Guarded in Christ

“6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)

Anxiety is a horrible mental issue and many deal with it every day. I know the suffering and it is terrible when it grabs hold of you. Paul writes that we should not be anxious about anything. It is our relationship with God that quells the anxiety.

Before I met Jesus Christ, I suffered from several different kinds of issues. When Christ became my savior and I acknowledged myself as a sinner in need of one, the issues continued, but not for long. As I matured in Christ and continue to mature the issues are no longer prominent in my life. I realized that Satan uses these issues to divide us from God. I occasionally have anxiety issues but rarely anymore and when I do it is a prayer that resolves it.

When you are centered in Christ, the peace of Christ floods over you. It is a peace you cannot understand or comprehend. The peace of Christ helps calm the fears and doubts of everyday life. When we acknowledge that we are truly Children of God, nothing in this world can harm us. We are guarded in Christ. Paul also wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” The Lord is faithful, and He does guard us from the evil one. Therefore, there is no reason to be anxious about anything. Worrying is sinful because we are failing to trust in Christ.

In speaking to someone recently about sin, I explained that part of the reason for repetitive sin is that we have failed to place Christ at the center of our lives. Christ must be number one above all things, especially self. When we live a Christ-centered life we have to place everything about us after Him. Christ becomes all-consuming and when this happens, we become more blessed. The more we mature, the more we trust and the less anxiety interferes with our lives. Not like the false teachers preach about health and wealth, but about faith, strength, and assurances of our salvation.

Do not fear the world because if you are in Christ, you have already died to this world and no matter what happens to you here, it can never take your eternal life. “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:12).

Grace and Peace!