Anything And Everything
by Dan Jones, M.D.
Philippians 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.
These powerful words of Paul written to his Christian friends in Philippi many years ago have been a comfort to me many times in my life. This may be the scripture I most often reference to other people. Anxiety was an important issue in Paul’s time and in the life of the Philippians. Anxiety is a huge issue in the life of modern man and a destructive, controlling force in the lives of many people. Some believe it is the single major underlying cause behind most physician visits today. Anxiety can cause emotional distress and real physical problems.
Among the more memorable moments of anxiety in my own life was my first night of my first visit to Pyongyang, North Korea. The year was 1995. I was one of several consultants invited to stay in Pyongyang a few days for meetings with counterparts in that country. I was to visit with representatives from a medical school there.
That first day was filled with anxiety. On landing at the airport, others were whisked through customs, while our small group of Americans was taken aside to an office for a “special inspection.” I was not too surprised, given that our governments did not share diplomatic relations. It appeared some of the inspectors had not seen a United States passport before. When we were finally cleared to leave the airport, my anxiety was heightened when I was told it would be necessary for the officials to keep my passport a few days. I knew one of the cardinal rules of traveling in countries like this one was to never be without your passport. I felt naked and exposed without it.
At the hotel, there were many other unfamiliar experiences. We were assigned to an old hotel on the outskirts of town. The building was of Russian style and the furnishings were old and Spartan. After a dinner of unfamiliar and unrecognizable food, I was finally alone in my hotel room. I looked out my window at a dark and intimidating city. I was alone and frightened. Then, I recalled these marvelous words of reassurance from Paul. The words “anything” and “everything” jumped to the forefront of my thoughts. God was instructing me that I should not be anxious about anything. That included my current very strange circumstances. And I was reminded that I should pray and petition God about everything. That included my present dilemma. Through these powerful words, God removed my anxiety that night.
Lord, protect me from anxiety. Remind me that I should be anxious about nothing in my life and should take anything and everything to you in prayer.
Dan Jones, M.D., MACP, FAHA, a board-certified Internist, a former medical missionary to Korea, professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Chancellor of the University of Mississippi until 2015. Dr. Dan Jones is a member of CMDA.
Dr. Jones welcomes any comments or questions about what he has written and can be reached at - djones@umc.edu
Rounds with the Master, Spiritual Pearls from the Great Physician Devotionals are released every Monday and Thursday.
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