(In October I had the opportunity to speak to the ladies at our missionary retreat in Mombasa, Kenya. Here is a portion of the devotional that I shared.)

I am a person who had struggled with worry, anxiety and fear most of my life.  In fact my husband sometimes teases me that my motto is: Why pray when you can worry! I’m thankful that over the years I have learned through reading and studying God’s word that I need to put my mind on the Lord and His word, keeping my focus on Him. I won’t ever arrive because I am a sinful human living in a fallen world, but I am thankful that God is patient with me as I turn to him for help.

What are some ways that we can have victory over the sins of worry, anxiety and fear? Let’s use the acronym PRAYER. 

P is …..Putting Off the Old

Let’s start by looking at Colossians 3:1-2, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth.”

Before we put on the new, we need to put off the old.  We need to identify the lies we are believing, that are part of our old nature. What did Jesus tell us in Matthew 6?  He said, “Take no thought”.  So don’t worry, stop! Look at the birds, look at the flowers, you can’t change your physical height by worrying about it.  Don’t worry, but worship.

R is for…..Renew Your Mind

There are several scriptures that speak to this concept.

Romans 12:2 is a well-known passage that directly tells us, “…be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”  It’s a renovation that will take place in our mind. 

Philippians 4:8 tells us what to think or dwell on: things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtue and praiseworthy—think on these things. Renewing our minds is a process.  Just like those that renovate a house have to go in and tear out the old before they can come in with all the materials to make it new, we have to put off the old, and then we can replace the lies that we are thinking with God’s truth.

A is for…..Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-11 tells us, “Be strong in the Lord and the power of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Things like anxiety, fear, worry, and the cares of this world are not from the Lord, but are part of the devil’s schemes.  His lies and tricks are to keep us from living in victory. In contrast to the devil’s schemes, we are to take up, or put on, the whole, full armor of God.

Y is for….Yield your members to God

Romans 6:12-13, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” When you are tempted to dwell on thoughts of worry or anxiety, yield your mind to God. Say, “Yes, Lord, I trust you and yield myself to you.”

E is for….Everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving Is enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit

I have to tell myself, “STOP! STOP!—Be anxious for nothing—for NO THING—but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God!” Focus on today.  Ask yourself, “Am I trying to live in the future?”

Someone has said, “Worry about No- Thing, Pray about Every- Thing.” God promises to provide help.  It doesn’t always mean He will take us out of the trouble, but He will be with us through the trouble.

I Peter 5:7, “Casting ALL your care upon Him, for he careth for you.” Bring your requests to God.  God wants us to tell Him what’s going on, and to share our hearts with him.

Prayer overcomes anxiety as we present our requests to God. When we are tempted to worry, turn it into a prayer with Thanksgiving.  It’s hard to worry when we are thanking God. Start out with thanking God for the small things and move on to the bigger things. Thank God that He is in control and He knows what is best for us, for our loved ones, for our country and world.

Philippians 4:8 also talks about good thinking and renewing of our minds. We need to think on things that are true, honest, true, pure, lovely, and of good report. This positive thinking affects our emotions, but our priority is to do what is right, not just to feel good. The peace of God will keep (guard) our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus—like soldiers guarding the entrance to a castle keep it secure and safe.

R is for….Result is the Peace of God—which passes all understanding will keep (guard) your heart and your mind.

Dr. Pablo Martinez says that “The peace of Christ is not primarily tranquility, but security, it is not characterized by the absence of danger, but by the presence of Christ.  It’s not so much an emotion, but a position.”

 Psalm 4:8 says, “ I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.”

 Let’s look at Philippians 4:4-9 again:

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Rejoice! The joy of the Lord opens the door to peace. Ask yourself: Am I forgetting the faithfulness of God in the past?

Trust in God’s providence—God sees.

Trust in God’s provision—God provides.

Trust in God’s protection-God keeps me!

So as you begin this New Year, remember PRAYER is the antidote to worry, fear and anxiety!

Happy New Year!

Pam Konnerup