Daily Devotion | New Rocky Creek Baptist Church

Too Blessed to be Depressed

Posted on Jun 19, 2020 in Devotions |

Philippians 4:6, 7

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Introduction: Have you been worrying lately? We are all facing multiple ANXIETIES {family, finances, future} and are tempted to WORRY because we can’t control everything. The word “Worry”-“Anxiety” is merimnao, which pictures a dog leaping into the air going for the jugular vein. If doctors could invent a WORRY-FREE pill, it would almost empty the hospitals.

A few years ago these statistics were revealed:

40% of the things we WORRY about never happen….that’s almost half!
only 8% are legitimate concerns.

***NEWSFLASH*** Doctor JESUS has a cure! Paul explains…

1. Why be WORRIED with CARE, when we can be blessed with PRAYER? (Phil 4:6, 7)

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication..” {“Careful” -full of care}

Definition of worry: mental disorder
Low grade fever
Pulling apart of the mind
Dividing the mind

According to statistics:

1 in 8 Americans (probably more now after the last few months with Covid-19), between the ages of 18 yrs old and 63 yrs old, are plagued with ANXIETY
#1 Health issue with 65 yrs and older

2. Why should we be unthankful and depressed, when we can have God’s SWEET PEACE and REST? (Phil 4:7)

“With thanksgiving let your request be known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

{The word “Peace” is eirene, which means a state of tranquility}

{The word “keep” is phroureo, which means guard, protect, to prevent a hostile invasion} Don’t you love that!

• Peace that surpasses

• Peace that protects

Conclusion: Worry is a person with a bended head, caring a load of feathers, but thinks it’s lead. Why pray when you can worry? Or better yet, why worry when you can pray?

One lady named Betty Phillips used to tell me in jest, “I’m worried”! While asking why, she would respond, “I’m WORRIED that I’m not WORRIED”!

You ask, so how does this biblical principle work?

Simply put, when we take our eyes off our seemingly insurmountable problems, i.e, cares and worries, which cause anxieties, and instead talk to God, our focus becomes how big and mighty He is in comparison to our situation or feelings. Consequently, our trust in Him releases a state of rest (a guard around our hearts and minds), something we can’t explain.

So rather than WORRY with CARE, we can be blessed with PRAYER, and instead of being depressed, we can experience our Lord’s PEACE and sweet REST.

Praise the Lord!

Love y’all,

Dr. Randy Reese