#2 – Philippians 4:6-7 Do Not Be Anxious
On January 11, 2021 by Amy and Joy Burgin
Joy:
Episode#2 Philippians 4:6-7
Welcome
Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I’m Amy Burgin.
Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin
Amy:
This podcast is for those of us who long for God’s presence and holy direction in the midst of this crazy world.
It’s also for you if you don’t really know who Jesus is. We make room for you to put aside what the world or religion has taught you so you might see for yourself.
Here, we create space for Christgazing, the act of gazing upon the beauty of the Lord. Each week we focus on one biblical passage as Joy reads it several times and creates stillness after each reading to consider what it is God wants us to know. In this, we make room for a living conversation with God under the great expectation that together, we will see him, hear his voice and know him more.
Pour Out Your Heart to God
Amy:
Before Joy brings us today’s Word, let us pray over this time together. “Dear Heavenly Father, you are awesome. Have your way in this time. We are hungry for you alone – for true knowledge of who you are. Help us to behold your beauty and your goodness. We want you. Help us to hear your voice alone. Amen.”
Now, take the next 30 seconds to pour out your heart to God, whether it be frustration, thanksgiving, anxiety, peace, a long to do list or nothing to do. Whatever is on your mind, name it and bring it to the Lord in these next 30 seconds.
[Pause and pour out]
What Does This Passage Say About God?
Joy:
I’m going to ready today’s passage two times. As I read, consider the question, “What does this passage say about God?” What is his heart, What does he want? What is he doing? What does he value?
Again?
Take a few moments to answer the question, “What does this passage tell you about God?”
[Pause and know]
What Does This Passage Say About People?
Joy:
As I read the scripture again, consider the question, “What does this passage tell you about people?” What do people think? What do people need?
Take a few moments to answer the question, “What does this passage tell you about people?”
[Pause and know]
Lord, What Would You Have Me Know or Do Today?
Joy:
As I read for the last time, ask God the question, “Lord, what would you have me do today in response to this passage?” Remember, he is a good shepherd and he desires to lead and guide you to green pastures and living waters. God wants you to know him better. He is a good, gentle and kind shepherd. He never condemns or belittles but rather, he is the lifter of our heads.
Take a few moments to listen for his voice as you ask him, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today?”
[Pause and listen]
Blessing
Joy:
Christgazer, may the Lord bless you and keep you from anxiety, worry and fear. May he cause his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, giving you a sound mind to know who he is throughout this day and week, filling you with thanksgiving and reminding you to bring your requests to him. May he turn his face toward you and guard your hearts and minds with his unfathomable peace all according to what he wants for you as written in Numbers 6:23-26 and Philippians 4:6-7.
One Response
Amy:
I leaned into this verse so much last year. Worry, anxiety and fear are some of my worst enemies and they hit hard in 2020.
And what’s at stake when we allow worry to take over our minds? Jesus told a parable in Matthew 13. Worry grows like weeds choking out God’s word in the garden of our hearts.
Hoping for freedom from anxiety, wishing to be a good student of my favorite teacher, Jesus, and inspired by Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts, I bought a spiral at the beginning of last year. In the evenings, while the world counted covid19 deaths, I counted my thanksgivings and requests.
This practice settled my mind at night. But anxiety also hit midday when I was far from my spiral and pen. It’s been work to try to retrain my brain. When I found myself anxious, brooding over uncertain outcomes, (what will happen at that doctor’s appointment?) I worked hard to make a conscious decision to bring it to Jesus and simply lay my requests before him.
But I’ve found striving to obey the instructions given in this verse is no match for looking at Christ first and then letting the thanksgivings and requests be birthed from what I see when I look at him.
And that brings me to the remarks I’ve chosen to close out the first many episodes of this podcast. If you recall, from episode 1, we closed by paraphrasing James Bryan Smith, author of the The Things Above podcast and many books including one I’m currently reading titled, Hidden in Christ. I was introduced to his quote by Emily P Freeman, author of The Next Right Thing podcast. She shared the quote often and even interviewed him about it in episode 86 of her podcast. The direct quote is this, “I am one in whom Christ dwells and delights. I live in the strong and unshakeable Kingdom of God, the kingdom is not in trouble and neither am I.”
This quote helped me set my eyes on Christ and what is true about me in every situation. It brought me a deep sense of thanksgiving and also ushered in his unsurpassable peace.
Let me say it again. I’ve found striving to obey the instructions in this verse is no match for looking at Christ first and then letting his unsurpassable peace be birthed from what I see when I look at him.
Closing
Amy:
Because this quote helped me set my eyes on Christ, I adopted it and adapted it to make it my own. I mapped each thought in it to a verse and added a few others as well. And now, I pass it on to anyone who will listen, which is why I want to conclude the first many episodes with it. You can find my paraphrase, with each thought linked to a verse, as well as links to the other resources mentioned today, in the transcript of this episode at amyburgin.com.
And I leave you with it until next week.
When you put your trust in Christ,
you are one in whom he dwells and delights,
a very child of God.
You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom.
Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails and so do you.
It blesses me to hear from you! Please leave a reply here.