“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Phil. 4:6). 

I’m not a Bible scholar. I haven’t been to seminary, and I’ve never studied ancient Greek. There are plenty of times when I wonder what a passage of Scripture really means. But in this case, it seems clear that “anything” means just what it says – anything.

… but the coronavirus sounds like it could really be bad. It could affect me and people I love. Don’t be anxious about anything. 

… but my retirement account just took a big hit when the stock market crashed. I don’t know what we’ll do. Don’t be anxious about anything.

… but our national politics are so unsettling. It’s tearing our country apart and it seems impossible to find common ground. Don’t be anxious about anything. 

… but my church is a mess. We’d rather fight than listen, taking a cue from the political arena and forgetting our shared faith and Christian values. Don’t be anxious about anything.

… but surely Paul didn’t understand how crazy and complicated our world would be when he wrote those words. He was only imprisoned, rejected by his own tribe, living under an oppressive military regime, and without any of the benefits of modern medicine and technology. 

I don’t write this blog as someone who has mastered the practice of not being anxious. In fact, I agree with one friend who told me that it’s impossible to be non-anxious. I simply want to remind you (and me) that “anything” really does mean anything, and call us to become a less anxious presence by presenting our requests to God in prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. 

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The story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples is very familiar. If you’re a preacher, you’ve probably taught it many times and may do so again during Holy Week. 

This scene has also been the subject of many paintings. In the many ways the scene has been portrayed, one thing that is consistent is the disciples complete focus on Jesus. It would be absurd to portray Peter reading a scroll (or looking at a smart phone) will having his feet washed by the Messiah.

So take moment for self-examination. What is your level of engagement in those moments when you are purposefully in Christ’s presence? I know that he is always with us, but I’m referring to the times when you are studying Scripture, praying, meditating, or intentionally practicing any other spiritual discipline. Does Jesus have your full and complete attention? Are you eagerly watching and listening for what he will say? Or in contrast, if an artist painted your scene, would the picture show you with a distracted expression on your face?

I will admit that this blog is confessional. I have a consistent rhythm of reading the Bible and praying when I get up in the morning. But far too often, I’m distracted by thoughts of an unresolved challenge or a busy agenda that lies ahead. I don’t have an easy solution to this problem, but I’m aware that I wouldn’t want that portrait to be on display for the world to see. And I’m reminded of Jesus’ words to Martha: “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one.” I will try to remember that the next time I get distracted. 

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I don’t know any church or ministry leader that would say that they intentionally ignore God. We routinely talk about being dependent on God. So in what ways do your leadership decisions reflect the influence of the Holy Spirit? How does God shape and set your priorities?

There are a variety of behaviors that signal that we’re leading mostly from our own strength with little reliance on the Spirit. One of the places where this tendency is most apparent is in the ways that we engage in prayer around important organizational decisions. Have you ever seen any of the following scenarios?

• As the meeting begins, the leader says, “Let’s open with a quick prayer and then we’ll get started.”
• A leadership team is wrestling with a difficult decision and is clearly divided on what to do. Someone says, “We just need to take a vote.”
• The team engages in a vigorous debate about pros and cons, but when it’s time to pray (if they pray at all), the energy and intensity drops noticeably.
• You don’t ask how God has spoken to individual team members about the decision because you suspect that no one has really prayed about it.

It’s easy for me to make this list because I’ve fallen into each of these traps at different times. The first one, in particular, is both a pet peeve when I observe it and one of my biggest weaknesses. The quick invocation signals that prayer is obligatory, but the real work is what happens after we pray. It allows God in the room, but just barely.

I truly believe in the power of prayer and in God’s ability and desire to guide our decisions. I not only believe in it – I’ve seen it in action. Of course, the role of prayer in important decisions is a principle that comes directly from Scripture. I love the description of the Council at Jerusalem in Acts 15, specifically verse 28 which describes the resolution of a heated debate with these words: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us …” Can you use that phrase to describe the important decisions in your church or ministry?

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My flight landed in a small airport, and I immediately switched my phone out of “airplane mode” so that I could check my email. But my phone didn’t cooperate, instead showing a “no signal” indicator in the top left corner. I waited a few seconds with no change. So I turned the phone off, turned it back on, and waited. Still no signal. In the terminal, the results were the same. I didn’t receive a signal until I was getting into my rental car. Needless to say, it was a frustrating 15 minutes.

Later that day, I felt the Holy Spirit bring this incident back to mind. It was as if God was saying, “You were frustrated that your phone wouldn’t connect. Why don’t you have the same emotions when you’re not connecting with me?”

Ouch! I couldn’t really argue. Just a couple of days earlier, I had a very early flight, so I didn’t take the time to read my Bible and commune with God before leaving for the airport. Nor did I find a quiet place at the airport for a few minutes of prayer or turn my focus to God once I boarded the plane. I was too focused on the “important” tasks of the day.

I know that I’m a better person when I set aside time to start my day with God. Not a hasty prayer as I’m walking out the door but communing with my Creator in a dedicated, unhurried way. And I know that the signal from God is never lost but is always available for me. I just need to not put my spiritual life in “busy mode.”

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