. Worry is the greatest thief of joy. If we are to conquer worry and experience peace, we must meet the conditions laid down by God.

1. Right praying – Phil.4: 6- 7.  Paul did not write “Pray about it.” He used three words to describe “right praying”: prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. Right praying involves all three. The word prayer is the general word for making requests known to the Lord. It carries the idea of adoration, devotion, and worship. The first step in praying is adoration. Whenever we find ourselves worrying, our first action ought to be to get alone with God and worship Him. Adoration is what is needed. We must see the greatness and majesty of God! We must realize that He is big enough to solve our problems. The second step in praying is supplication. An earnest sharing of our needs and problems. There is no place for halfhearted, insincere prayer Heb.5: 7. Supplication is not a matter of carnal energy but of spiritual intensity Rom.15: 30; Col.4: 12. After adoration and supplication come appreciation; giving thanks to God Ephe.5: 20; Col.3: 15- 17. Certainly, the Father enjoys hearing His children say “Thank you”. When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one of the ten returned to give thanks Lk.17: 11- 19. We are eager to ask, but slow to appreciate.

2. Right thinking – Phil.4: 8. Peace involves the heart and the mind Is.26: 3. Wrong thinking leads to wrong feeling, and before long the heart and the mind are pulled apart and we are strangled by worry. We brought bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2Cor.10: 5. Apostle Paul spells out in detail the things we ought to think about as Christians.

Whatever is true. Survey on worry indicated that only 8 percent of the things people worried about were legitimate matters of concern; the other 92 percent were either imaginary, never happened, or involved matters over which people had no control anyway. The Holy Spirit controls our minds through truth, but the devil tries to control them through lies. Whenever we believe a lie, Satan takes over. Whatever is honest and just. This means worthy of respect and right. There are many things that are not respectable, and Christians should not think about these things. Whatever is pure, lovely, and of good report. The believer must major on the high and noble thoughts, not the base thoughts of this corrupt world. Whatever possesses virtue and praise. If it has virtue, it will motivate us to do better, and if it has praise, it is worth commending to others. No true Christian can afford to waste mind power on thoughts that tear him down or that would tear others down if these thoughts were shared Ps.19: 7- 9. Right thinking is the result of daily meditation on the Word of God.

3. Right living Phil.4: 9. You cannot separate outward action and inward attitude. Sin always results in unrest (unless the conscience is seared), and purity ought to result in peace Is.32: 17. Right living is a necessary condition for experiencing the peace of God.

Right praying, right thinking, and right living; these are the conditions for having the secure mind and victory over worry. As Philippians 4 is the “peace chapter” of the New Testament, James 4 is the “war chapter.” It begins with a question “From whence come wars and fighting among you?” Wrong praying Jam.4: 3, wrong thinking Jam.4: 8, and wrong living Jam.4: 4.

In Conclusion – There is no middle ground. Either we yield our heart and mind to the Spirit of God and practice right praying, thinking and living; or we yield to the flesh and find ourselves torn apart by worry. With the peace of God to guard us and the God of peace to guide us; Why worry?