Supplication

Never worry about anything.

But

in every situation

let God know what you need in prayers and requests...

Philippians 4: 6 GW

Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known unto God.

Philippians 4: 6 KJV

Do not be anxious about anything, 

but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

Philippians 4: 6 NIV

Prayer is communication, listening and speaking with God.  Supplication is a humble prayer, entreaty, or petition.  An entreaty is an earnest request or petition. A petition is a request made for something desired, a respectful or humble request.  Plea, request, and solicitation (urging) are a few synonyms of supplication.

Pray in every situation.

Pray.

God bless you.

You're not done

Never worry about anything.

But

in every situation

let God know what you need in prayers and requests...

Philippians 4: 6 GW

How are you going to face your Jericho(s) if you don't face your fears?

How are you going to knock the walls of your Jericho(s) down if you are too heavy for the journey...stuffing, hiding, holding on to things you weren't meant to hold on to and are not equipped to carry anyway?

Yup, the questions are back!  

I thought about those questions most of yesterday and wrote an abbreviated version of them next to my list.  After jotting down the questions, I began to do the unthinkable. Next to each fear/concern, I wrote specifically what scared me.  Yikes!!  I actually had to face them...and the Holy Spirit is now saying, "You're not done."  

Honestly, I want this over with.  You may be thinking, "Me too...I'm looking forward to the next subject."  I'm not offended because this causes me discomfort and I know it causes you some.  No one likes to face their Jerichos and Goliaths, but we have a promise. Both of them fell, so we press on toward the mark. We keep on marching (journaling), screaming (magnifying God NOT our issues), and we keep on trusting till they come tumbling down!  

Next lap...each fear/concern gets a page.  Read Psalm 119...write a prayer for each.

God bless you.

Another lap

Never worry about anything.

But

in every situation

let God know what you need in prayers and requests...

Philippians 4: 6 GW

The alternative to worry is prayer.  Instead of worrying, I will pray.  As I studied, it came to my attention that prayer is not the hard part.  The hard part is to pray in every situation, while giving thanks.

Today...in every situation...

I reviewed "my first lap" list and something was missing.  I thought about "it", but didn't write it.  I left it off because this "thing" is a natural part of life.  It's not the kind of "thing" you take to God because He already allowed it, His will was done.  As a faithful daughter of our Heavenly Father, I must go through. I'm not the first, not the only one, and I won't be the last.  But I am challenged by three words, in every situation.  

While typing my true, but faulty thinking, I was convicted.  The Holy Spirit revealed how the words above starting with, "I left it off..." were an example of me winding myself in worry.  Just like the illustration I so love to share...I am, going in circles, saying/thinking one thing, but demonstrating disobedience and a lack of trust.  

God asked me:

How are you going to face your Jericho(s) if you don't face your fears?

How are you going to knock the walls of your Jericho(s) down if you are too heavy for the journey...stuffing, hiding, holding on to things you weren't meant to hold on to and are not equipped to carry anyway?

God bless you.

Your first lap

Never worry about anything.

But...

Philippians 4: 6 GW

The use of but provides or submits an alternative action (i.e., Instead of this action, I can..., or In place of this behavior, I will...).  I have a substitute for worry. As much as I may say or feel as though I can't help myself, it is a choice. The enemy would have me think differently, but the bottom line is God says (the word of God is alive, active and full of power) never worry about anything.  

If I believe in Him, I must believe His word and walk IN it.  I'll never forget the illustration a pastor gave for worry.  He turned in circles repeatedly and said worry was like winding yourself around something in one spot.  He circled aimlessly, illustrating how we get wrapped up and held captive by our problems. God wants us free.  In fact, Jesus died for our freedom and whom the Son set free is free indeed.

God gave me a powerful picture of what He wants us to do with our worries and concerns, anything causing us anxiety.

The Lord said to Joshua, “I am about to hand Jericho, its king, and its warriors over to you.  All the soldiers will march around the city once a day for six days.  Seven priests will carry rams’ horns ahead of the ark. But on the seventh day you must march around the city seven times while the priests blow their horns.  When you hear a long blast on the horn, all the troops must shout very loudly. The wall around the city will collapse. Then the troops must charge straight ahead into the city.”  Joshua 6: 2-5 GW

I believe God is telling us, just as He told Joshua...go face your issue or problem. But instead of you being consumed by it, you intimidate it. What's your Jericho?  What did you write on your list, yesterday?  I'll be honest, my list was in my head until writing it down 5 minutes ago.  But yesterday after each "thing" I faced and finished, I said "never worry" and I praised.  After God's enlightenment of Joshua walking around Jericho, I realize the list was my first lap around my Jericho(s).

God says...Walk around it, yell at it, sing songs of praise and worship around it, and watch the walls collapse, in Jesus' name!  We may not always feel like warriors, but because of our Father, we have resurrection power living within us!

God bless you!

https://youtu.be/rx524_8KwY8

My BFF

Never worry about anything.

But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks.  

Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine,

will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4: 6-7 GW

Monday mornings are special, a new work week begins for many of us.  

I laid in bed a little longer and thought.  I thought about how fast the weekend went and how I spent my time spent. I thought about the struggles and triumphs of last week, along with my desire to do better.  I thought about my To Do List for this week.  I asked God for His word to share and He gave me, "Never worry about anything."

Never worry about anything (let's call her NW) is a faithful and dear friend to me, my bff.  I met her in my mid twenties. I wasn't worried about any particular thing because I worried about everything. Thankfully, I became acquainted with a sister at work and we began studying God's word together on Tuesday nights.  At some point, she gave me a gift. It was NW, in a small frame.  I kept this gift by my bed well into my 40s.

NW is my bff because she holds me accountable.  She knows me well, yet stands firm...she tells me not to worry about anything PERIOD.  She allows me no loop holes and refuses to cosign my nonsense.  She'll listen to my concerns, then remind me to never worry about anything.  She's seen me through wonderful times and some tough times. NW has remained my bff when others have not been friends and when I've not been a friend. There were times I'd look at her and act like I didn't see her, but she remained faithful.  I don't abandon her anymore, but sometimes she gets on my nerves because no matter what I say, she counters, Never worry about anything.  She's one of my best friends forever.

Along with giving me Philippians 4:6-7 this morning, I felt God prompting me to make a list of my concerns. When worry and anxiety rear their ugly heads, my bff will be right there reminding me not to worry about anything.  I'm considering writing NW next to each concern.  

I encourage you to consider a list for yourself and identify your bffs.

God bless you.

https://youtu.be/u5hf86_hIBk