Be careful... For NOTHING!?!?!?!?!

Many of you are familiar with the following verse; most, if not all of you know it by heart, or could quote it almost word for word, either because sometime in the past you purposely memorized it, or because you learned it from hearing it quoted so much from the pulpit, youth leaders, devotional booklets and whatnot. But I'd like to challenge you all to look at Philippians 4:6-7 in a new light this morning! It says,


"Be careful for nothing; but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (emphasis mine =D)


The word careful can be read (translated) as "anxious". So, through this verse, God is telling us to be anxious for absolutely nothing! Instead, when we are tempted to or begin to be worried, troubled, anxious, or scared, He wants us to turn to Him, tell Him our problems and ask His complete aid.
What struck me this morning, and what I hope you will carry with you today, is that what this verse tells us to do, to "be careful for nothing" and to "let our requests be made known into God", is NOT a suggestion. It is NOT an option. No! It is a COMMAND!!! It is an ORDER!!! It doesn't say, "Be careful for just a teeny-tiny bit, and leave the REST up to God." It doesn't say to "be anxious for nothing except for a specific, special issue, and obsess over that one all you want." NO! Warrior of the King, it commands us to "be careful for NOTHING!" and to in EVERY circumstance let your requests be made known into God with prayer and thanksgiving".


But the sweetest part of this verse is the PROMISE our God gives us! A promise of help and blessing comes with the command to obey! For God tells us through verse 7 that IF we are anxious for nothing and cast all our care upon and bring all our requests to HIM, that "the PEACE OF GOD, which passeth all understanding SHALL" (means it WILL; not "it might"! But it WILL) keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." !!!
The command to be anxious for nothing comes with the GUARANTEE that if we do, Jesus will keep our hearts! Keep them still. Keep them calm. Keep you resting in Him and in His perfect timing. Keep as in 'protect' and 'gaurd' from enemy intrusion. According to 'Family Bible Notes', the word originally denotes "as a military watch"!! (I didn't even know that as I wrote the first part of this post!!) See how GOOD our GOD is?!?!?! As an enlisted daughter of the King of kings, you have no need of fear as you go forth daily to fight the enemy, for your Mighty Commander keeps a militaristic watch and guard over you!!! You are PRECIOUS to Him, dear one!! He loves you, and wants to help you and calm your every fear and supply your every need! He WANTS to show Himself mighty in your apparent weakness!!! But He cannot do it if you don't bring these troubles and fears and desires and needs to Him!!! (Not to say that God is limited in what He can and cannot do because of anything we do or don't do. That's not what I'm saying =D) What I AM saying though is that you CAN have peace, peace that cannot be explained or fathomed, through Jesus Christ!


Are you weary today, dear sister? Are you struggling with fears, anxiety, possibly depression and/ or discouragement? Or are you or your family in sincere need of something? Do you long and desire to have a Godly romance with an earthly prince? I encourage you today to heed the command of the Master, and to be careful for nothing. Come boldly before the throne of Grace in prayer. Thank and praise the Lord for the things, the blessings you DO have and then spill out your heartache, your fears, your anxiety, your desires to the King who cares! Cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you!! For He PROMISES hat His peace shall keep your hear and mind safe from the enemy, through Jesus Christ!!


I hope and pray that you have a peaceful and wonderful day, dear sisters! Cast your burden on the Lord, for He is strong enough to carry any load!!!!!