Philippians 4

The words from the Lord are so rich. He is so good and gracious to us. The more that I have read scripture the more I am overwhelmed with his love and more thankful for those who took so much of their lives just to write these words for us to read even today.

v.6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

So many times I read the first part of this saying "Don't be anxious about anything" and then read the last part really fast, but the first part is really what we remember anyway!
For me it is easier to not be anxious that it is to slow down and pray to God and thank Him for what he is doing, but also praying about what our needs are. It's very easy for me to just pray "Dear Lord, FIX THIS!" The Lord wants us to come to him with a holy fear of who he really is. Not with a holy rage about what He's not doing.

For me the beginning about "Not being anxious about anything" is to say that when something is going on I still have the some trust and hope in Christ that He is my provider and my protector and is still working out his perfect plan for my life. Not for me to live in haste or stress or worry about something that I have no control over, but to trust his hand.

v.12-13 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

This really speaks to the person that Paul was. He wasn't speaking out of His knowledge of the Lord as merely head knowledge, but he had been through this. In the midst of his heartache and struggle and life he knew that the Lord was good. He knew that he wasn't defeated because of who was and is and already had fought and WON the battle for him.