Meditate on These Things

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally (in conclusion), brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.  (Philippians 4:6-8 NKJV)

We live in tumultuous times.  

We have earthquakes, forest fires, hurricanes, tornados, winter blizzards and extremely cold weather.  We have new plagues and old plagues that are becoming increasingly deadly.  We have friends who say that they love the Lord but cannot remember a time (not necessarily a date) when they passed from death to life.  I am anxious as a Gospel preacher because making sure that I have been faithful to those who are my friends but  who have no recollection of ever being lost, leaves me anxious with regard to my faithfulness to them and to the Lord.

It is no wonder that many of us get up in the morning with a knot in our stomachs wondering what new calamity will happen today.  And it is all because most of us deny the truth of the Scripture that tells us to be anxious for nothing.  We want the peace of God that passes understanding.  But we forget that only prayer and supplications made with thanksgiving will guard our hearts AND minds through Christ Jesus.  Of course this promise is made to those who have repented (changed their minds about whatever is hindering them from believing the Gospel) and who have believed or trusted in Christ.  Most of us who have been saved have no question about the promise of God that tells us that Christ died for our sins and that believing in Him gives us eternal life which includes the blessing of a home in heaven.  But I freely confess that my guardian angel has to work overtime because I have trouble committing my way to the Lord.  Depending on Him instead of depending on myself is a challenge and becomes more and more of a challenge the older I get.

Proper Meditation

When we look at the things on which we are to meditate, only meditating on the Lord will allow us to meditate properly.  The virtues listed are only found completely in the Lord.  

We have Tools to Help us with Anxiety

We have the seal of the Holy Spirit if we are saved, we have the promises of Scripture,  we have angels that minister to us,  we have fellowship with other saved believers to encourage us when we are struggling.  But most of all we have the the Apostle Paul reminding us, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39 NKJV).”  While it would be easy to say that we need no help from the medical profession if we are biologically disposed to anxiety or have PTSD because of great trauma in our lives, I have no problem with getting professional help if we need help.  However, the Lord’s promise to guard our hearts and minds cannot be left out of the equation if we want the peace of God.

Relief

Now that I have turned off the news and have quit allowing my phone’s alerts to distract me, and have opened my Bible–I feel better already.  

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly (suddenly).” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20 NKJV)

Bruce Collins

Meditation for the week of February 16, 2025

If you would like further conversation about the issues in these meditations, contact me at collinsbd@yahoo.com and I will try to accommodate you with a virtual Bible Study.