Anxieties of this life.

I'm revisiting a couple verses I studied a few days back because they are still on my heart to study.

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

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Be careful for nothing--

Mar_4:19  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Luk_21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

The cares of this world and the cares of this life are obviously to be shunned. The cares of this world can choke the word of God and it becomes unfruitful. The cares of this life can make it so we are unaware of our Savior's return. Two horrific outcomes from 'caring'.  I'm so obviously not talking about having compassion- that sort of caring. 

Mar 4:19  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 

(CEV)  But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything.

(Contemporary English Version)

(EMTV)  and the anxieties of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things coming in choke out the word, and it becomes fruitless. (English Majority Version)

(ISV)  but the worries of life, the deceitful pleasures of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word so that it can't produce a crop. (International Standard Version)

(YLT)  and the anxieties of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, and the desires concerning the other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.  (1898 Young's Literal Translation)

Anxieties of life, worries of life-  cares of life.

If we are to be careful for nothing we are truly being told we aren't to WORRYING or have ANXIETY about anything.

To know this as a truth I have to say I really do understand my fascination with these verses, with this message because I worry, I have anxieties and I know I shouldn't.  I tell myself it's my nature, it's just who I am, it's a part of me.  Yet, God's word tells me something different.

My husband is NOT a worrier as a rule and has very little- next to no anxiety. I see him in situations that would have me freaking out, panicking and he is as calm as could be. He literally sees no reason to worry about things he has no control over. 

My mother is another non-worrier, at least overtly.  I've read some of her journals and now realize that she did have worries and concerns but she never let on about them, they didn't consume her.

Being told to be careful for nothing is a message of great magnitude for me.  Instead of worrying and having anxiety I should--PRAY.

Pray. 

Is my prayer life ineffective when I pray and still worry? Am I NOT trusting God? If the peace that passes ALL understanding doesn't keep my heart and mind is it because I am not believing in Jesus Christ who gives that peace?

After that initial instruction we are told the following--

Php 4:8  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. 

A list of things we are to THINK about.

Think about-

True things.

Honest things.

Just things.

Pure things.

Lovely things.

Good reported things.

Virtuous things.

Praiseworthy things.

More on this tomorrow by the grace, the mercy, the will of GOD.

I need more.

All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior now and forever!

Amen!