Be Anxious For Nothing – How To Live Free of Worry!
Be anxious for nothing Paul writes in Phil 4:6 (inspired by the Holy Ghost, so it is a God-breathed exhortation). Paul just doesn’t throw that out there as a statement and leave us guessing about how to be anxious for nothing.
Indeed, in that very same verse and the next two Bible verses, Paul explains what we should do to live a worry-free life and the amazing results we get by doing so.
So let’s dive in and take a look at what the Bible verses about being anxious for nothing will reveal to us…
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Phil 4:6)
Now let’s slowly break this down and glean all of the wonders this scripture has for us…
Be careful in the KJV is translated to be anxious in other versions. The Greek word has been translated elsewhere in the KJV Bible as:
take thought (11 times)
care (5 times)
be careful (2 times)
have care (1 times).
In this Bible verse, in particular, it means to be anxious or to be troubled with cares.
In other Bible verses it can mean to care for (as in to provide for), look out for (a thing); to seek to promote one’s interests.
You can really see how all of these terms relate to our everyday lives.
Then love is your answer. Discover and understand the amazing love of God. God is love. And you are to love others also (1 Jn 4:21).
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. (1 jn 4:18)
If you are struggling in this area of your life, I have found this video by Malcolm Smith which should help you. This video also talks a lot about why you are suffering from anxiety. It is titled: He Cares For You…
Are you troubled with cares?
There is a real danger associated with this…
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (Mark 4:19)
The answer to this situation is simple…
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Mt 6:34)
We even affirm this to be true by singing about it. And here it is from the mouth of babes…
Are you worried about how you are going to pay the bills, how you are going to clothe and feed the kids, etc? So you are worried about how you are going to provide for.
The answer is simple… Isn’t life far, far more than what you are worried about?
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Mt 6:25)
And throughout the scriptures, we read how God is our provider — Jehovah Jireh my provider!
We even sing about this one as well. Do you see affirmations in song?
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Heb 13:6)
Are you concerned about the future and what might happen? Then you are worried because you are “looking out for”
Jesus addresses this issue as well in the very same chapter…
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Mt 6:34)
Maybe you are worried about your career, how to get a promotion, or how to stand up for yourself, or all you are thinking is about yourself, me, me, me! It isn’t fair, I should have, I deserve, I need, and so forth. Then you fit into the to seek to promote one’s interests.
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? (My 6:27)
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Mt 6:28-29)
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ESV (Phil 2:4)
Being anxious and worried is dangerous. It is proven to have a negative impact on your health, a negative impact on how you think, and therefore a negative impact on your relationships including your relationship with God!
In fact, it is the total opposite of faith and trusting God…
So this is the reason Paul is very specific here: Be anxious for NOTHING!
The word nothing means exactly what you think it means – NOTHING.
Not… Oh, what about this or what about that. This is an exception… No… It clearly says NOTHING!
Can you imagine living your life like this?
Wouldn’t it be amazing?
How Amazingly Different Would Your Life Be Without Worry, Fear, and Anxiety?
Okay… Now that we have taken a serious look at the negative side of things you can see why it is so important to overcome anxiety. So let’s explore the good stuff contained in these scriptures which reveal to us how we can live worry-free…
So… Paul says instead of being anxious to do this…
Really Pause For a Moment and Meditate on This…
REPLACE anxiety with this…
Instead of worrying do this…
The very next time you catch yourself worrying and getting anxious STOP and DO THIS instead…
And the very next time after that you catch yourself worrying and getting anxious STOP AGAIN and DO THIS AGAIN!!
And repeat as necessary until this is what you always do instead of worrying and getting anxious…
But in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgivinglet your requests be made known unto God.
Let’s be painstakingly clear.
You are to be anxious about NOTHING!
But in EVERYTHING you are to let your requests be known unto God.
You do that by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.
Can it be any simpler?
Don’t complicate it. Just do it and watch it work.
The word supplication means the act of asking for something earnestly and humbly.
The simple exhortation is that instead of worry, let your requests be known to God with thanksgiving.
And look at the result if you do it God’s way!
And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:7
WOW! Worrying and being anxious about things never gets you that result. So why not simply do what Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, advises us to do?
We are encouraged to cast ALL our cares upon God…
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Pet 5:7)
The previous verse links casting your cares upon Him, with being humble. He blesses the humble and resists the proud (James 4:6). So in being anxious for nothing and making known all your requests to God (therefore casting your cares upon Him), you are being humble and opening the door for a blessing.
By holding onto your worries and cares, you are being proud and closing the door to blessings.
I have included the following video from a guy named Malcolm Smith, that elaborates on this point. It will start at about the 52-minute mark where he brings out some interesting thoughts about casting your cares upon him however feel free to rewind and listen to the entire message.
Let Your Requests be Known Unto God!
And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. (Mark 10:51-52)
In modern translations, we read Jesus saying… What do you want me to do for you?
And the blind man let his request be known… Lord, I want you to restore my sight.
And Jesus restored his sight!
Jesus wants to know what he can do for you. Let him know and allow him to bless you.
Then Paul continues to elaborate on how we can be anxious for nothing…
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Phil 4:7)
Do not think about your problems. Think about these things. I have already expounded on this scripture in another article so I won’t repeat it here. If you want to read more about it you can in the article titled: What is Christian Meditation?
Let’s look at some affirmations…
Christian Affirmations For Anxiety
Through Jesus Christ, I will be anxious for nothing
I will take no thought for materialistic things
My God shall supply all my needs
Jehovah Jireh is my provider
I will not allow the cares and the riches of this world to choke out the word of God in my life
God loves me and cares for me
There is no fear in perfect love
I will seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all other things will be given to me
My life is more than meat and clothing
I can boldly say, The Lord is my Helper
I will live for today and tomorrow will take care of itself
I will live a life free of worry, fear and anxiety
In everything, I will make my request be known to God
I will cast all my cares upon Him because He cares for me
Finally, here is another video from Malcolm Smith that I’m sure will help you live a life free of anxiety… It is titled: The Absolute End of Anxiety
Allan Wilson is the creator of the Scriptural Thinking Affirmations Package. Featuring over 200 minutes of mp3 audio Bible affirmations complete with background music. The package comes with the original affirmations PDF ebook and many bonus affirmation Bible studies as well. The affirmations are designed to help you call to remembrance all of the wonderful benefits of being in Christ and the marvelous privilege of being a child of God.
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