Do Not Be Anxious About Anything - Apples of Gold - July 9, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for July 9, 2008

“Do Not Be Anxious About Anything”

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

“The older I get, the more I worry about my kids.”

That’s what she said, and I thought it was odd because her children were all grown up.  And there I was, just trying to keep my kids from getting under the sink and drinking poison.

That reminds me of the time when I was a kid and Mom took a bottle out from under the sink and drew an actual skull and crossbones on it.  That just made me want to pop the top and take a big swig.

Anyway, I figured if you kept your kids from killing themselves before they moved out, your worries were over.  Not so, according to this woman.  The older they got, the more she worried.

Now that my kids are a bit older, I think I see what she meant.  The stakes are higher as they become adults and start making major life decisions. 

And this old world, with the shape it’s in, what kind of life will my kids have?  What’s happening to the economy?  What will gas prices be five years from now?  What about terrorists and war?  What about grocery prices and unemployment?  Will they be able to get a good education?  And will it do them any good?

If you want to get stressed out, there are plenty of reasons to do so.  If you sit around and dwell on these things, you can literally worry yourself sick.

However, we are told in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything.”

With so many things to worry about, how can we not be anxious?  I mean, I can just watch the news for five minutes and feel a worry fever coming on.

Fortunately that same passage in Philippians tells us what to do about anxiety.

Philippians 4:6 goes on to say, “…present your requests to God.”

That is huge.  Worry happens when we bottle up our anxieties, letting them swirl around inside us.  The remedy for bottled up anxiety is to pop the lid and pour it out to the Lord.  Take it to the Lord in prayer.  Present your requests to God.

Then verse seven says that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.

So that’s a pretty simple formula.  When we feel anxious, we pray about it.  Then God takes our anxiety and replaces it with peace.

Then God gives us a way to avoid future anxiety.  Philippians 4:8 gives us a list of things to think about:  whatever is true and noble and right, whatever is pure and lovely and admirable, “if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.”

Here are a couple more worry inoculations from Philippians chapter four.  Verse four says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!”  Verse six says we should come before the Lord with thanksgiving.

When you feel like you just can’t cope, look at verse 13, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”

When you worry about the economy and whether you’re going to make it, look at verse 19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Paul wrote that some people have their mind set on earthly things.  But that should not be us.  He said our citizenship is in heaven.

And then he gave us something to look forward to.  He said we eagerly await a Savior from heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He will “transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.”

Yes, in this day and age there is plenty to worry about – but it does no good to worry.  So let’s take advantage of the wisdom God is giving us in Philippians chapter four.  And here again is what it says.

When you start to worry, don’t just sit there and marinate in troubling thoughts.  Instead, turn those worries into prayers.  Present your requests to the Lord, and He will replace your worries with His peace.

Then take control of your thoughts, and only think about good things.  Rejoice in the Lord, and thank Him for all His blessings.

Keep in mind that we can do all things through Christ, and that God will meet all of our needs.

And remember, we are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly await our Savior from heaven, who will take these old bodies and transform them to be like His glorious body.

Worry is a big bottle of poison.  Label it with a skull and crossbones, then throw it out for good. 

The Bible says, “Do not be anxious about anything.”

It’s time to take that advice, and enjoy the peace of God “which passeth all understanding.”


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


© 2008 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
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