Phillipians 4:6 when you're in a fix!

For whatever reason, this morning I remembered back to college and one of the church services. A girl was sharing that her dad used to remind her..."Phillipians 4:6 when you're in a fix!". Somehow, after all these years, this is one thing I have never forgotten....and it came to mind again today when I was reading the Bible. I've been reading about Paul...and he is the king of always being in fixes! Not because he deserved it...but for God's glory.

Phillipians 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

This verse applies to so much happening around me right now. My sister, bro-in-law and neice are in a far off country....for weeks to pick up their little one. Travel, foreign country, long time away...all of that makes the situation nerve wrecking to begin with. Then, on top of that...they are gone for the holidays...and...most likely, my wedding. And I think one of the reasons I am okay with this situation (although majorly disappointed and sad) is the verse above. I have presented my requests to God (He definitely knows that I want a miracle to happen so they can make it!)...and I wholeheartedly trust Him with this. I know the decision to work magic in this situation and bring them back sooner so they can be here for Bobby and I's big day isn't mine...it's God's. There is some reason for this if they have to miss it. And I may never know the reason...and that's HARD for me! But...you know, I've got the peace from God right now that it will all work out. Will it work out to what I humanly want? Who knows...but it will be what God wants...and that's, in the end, truly my want as well. I have one millimeter of a perspective compared to my Lord's perspective....and one tenth of an iota of the knowledge and power...so why should it be what I want? It shouldn't. So, I keep praying EVERY DAY for the miracle to happen because God is so capable of making that happen...but I trust if it doesn't there is some wonderful reason as well.

Then, of course...just getting down to the details of the wedding...the last three weeks are inevitable with details, something that I wanted to avoid as much as possible so I don't get lost in them...but guess what...sometimes (especially now!) you just have to get engrossed in them and major stress comes with details. So...the verse above definitely applies here too...I am giving this new marriage (notice I didn't say wedding!) to God...actually, Bobby and I gave it to God a long time ago. Once that happens, you release soooo much of the pressure that you have on yourself to get it all to happen just perfectly. Perfect is God's perfect, not mine. I don't care if my dress gets lost, my hair all falls out and I trip down the aisle...if I get to say "I do " to Bobby...that's what matters. This reminds me of what Bobby always tells me...he always says that he'd marry me in a burlap sack (what the heck is that anyway?) on top of a garbage dumpster, as long as we get married. That focus is so important to me...the bigger, significant picture...although easy to get lost the closer the wedding gets. God's definitely helped me with this...the peace that passes all understanding is amazing...and the fact that it guards your heart and mind in Christ Jesus is so spot on too. Since I have chosen (with God's help) to always focus on the marriage and not the wedding in all of this...my heart and mind follow.

By the way, the verses that precede Phillipians 4:6-7 are neat to look at too.

Phillipians 4:4-5
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."

Remember...these verses are BEFORE the first set. So...prior to the worry, anxiousness verses in 6-7 there is a focus on rejoicing and praising in the Lord and extending gentleness to others. That to me means that's our first priority in God. That's part of the package deal that God gives us. Even AS you have worry and axiousness consuming your mind, you still are to be rejoicing in God and being gentle to all. Now...picture yourself in a highly stressed, worrisome situation right now...how often do you or I rejoice in those times....and then are gentle to everyone around us? Probably not. So...rejoice in him...be gentle to all...and then you get to pray and petition your requests to God. The result? The peace that passes all understanding! That one of the best gifts God gives us, as His children.

This got me to thinking...how often do I praise and thank God first and foremost? Then on top of that...how often am I gentle to all (even when I don't want to be or they don't deserve it)? I got the praying thing down pretty darn good (sometimes for selfish reasons)...to ask for whatever I want...but there are two steps before the praying that I often overlook and miss. Therefore, my goal is to work on those two things from this point on....praising God and gentleness...shouldn't be too hard, right?! =)