Welcome to Part 3 of the God Meets You in Your Anxiety series. Be sure to catch Part 1 and Part 2.
Are you ever in a place where your mind is so cloudy you have difficulty praying? I want to help you learn how to pray for your anxiety from Philippians 4:6-7.
I know when I am anxious, tired, or frustrated, I have a hard time clarifying my thoughts enough to pray in a way that feels meaningful. So, I want to give you a prayer method to help you during those times.
I do not believe anxiety can be solved with a sequential A+B+C=SOLUTION equation. But, a concrete tool helps guide my anxious heart to clarity, so that I can focus on pouring out my prayers before the Lord.
Scripture gives us many such guides. Philippians 4:4-7 teaches us how to meet God when anxious.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 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 4:4-7, ESV)
Verses 4-5 call us to a lifestyle of rejoicing in Jesus’ beauty, reveling in His nearness, and living with gentle-humility. We walk forward in uncertain times because we trust God’s promises for us.
Let us walk verses 6-7 to learn practical steps we can practice in our prayers.
1. Trust God’s heart as you pray for your anxiety from Philippians 4:6-7.
“Do not be anxious about anything…. “ (v. 6a)
This command lets us know there is a way of escape, that we don’t have to live lives dominated by specific anxieties.
The Apostle Paul is not targeting an overarching sense of unease (general anxiety), or fight/flight state of the body (physical anxiety) with this command in Philippians 4:6. The Greek word behind the English “anxious” describes the action of being concerned about a specific object (specific anxiety), such as:
- food, drink, clothing, health/life (Matthew 6:25-34)
- what you should say when on trial for your faith (Matthew 10:19)
- household tasks/entertaining guests (Luke 10:41 & 12:11)
- concerns of earthly life rather than God (1 Cor 7:32-34)
- one another (1 Cor ??12:25)
- another person’s welfare (Phil 2:20).
Nowhere in scripture is this Greek word used for the general or overarching sense of unease, physical sensations having to do with real or perceived threats, or what psychologists commonly refer to as an anxiety disorder.
So, dear one, when you read the command in verse 6, it’s not a threat of divine displeasure for every time you feel anxious. Jesus knows what concerns are common to man, so He walks through difficult circumstances with us.
God isn’t standing over us glaring down saying, “Don’t be anxious or else!!!!”
No, He is offering you His hand, saying, “Oh beloved child, come here. What’s bothering you?? Tell me all about it!! I’d love to help. Stop trying to solve your problems in your own power.”
Trust God’s heart with your anxieties. Do not ignore or deny the things about which you are anxious. You cannot hide your concerns from God. And when you try to hide them from yourself, your anxious heart will reveal itself in other ways.
2. Write down every worry.
“Do not be anxious about anything but in everything …” (v. 6a-b)
As you look for God to meet you in the midst of your anxiety, take some time to write down everything that is bothering you.
Everything? Even my daughter’s runny nose? Or that judgy mom at the park? Or my parking ticket??
Yes, everything.
Write out all the things that are bothering you. Don’t worry about creating a neat or orderly list – just write.
If it comes to mind, write it down. Pimple on your nose? Write it. Weird spot on the shower curtain? Write it down. All the little pieces of mental clutter that you hold around the edges of your consciousness. Put them on paper.
Relax, let things flow and write what you can. Don’t get worried or anxious about forgetting. You can come back and add more to the list later. Trust the Spirit to bring the anxieties you are needing to pray about to your mind in this moment.
Your goal right now is just to practice the “in everything.”
After you have compiled your list of concerns, let them be “made known” to God.
3. Start a conversation
“…by PRAYER and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests BE MADE KNOWN to God.” (v. 6c)
If we are to bring our concerns before God, we must first talk to Him.
I know this sounds incredibly elementary. Yet, as I speak with friends and family members, I periodically ask, “Have you prayed about this thing that’s troubling you?”
Inevitably they answer, “God knows.”
Dear one, of course, He knows. But divine insight is not the same as prayer.
We are commanded to pray, and that requires a conversation. The Greek word used for “prayer” in Philippians 4:6, προσευχή, means you must call on God. {See note 1} This requires activity.
You don’t get to stand around waiting for Him to act since “He knows.” You walk into His presence motivated by your trust of His heart.
4. Admit you have needs.
“…by prayer and SUPPLICATION with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (v. 6c)
When you pray for your anxiety from Philippians 4:6-7, the conversation centers on your neediness. There are no “supplications” if there are no needs. {See Note 2}
The Greek word for “supplication” (δέησις) refers to a petition presented out of need. {See Note 3}
Do you ever struggle to admit your need?
Pride worries and tries to solve specific anxieties on her own.
You’ve all heard the quote: “God helps those who can help themselves.” {See Note 4}
Yet, this is exactly our problem. We are trying to help ourselves.
Perhaps, you work to solve your own problems so that you aren’t a burden to other people, or to God. Or maybe you think, if I can figure out my problem myself, then I don’t need God.
Dear one, You are not a burden to God because He created you to be completely dependent upon Him!
God desires us to need Him. The interplay between His glory and His care for our individual plights echoes all throughout scripture. Continually, we are commanded to come to God, to focus on His nearness, and to ask Him for what we need.
Consider your heart. When you are slow to admit your neediness and frailty, might there be the lingering root of pride in your flesh?
Humility requires us to bring our concerns to God.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV)
As you consider your needs, remember how God has provided for you in the past. Then, pray for your anxiety from Philippians 4:6-7. Don’t hide your concerns from Him.
5. Rehearse God’s great actions
“…by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God.” (v. 6c)
“Thanksgiving, eucharistia, is an important accompaniment of true prayer. The recalling of God’s goodness and mercy will save us from the many pitfalls which await the ungrateful soul, e.g. over-concern with our immediate problems, forgetfulness of God’s gracious dealings with us in the past, disregard of the needs of others who are less fortunate than we are.” {See Note 5}
As you consider your top 2 or 3 concerns, ponder God’s promises about these types of needs, and how scripture reveals His care for these specific areas:
- Write down ways God has provided for you in these sorts of areas in the past
- Remember of His promises and actions throughout scripture, specifically in these kinds of situations.
Example: “Dear Jesus, I am coming down with a cold. I feel absolutely yucky. So, I remember how you are the creator of the human body. I rejoice because You are the healing God who has given my body a way of fighting off these kinds of illnesses. And you are using this momentary discomfort to transform my soul into Your image. I thank you for how you have brought me through colds, viruses, and stomach flus in the past. I recall many times where I was sick and absolutely miserable, and You walked with me through those days bringing me back to health. Thank you!”
6. Boldly lay your requests before God.
“…by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your REQUESTS be made known to God.” (v. 6c)
God always welcomes us to pour out our hearts before him.
However, Philippians 4:6 doesn’t describe our waxing eloquent on our many anxieties and worries, for the sake of having a divine listening year. An in depth looks at how Paul put together this verse reveals a person coming before God with specific requests – a shopping list of needs if you will.
(Article: How to Ask God for What You Want)
In Philippians 4:6 the Apostle Paul creates a beautiful image for us. He describes the act of “prayer,” the type of prayer (“supplication”), and the “request.”
These words work together to describe the delivery of anxiety to God like we might send a package or a letter.
- Prayer – handing the package over
- Supplication – the intent of the hand off
- Thanksgiving – the attitude with which the package is handed.
- Request – the package
The Greek word for “request” (αἴτημα) “is a word which specifies the content of prayer as the formulating of definite and precise petitions (cf. Luke 23:24; 1 Jn. 5:15). Prayer . . . can express itself in direct and specific requests” (e.g. Luke 11:5, 9–10).” {See Note 5}
Perhaps you struggle with identifying your specific needs.
I encourage you, take time to list out all the things concerning you. Then, choose the 2 or 3 concerns you want to start praying about.
Think about these concerns. What are you needing in this situation?
God can most certainly take our weak and jumbled prayers and provide for all our needs in spite of them. He doesn’t need us to be specific and precise.
However, YOU, dear one, will benefit greatly from praying specifically and precisely. How do you know if God is answering your prayers if you don’t make clear requests?
Often we catch ourselves praying things like:
- Please help my cold.
- Please work in Susie’s life.
These are vague prayers.
Instead, consider:
- HOW do I want God to help my cold?
- By healing it immediately?
- By giving me endurance to work through the discomfort?
- By giving me patience with my children when I feel like death?
- WHAT do I want God to “work” in Susie’s life?
- Does she need a job?
- Is she struggling with losing her temper with her children?
- Has she ever given her life to Jesus and been called from the kingdom of darkness into light?
Take time to carefully think through your 2-3 concerns asking yourself:
What do I need in this situation?
How specifically would I like to see God work?
Write down the answers to those questions. Don’t be shy. We pray boldly!
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16, ESV)
7. Trust God’s promise to give you peace, as you pray for your anxiety from Philippians 4:6-7.
All throughout scripture there are conditional, and unconditional promises.
God’s promise about Eve in the Garden of Eden is an example of an unconditional promise.
“I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15, ESV)
Eve didn’t have to do anything to receive this promise. And nothing she did would make God forsake His promise of a messiah.
However, God’s promised blessings to the nation of Israel were a conditional promise (Deuteronomy 11:26-28). There were certain things Israel had to do in order to receive these blessings.
In the case of specific anxieties, Paul gives us what I believe is a conditional promise of peace:
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7, ESV)
Dear one, Jesus longs to provide you with an experience of peace. However, this peace is only found when we bring our specific anxieties to Him.
A lack of peace about your concerns may be a gift reminding you to draw near to God. Jesus will meet you in your anxiety and give you peace. Run to Him!
“Have no care, but much prayer. Prayer is the cure for care. If you are in trouble, ‘Let your requests be made known,’ not to your neighbors, but ‘to God.’” ~Charles Spurgeon {6}
This printable will assist your prayers when you are anxious.
Created from an in-depth study of the passage, this Philippians 4:4-7 Anxiety Prayer Guide will help you connect with the LORD and walk in His promises.
Download yours today!
NOTES for “7 Steps to Pray for Your Anxiety from Philippians 4:6-7”:
{1} Heinrich Greeven, “Εὔχομαι, Εὐχή, Προσεύχομαι, Προσευχή,” Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, p. 807
{2} William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, p. 213.
{3} “Four terms are used in the vocabulary of the soul’s inner life. Prayer, proseuchē, and petition [or supplication], deēsis, are frequently found together in the apostle’s writing and are distinguishable in two ways, according to G. Abbott-Smith’s Lexicon. He says that [prayer] proseuchē is used of prayer in general, while [petition/supplication] deēsis gives prominence to the sense of need. On the other hand, [petition/supplication] deēsis is used as well of requests from man to man, while [prayer] proseuchē is limited to prayer to God. Requests, aitēmata, is a word which specifies the content of prayer as the formulating of definite and precise petitions (cf. Luke 23:24; 1 Jn. 5:15). Prayer is thus saved from becoming a sentimental ‘mooning before the Lord’, to quote Oswald Chambers again; it can express itself in direct and specific requests (e.g. Luke 11:5, 9–10).” (Ralph P. Martin, TNTC: Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 11, p. 176 – Emphasis mine).
See also: (Peter T. O’Brien, NIGTC: The Epistle to the Philippians, pp. 492-293)
{4} Quote by Benjamin Franklin in his Poor Richard’s Alminack (1736) using Algernon Sidney’s wording.
{5} Ralph P. Martin, TNTC: Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 11, p. 176
{6} (Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon Commentary: Philippians, p. 147).
