Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God (Philippians 4:6).
Thoughts come to us all the time. Even now, your mental receptacle system is working, and myriads of signals are coming through your mind. Your mind could be processing something that happened in the past, or something you’re expecting to happen in future. You could even be thinking about a loved one, your office, your car…anything; right now.
When thoughts rush at us like that, the tendency is for us to “take” one or more of such thoughts, and ruminate or brood over them. This leads to worry, and God never wants us to worry; rather, He wants us to be “careful for nothing….” The word, “careful” is from the Greek “Merimnao,” which means, “to take thought,” to be anxious about, or center your mind in such a way as to be concerned and distracted. When you “take” thoughts, that is, allow yourself to be worried over anything, those thoughts draw you away and get you distracted. Therefore, when negative thoughts come to you, trying to get your attention and pull you away, God says, “Don’t take them!”
The Lord Jesus alluded to the same thing in Matthew 6:25-26; He said, “…take no thought (Merimnao) for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on….Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them….” Don’t worry about what you’re going to eat, drink, or wear. The people of the world seek after these things, but your heavenly Father knows you need them. Act like the birds; trust the Lord to take care of you.
Instead of “taking thoughts,” tell the Lord what you want, through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. He’s big enough to take care of you; He knows exactly what you need, which is the reason He’s made all things yours in Christ. Have this consciousness; and when you do, the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will garrison your heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
