Are you feeling a little anxiety? That’s perfectly normal, especially in the times we’re living in. Today I want to encourage you that the Bible gives us clear direction to not be anxious about anything.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:4-8  NIV)

Those are great words of wisdom. Do not be anxious about anything. That’s tough to live out right now, but fortunately the scripture tells us how to find relief from the anxiety.

1. By Prayer

Take your concerns to God, whatever they might be. Put them at his feet. He wants to have the conversation with you. He wants  to hear what is on your heart and causing your anxiety so don’t hold back. Pray to him like you’re talking to a friend.

2. By Petition

A prayer of petition is a request to God that asks him to fulfill a need. If you are struggling and just don’t have the words, call another believer and have them pray over you, just like you would have someone sign a petition to agree on an issue. Have a friend pray with you in agreement for God to help.

3. With Thanksgiving

In your time of need, don’t forget to thank God in advance for his help and to simply thank God for being there with you.

Then, we see the…

Result

The peace of God will guard (in original language a military term, imagine a tank and soldiers guarding the fort) your hearts (your emotions) and your minds (your logic).

So just to recap, you pray, ask others to pray in agreement with you and thank God. Then God’s peace will guard you from being anxious.

One of the ways I like to pray is to be quiet, like when I’m driving to work. But most often, my favorite time and way to pray is while I’m moving. I like to walk with my dog, Simba, in our neighborhood. As I walk I just pray out loud (or under my breath when neighbors are around so they don’t think I’m crazy ?) and have a conversation with God. I share all the things I’m excited about and also worried about. Lately, I’ve been taking two walks a day. I might even go on three or more walks if needed. I can do this while social distancing  and also keep my mind focused on God and his ever-present help in times of trouble. Take the time to pray and see what happens.