The Power of “Nothing”
Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
God tells us to be anxious for nothing. So, here’s the question, how can “nothing” hold so much power over us? Because sometimes the ‘nothing’ is all-consuming and it’s everything we think about, run from, struggle to carry and try, helplessly, to ignore.
Believers are not immune to anxiety. Let’s admit it. Years ago people would rarely acknowledge they might struggle with anxious thoughts because there was a stigma to it. We are not supposed to fall victim to anxiety or depression, right? We’re supposed to be ‘stronger’ than our anxious thoughts and victorious over the darkness. Yet, here we are. And we struggle. It’s okay to admit it. That “nothing” can actually render us weak and powerless.
One important thing to remember is that we don’t battle against flesh and blood, we battle against principalities and powers- those unseen but strong enemies that attack our thoughts and try to incapacitate our spiritual life (Eph. 6:12). How can the enemy make us ineffective? By consuming our thoughts with things that distract us from the Lord. That’s why scripture tells us to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (1 Cor 10:5)
Even King David, a man after God’s own heart, had his own struggles with depression and anxiety. Just take time to read through the Psalms and you’ll see time and again where David cries out to God, pleads for rescue from the mire and the waters that overwhelm him (Ps. 69 is a great example) Yet David always refocused his thoughts back on God and made it a point to praise God, even in the midst of his battles. He was honest about his struggle, but intentional about his choices.
Anxiety takes our thoughts off of Christ and onto those things that weigh us down. It consumes our thinking and paralyzes our mind. It is an attack that cripples our ability to be effective in living victoriously for Christ. For all those reasons, and more, we need to fight it by taking every thought captive and we need to pray for spiritual protection over ourselves, over our sons and daughters, and over the Church as a whole.
This is not to say that medical help isn’t necessary, because sometimes it is. And God has given doctors and professionals the wisdom and insight to see and understand how our minds, emotions and physical bodies work together (or sometimes against each other) and can provide help and support to aid in the battle.
But what else can we do? Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” That’s right, think on those things are are:
True (God’s word is truth, John 17:17)
Noble/honorable (of good character, Romans 5:3-4)
Right (righteousness revealed in the gospel, Romans 1:17)
Pure (wisdom from above is pure, James 3:17)
Lovely (the love of God, John 16:27)
Admirable (of good report- like Jesus’ ministry, Luke 4:14)
So what happens when we begin to take every thought captive and think on those things that God tells us are powerful, excellent and praiseworthy? The power of ‘nothing’ begins to lose its power over us. Remember, as believers, we have the same power working in us that God used when He raised Christ from the dead!! The power that broke the chains of sin and death lives in us! (Eph 1:18-21)
Don’t miss the powerful promise in Philippians 4:7! When, instead of being anxious, we make our requests to the Lord, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” When we stop focusing on the things that make us anxious and instead pray, God promises His peace will guard our hearts and minds through Jesus!
Today, let’s pray in power of the Holy Spirit for a hedge of protection around our sons and daughters. Let’s pray that the enemy would not be able to stir up thoughts and weigh down hearts with things that Christ has already conquered. Let’s pray that the helmet of salvation would protect their minds and the breastplate of righteousness would guard and protect their hearts so they would be anxious for nothing. Let’s pray that ‘nothing’ has any power to render us helpless or hopeless. We are more than conquerors in Christ!
“Father, You are the Almighty Sovereign God. I trust You and I know my soul can and does find rest in the shadow of Your wing. My soul clings to You and Your right hand upholds me (Ps 63:8) I pray this would be the prayer of (name) as well, today. Lord, sometimes anxiety wells up in us. But I pray that ‘nothing’ would hold no power over (name). Lord, be mightier than the thoughts that stack up in (name)’s head. Be stronger than the cares that would weigh (name) down. Each time they begin to feel overwhelmed, I pray that You would pour scripture and thoughts of truth, righteousness, honor, and those thing that are pure and lovely so their thoughts would be consumed by You rather than by what would distract them from You. Lord, in Ps 94:19 David prayed, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” I pray that for (name) today. When anxiety is great within (name), please bring them consolation and comfort that leads to pure joy in You. Help (name) to be anxious for nothing. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.