The Mission of Your Life

6 Days

Day 6

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Today, we close out From Anxiety to Intimacy. We’ve learned that to combat anxiety well, we should release our worries to Him through prayer, practice thanksgiving, embrace God’s Word, and enjoy God’s world. We now focus on finishing our race well through our productive work.

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:9

We have done the mental and emotional work of unloading our cares and focusing on God’s Word, but at some point, we must rise up and go out into the world.

We challenge you to enter a productive way of living. Get involved in a church or surround yourself with a community you can serve. And enjoy the pleasure of self-forgetting.

Summary

We release worry and receive peace from God. We fill our minds with lovely thoughts and enjoy the world around us that the Lord has given us.

In Philippians 4:9, Paul wants to give us another key to this miraculous trade. He recommends getting involved in God's work and lays out a beautiful parallel.

When I release my anxiety to God, the peace of God will guard me.

When I embrace the work of God, the God of peace will be with me.

It's great to do all the mental work, but you have to get out of the chair at some point.

Be a part of something productive and good in this world. That can actually be a comfort when you have anxiety.

Step into a useful activity and do the next right thing.

What's Next?

If you're ready, find some productive work to put your hands to. Maybe start small, taking food to someone struggling, or letting a friend know you'll help them move this weekend. Set your eyes on something other than yourself, and walk with God wherever He leads you.

Scripture References

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.

For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.

But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,”

the Lord answered,

“you are worried and upset about many things,

but few things are needed—or indeed only one.

Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

22Cast your cares on the

Lord

and he will sustain you;

he will never let

the righteous be shaken.

1There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

8Finally, 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.

9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Ben Stuart

Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.