One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I see this verse as a status on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, as well as other social media platforms. I wonder though when reading through many social media status posts and thoughts of people, do they truly place their trust and faith in Jesus Christ? Do they post this as their motto and when the bad times occur or the challenges of life, do they cave into the humanity of their mortal selves and start to worry and become depressed because their life has been somewhat altered?
I have known born-again Christians who were faced with medical issues. They were concerned and lost sleep over this medical condition. Although through Scriptural encouragement, many continued to worry and could not seem to stop worrying about their condition. Through my own medical conditions, I have learned to accept each condition and have embraced them as they have brought me so ever close to God and Jesus Christ. I have learned to lean on God and His Son in every adversity and emergency.
This morning, I went to a seminar series being recorded at the church that I attend. Dr. Tony Crisp was preaching his series called “Living Beyond Brokenness.” Although I would love to write about the entire series, I will be focusing on one takeaway from his series which inspired me to write this article. The Scripture he shared leads up to Philippians 4:13. If I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, then worry and drama is not of God and is an attack of the prince of this world, Satan.
Worry can lead to depression, which is many times a manifestation of a demonic attack. Worry is not something that we should dwell on, because it separates us from God and His promise. Let’s read Philippians 4:4-19:
“4 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.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Look at verse 6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Being anxious about whatever you are worrying about is not what God wants us to do. Satan relishes in our confusion. Instead of worrying and being so concerned about our health or other circumstances, pray and turn them over to God. After all, that is what it means to say I can do all things through Christ as Philippians 4:13 suggests. Medical adversity may occur as well as life’s problems in Believer’s lives. The world is watching in how we handle these circumstances. By turning all over to Jesus and laying these adversities at Christ’s feet, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” as mentioned in verse 7. Even in adversity, praise God for it. God will see how you handle life’s problems and He will give you strength to get through (cf. verses 8 and 9). Practice these things and they will become part of your life. If you want to truly be successful in walking with Christ, then you must stop worrying about things that you have no control over. Embrace it and continue to walk with Christ as He will see you through. Anxiety is incompatible with trusting in God.
Dr. Crisp suggests that if you are struggling with anxiety and depression, then read through Philippians 4:4-9 at least 100 times. You are not trying to memorize these Scriptures, but you are trying to internalize them so that the oppression will cease. My suggestion is to read these verses at least 10 times each day and pray at least four times each day. Pray in the morning before getting ready for work, at noon, in the afternoon, and at bedtime. Getting into a true prayer life with our Lord is the only way to have a true relationship with Jesus. Not only should you read these Scriptures but also start reading God’s Word. I read early in the morning because it helps me through the day. I also read some at night before bedtime.
For Christ to empower you so that you can do all things through Him and His strength, you must have a real relationship with Him. The only way to do that is to acknowledge that you are a sinner, lost without hope. Pray and ask Jesus into your heart. Ask Him to come into your life and forgive you of your sins. He will surely do that if you ask him. Dr. Crisp stated, “The moment you are saved, you are forgiven for whatever you have ever done in your life. God declares you to be righteous because it’s not that you alone are righteous but is based on the finished work of Jesus Christ that makes you righteous.”
If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, then please read through these Scriptures to understand what Jesus did for you.
The following are Scriptures from the Holy Bible which explain the way to Christ.
Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death (hell) but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.”
John 3: 3, “Jesus replied, ‘I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”
John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Romans 10:9-11, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. Now the Scripture says, ‘No one who believes in Him will be put to shame.’”
2 Corinthians 5:15, “And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised.”
Revelation 3:20, “Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.”
John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish (go to hell), but have eternal life (Heaven). For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
If you want to ask Jesus into your life, then pray this prayer. Once prayed, then you will be saved and have the empowerment mentioned in Philippians 4:13.
“Heavenly Father, I have sinned against You. I want forgiveness for all my sins. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again. Father, I give You my life to do with as You wish. I want Jesus to come into my life and into my heart. This I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
I pray that you will receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and that you will live for Him the remainder of your life. It is through Jesus that I can face tomorrow and the uncertainties of life. As the song goes, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future. And life is worth the living just because He lives.”
References:
Dr. Tony Crisp, “Living Beyond Brokenness,” Grove Avenue Baptist Church, March 9, 2019.
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