Fret Not!

Philippians 4:⁶ “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (emphasis added)

In Philippians 4, Paul shows us practical steps to take to find courage for gratitude. And the first is, WORRY ABOUT NOTHING! Yesterday, we highlighted that this can be a challenge, particularly because a lot of us wake up to scary alarms from our devices, that wake us up in such a huge panic. However, some people have chosen to replace the alarming tune with a comforting tune. That may work for some people but for some of us, if the comforting tune is a worship song, for example, we will be worshipping and sleeping. But God is saying to you and I, Philippians 4:⁶ “Do not fret or have any anxiety…”  (AMP). When Paul was writing this particular letter to the Philippian church, guess what? Paul was not on a boat cruise or having dinner with his family by the poolside. Paul was chained in a Roman prison, a murky, slimy dungeon.

Yet Paul wrote, be anxious for nothing. That in itself speaks volumes. If many of us were to write a letter in a similar situation, it would read, “Raise a prayer team for me, Philippian church, do not forget your Apostle in this dungeon. Send emissaries!” But Paul in the dungeon, in chains and wrote, be anxious for nothing. Nothing is worth your anxiety. That is what God is saying. You are too precious, and the peace of your mind is too precious for it to be lost to anything. Nothing is worth it. Researchers tell us that forty percent (40%) of what we worry about never happens. It is just unnecessary torture. Thirty percent (30%) of what we worry about concerns the past. So, what never happens and the things that have happened in the past, constitute seventy percent (70%) of all our worries. Wow.

Seventy percent (70%) of the things you worry about, you have no business worrying about them. Now, imagine your life is free of seventy percent (70%) of all your worries. How will your life be? The peace you will have will be amazing! Many people will be off medication. Then guess what? Twelve percent (12%) of what we worry about are needless health concerns. Ten percent (10%) are categorized as insignificant or petty issues. So, ninety-two percent (92%) of our worries are completely baseless. Only eight percent (8%) are legitimate concerns.

Pause and think about it. Only eight percent (8%) of all your worries are legitimate concerns. Little wonder Jesus says in Matthew 6:³⁴ “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own.” (NIV). God says this is how to tackle the eight percent (8%) legitimate concerns, Do not worry about it!

Prayer: Father, help me remember that You are my very present help, in Jesus Name. Amen!