Advent 2, Peace: Coping With Anxiety

Philippians 4:6-8
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
"Tis the season to be jolly!" Really?  Maybe so? Maybe not? Let me ask you.  Throughout the year, and during Advent when we celebrate Christ Jesus coming into the world, do you ever feel worried? Does anxiety get the best of you?  What about your level of tension?  Is it real? does it get higher?  Would you admit it if you were anxious?  I hope  you would admit it because Paul, in this passage, is providing each of us with a plan for coping with anxiety,  and it is a plan that will really work.
Don't Do It
At first glance, Paul seems a bit preachy when he says "Don't be anxious about anything," Sadly, many take this as you and me being given another rule about what not to do; however, that is not what Paul is saying at all. He is laying a foundation for overcoming anxiety in a wonderful way! Notice what I wrote when I said these five above italicized words. Now notice how I wrote it.  When you read that last word "anything" do you see a comma or a period?  It's a comma.  That is correct.  The five words are NOT a command to make you feel guilty.  These words are intentionally written to help you find a way to move from anxiety to the very peace of God.  Let's look a little further. 
Conjunction Junction What's Your function?
Some of you will remember "Schoolhouse Rock." This is a commercial that helped children learn educational principles by putting them to music, and one of those principles put to music is related to teaching how to use a conjunction like  "But" and others.  Take a little time to try this on for size:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODGA7ssL-6g (Copy and paste to your URL.)
Go ahead and watch this! I think it will be fun, and it will help you understand what I am getting at here when I say that Paul didn't follow the five words with a period but a conjunction.  You see, after Paul tells us to not be anxious, he begins providing a remedy for anxiety by saying "but." Then he starts sharing some of the best psychological advice I have ever known for coping with worryosis. Oh my! I just coined a word that means a condition of habitually worrying. Anyway, the function of "but" is to say, anxiety is not something you want to do, but if you do get anxious, here is what you can do to cope.  By the way, if you check out the time that Jesus had worryosis -- in the Garden of Gethsemane where He sweated blood because of the overwhelming anxiety He experienced facing the Cross -- you will see He used a good portion of Paul's plan to get through the overwhelming trauma going on in His life. I have used this plan of Paul, and it does work.
The Plan
So what's the plan?  It begins with pray and petition God as you  thank God. You can go to just about any Counselor around, and she/he, will tell you of the amazing value of intentionally having an attitude of gratitude. Just focusing on being thankful is a powerful way to shift your viewpoint. For Christ Followers, choosing to be thankful is a powerful spiritual practice for tapping into God and His marvelous life changing grace. Keep in mind that, when you pray, petition and thank God, you are talking to the ONE who wrote the book on counseling.  You are talking to THE Wonderful Counselor who is also THE Prince of Peace!  In other words, praying and petitioning God, while being thankful taps,  into some very special power that comes from the Prince of peace!  Pray, "God I thank you for" (whatever is going on.) List everything going on good and bad; and thank God for each one of those things,  as you petition Him for help.  Keep pouring out your heart and thanking Him.  
Then something happens: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Yup!  Take your anxiety,  and cast all your "anxieties on Him (Christ Jesus) because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7  Be intentional about being thankful as well. God will then set a centennial--or guard -- around your heart and mind so as to secure you  in a state of peace.  This peace will be special.  It will surprise you because this guard of peace that "stands post" will transcend anything and everything you understand. You might just be surprised at just how this peace settles into your heart and mind.
 I have tried this peace plan many times, and I am a witness this spiritual practice is one of the most practical ways I know for taming anxiety. Don't be anxious. Intentionally be thankful, petition and or pray to God. Then watch what happens.
May you be blessed today as you learn this spiritual practice for coping with anxiety.

 SoJourner

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