Over the years of reading my bible I have come across many passages and verses that have without question inspired me; passages that seemed to instantly create within me a willingness to change and grow in my faith. I have also come across such passages that do the complete opposite by creating a spirit of resistance and rebellion. I have found that it is usually because those passages are the ones that begin to pull me from my comfort zone; they call for changes I’m either not ready or just don’t know how to make. Philippians 4:6 has been for many years such a passage. Paul writes, “Be anxious for nothing…” I look at those four little words and wonder, “how is this possible?” Can anyone live his or her life completely free from Anxiety? Is it truly possible to exist with no worries? After all, Even Paul showed the signs of anxiety in his life (2nd Cor. 11:28). I, myself, can wake up on any given day and find a large list of things to worry about. I might worry about my bills, my job, or about my family when I’m away. Sometimes I worry about big things, and other times not so big. My worries can be based in reality, or completely void of any real and identifiable threat all together. That’s not just my nature, that’s human nature.

So, what is Paul talking about? What is he actually trying to communicate to the believers in Philippi? Is he preaching a carefree lifestyle, or the possibility of living without a single fear? No. Paul is talking about the kind of lifestyle that surrenders our anxieties to Christ, rather than retaining them within ourselves. If we look at this verse in light of the context in which it is written we see Paul talking about a life that focuses on praising, praying, and perceiving the world around us correctly.

Paul begins this passage by writing, “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. (Phil. 4:4-5)” First and foremost we are to always remember to rejoice in the Lord. Paul is not promoting a baseless pleasure, rather, a joyfulness that is soundly based in the Lord. This is not only our duty as believers, but it is our reward as well. The Psalmist declares, “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).” Learning how to take joy in the Lord in all circumstances is one of the hardest, yet most important duties a Christian will ever carry out. Without it, we can never learn what it is to be anxious about nothing.

With this established, Paul tells his readers, “Be anxious for nothing,” but follows it up quickly with “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. “ One of the blessings of prayer is that it redirects our focus from the world around us, to the one who created the world. Or, as I like to say, it shifts our attention from “I” to the great “I AM”. The other blessing of prayer is that it illuminates our minds with God’s truth. It is fair to say that any problem void of the Holy Spirit’s illumination only aims to remove God from the equation. John Newton, the Anglican clergyman and author of the hymn Amazing Grace, believed in the power of prayer. You can see this in the marvelous hymn that he taught his church: “Thou art coming to a King, large petitions with thee bring; for His grace and power are such, none can ever ask too much.” This is our God, an awesome God, and a God that answers prayer. Do you seek knowledge and wisdom? Do you desire freedom from anxiety? Then seek his presence before anything else, with a humbled and contrite heart, cast your desires upon Him and He will provide all that you seek.

As a final point Paul write, “Finally, brother, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praise worthy- thing about such things. (v 8)” We live outwardly that which we live in our hearts. Therefore, it is imperative that we hunt for the good in all that life brings your way. Without this it is impossible to offer up true and honest praise and being “anxious about nothing” becomes impossible. This will not come naturally and must be practiced daily. We must make this a discipline in our life. From the time that we wake to the time that we lie down, we must continually hunt for the good. When we are able to see all that is noble, all that is right, all that is pure, lovely, admirable and worthy or praise, then we will have the anxiety free life that Paul spoke about.

Sometimes our everyday trials make this verse difficult to grasp. However, this life that Paul speaks about is the result of correctly praising, praying, and perceiving the world around us. We will obtain this when we come before Him in thanksgiving and adoration; laying our requests at His feet in full assurance of faith; and believing that God not only cares for us, but is able and willing to help. It comes when we turn to Him for the answer, rather than away from Him in search of our own. The anxiety free life doesn’t mean we won’t have worries or concerns, it simply means that these worries will lead us to Him and not away from Him.   [mp]

(Luke 23:43)”

I don’t know anything about the criminal Jesus was talking to – I don’t know his life or how he ended up on the cross. All I know is that Jesus chose to see past it all and desired to spend eternity with him. What a beautiful picture of grace, and a beautiful source of hope for anyone who has ever felt like the criminal on the cross.

Imagine that you are a farmer living in the German countryside when a Jewish mother and father show up at your door with their two young children seeking refuge. You would surely know that if you were caught harboring Jews, you and your family would face certain death. Would you risk the lives of you and your family by providing them with a safe hiding place or would you determine that it’s not your problem? Consider this: when faced with the decision to take on the cross and give his life for our sins, Jesus considered it his problem.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
~Isaiah 53:5

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
~I Peter 2:24

The other main change I added is a “meet the staff” page. There, you’ll find short bios on our staff members. Remember to check back often for blog updates.

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In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, Judas signals the Roman guards of who Jesus is by kissing him on the check. It is the most notorious act of betrayal in history. So much so that Judas’ very name is often used synonymously with words like liar, betrayer, backstabber, etc. “Don’t be a Judas” people warn. I often wonder how I would have responded to such an act. What would I have said? What would I have done? I can only imagine the anger and hurt I would have felt. Now the question is; how did Jesus act? I don’t know how many times I read through this story and never picked up on the words until someone pointed it out to me. When I read them I was, at the least, baffled. In direct response to Judas’ kiss Jesus said “Friend, do what you have come to do (Matthew 26:50a).” Jesus called him friend. If you would have asked me everything I knew about Judas prior to reading this verse; a friend of Jesus would not have been on my list. Still, Jesus was able to see something in Judas that was deeper than his deeds; something beyond his sins and treachery. He was able to see what my eyes were not able to see. That’s what Jesus does. He looks beyond our deeds, beyond our sins, and beyond our own acts of treachery; and despite our failures He calls us friend. I think of this passage often, especially now when I am forced to be in such close proximity with people I would not interact with otherwise. Every day I try to look at people with the eyes of Christ. Every day I try to look beyond the outer deeds that irritate me most, and I have to admit it’s a challenge. I long and pray to have the eyes of Christ, but unfortunately, at times, it stops just shy of a longing. It seems to be my elusive Pegasus, my never ending endeavor. Still, I keep praying.

Now, I have found with prayer that I don’t often get what I ask for, but I most often get what I need. Sort of like the crippled beggar in Acts 3. The crippled man wanted money, but Peter just healed him instead. I wanted the eyes of Christ, but maybe that’s not my only Pegasus. Maybe I just never saw the whole picture. Maybe what I really needed was to wash some feet. In John 13 Jesus removes his clothing, lowers Himself to the position of a servant, and washes the feet of the man that would soon hand Him over to the Romans to be crucified. Christ knew that Judas would betray Him. He knew the price he had placed on His life, yet He washed his feet regardless. Jesus was setting an example for the disciples (v 15) to follow. He was showing them that the only position that mattered was one of servitude. Oh, how many nights I have spent praying for the eyes of Christ when it was His hands I needed most of all. Yes I need the eyes of Christ, but what good does it do if it stops at just compassion. Let me finish my thought with this. It was the eyes of Christ that brought Him to the sea, but the hands saved Peter when he wailed; it was the eyes of Christ that lead Him to the Cross, but the hands that bore the nails.