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Fruitful Living

Can we really “not be anxious about anything”?

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

INTRODUCTION

The Apostle Paul’s instruction to live free of anxiety sounds wonderful, but his original readers may have wondered if that was truly possible. Many Christians are asking that same question today. After all, life is full of troubling situations, and we as humans tend to view anxiety as a reasonable response when they arise. How can we not be anxious in this worldwide pandemic called COVID-19.

Philippians 4:6 however offers a better way to handle our cares, by encouraging us to quickly and continually release concerns to God. This is not easy but it is possible to do it because God is our Helper and Paul promises that if we can learn and practice this skill, we’ll experience more peace and joy every day.

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  1. WHAT DOES “DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING” MEAN?

Philippians 4:6 becomes a lesson about keeping our joy in the midst of difficulties. Paul clearly set the goal – “Do not be anxious about anything.” Then, he explains what to do instead “in every situation.” His approach includes four elements:

  1. Prayer,
  2. Petition,
  3. Thanksgiving and
  4. Presenting.

The word of God through Paul promises that doing these four things would have positive effects on the emotional, mental and spiritual health of a person.

  • WHAT SHOULD WE DO WHEN WE FEEL ANXIOUS?

Three separate but related actions are mentioned in verse 4 that suggest how we can deal with anxious thoughts.

“…by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving…”

  • Prayer – giving worship to the Lord for who He is and what He has done.
  • Petition – directly asking God to help in His way and timing.
  • Thanksgiving – expressing humble gratitude for the kindness He has shown

Paul knows that incorporating all of these will soften the believer’s heart, and align it more closely with God. The result of coming to God this way is the creation of a wonderful worship cycle between us and God: seeking Him, calling out to Him in trust, asking Him to meet our needs, confidently watching for Him, and praising Him for His provision.

  • HOW CAN WE OVERCOME ANXIETY?

God did not design you to be anxious or nervous. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told the crowds, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ . . . Do not worry about tomorrow.” — Matthew 6:31,34.

At some point, all of us have worried about the basics of life through the COVID-19 pandemic. Our anxieties often involve fundamental things: fears for our health and those we love, how we will make a living, securing supplies, and how to handle previously anticipated events and celebrations. In all these concerns, the issue is one of faith and trust in God. Do we really believe that God will do what He has promised to do in His Word?

If we assume that we are the ones who are in charge of our life, then we will battle anxiety and fear. However, if we understand the ways of the Lord, then we will know that He is in charge and that the sovereign God of the universe cares for every detail of our lives – 1 Peter 5:7. If we worry and doubt His goodness, we will never have the peace He wants us to experience.

Do you take time to acknowledge Him as your provider? Your answer has everything to do with your anxiety level.

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Have you ever watched a mouse running inside a wheel? The faster he runs, the faster the wheel moves — but he doesn’t make the slightest progress. He does not even have the sense to get off the wheel. This is exactly what anxiety does to us. As fearful thoughts fill our mind, we begin to run faster, trying harder to meet the demands of others or to prevent an uncertain disaster. But we will never gain complete control over our circumstances because God is the One who is solely in control of all things.

There is only one way to step off the wheel and that is by acknowledging the Lord’s ability to take care of every need we have. God created us. He knows our needs and the deepest desires of our heart. “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4.

The Lord wishes for us to end the anxiety cycle and let Him lead. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.- Matthew 11:28

First Peter 5:6 – 7 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” The word “casting” is related to the Greek verb used in Luke 19:35, when on Palm Sunday the people of Jerusalem threw their garments onto a colt for Jesus to ride. The word describes the same motion: a deliberate action of setting something down and leaving it there.

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Jesus wants us to give our cares over to Him and leave them with Him. You depend on Him for life itself, and you acknowledge this by saying, “Here, Jesus. Take my problems. You have the answers! I trust you to show me what to do and to take care of the consequences.”

CAST AWAY YOUR CARES

Anxiety is so debilitating. Body, mind, and spirit can plummet when filled with it, and no one is immune to its effects. But God, in His love and care for you, will take your anxiety onto Himself – just simply cast it to Him. Hurling or throwing something takes focus and force so the object being thrown lands far away from your presence. When you cast your anxiety on God, it gets caught up in His mercy net where He receives the weight anxiety brings and replaces it with His comfort and calm. Nothing is too small or too big – just cast.

Lord, it is so hard not to worry, but I know I shouldn’t. You have taken care of me in the past, so I know You will today and in the future. I cast my cares to You now and trust that You are with me and You will provide.

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CONCLUSION

Imagine never worrying about anything! It seems like an impossibility.We all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school. But Paul’s advice is to turn our worries into prayers.

Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray.

Stay Blessed!

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For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0302-772013 or 0268130615

Email:  saltnlightministries@gmail.com

Website:  saltandlightgh.org 

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Fruitful Living

 Has man lost the essence of his creation? A reflective call to rediscover our divine purpose (Part 1)

Introduction: Rediscoveringour purpose

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and ask for His mercy. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his family, his companions, and all those who follow his guidance until the Day of Judgment.

In today’s increasingly materialistic and turbulent world, a profound ques­tion echoes louder than ever: Has man lost the essence of his creation? It is a question that compels every thinking soul to pause and reflect deeply.

In the midst of scientific break­throughs, booming technology, and eco­nomic pursuits, we must ask ourselves: are we fulfilling the sacred purpose for which we were created? Are we still living as stewards of Allah on earth, or have we strayed from our divine assign­ment?

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This article explores the Qur’anic foundation of man’s creation, the noble position he holds, and the deviation from this divine path in modern times. It further calls for a return to spiritual consciousness and outlines practical steps to help realign mankind with his intended purpose.

Man: Allah’s Vicegerent on Earth

The Qur’an states: “And when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a vicegerent (Khalifah)…’” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:30).

This declaration marks the beginning of man’s honorable journey on earth. Mankind was created from clay, as re­corded in Surah Al-Hijr:

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“And We did certainly create man out of clay from an altered black mud. And the jinn We created before from scorching fire. And [mention] when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I will create a human being out of clay from an altered black mud.’ So when I have propor­tioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul, then fall down to him in prostration.” (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:26-29).

This prostration of angels was not to worship Adam, but to recognize the honor Allah had bestowed upon man. It signified a spiritual hierarchy in which man, though of earthly origin, carries a divine trust and responsibility.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized this dignity. He taught that every human is born upon the natural disposition (fitrah) and bears the potential to fulfill their purpose as a servant of Allah and custodian of His creation.

The Purpose of Creation

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Allah did not create man in vain. The Qur’an states clearly: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:56).

“And they were not commanded ex­cept to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.” (Surah Al-Bayyinah, 98:5).

Another profound verse underscores that life was not created aimlessly:

“And We did not create the heaven and the earth and that between them aimlessly. That is the assumption of those who disbelieve, so woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire.”(Surah Sad, 38:27).

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These verses convey that creation is intentional, meaningful, and divinely ordained. The essence of man’s cre­ation lies in his recognition of Allah, his conscious submission to the Divine Will, and his dedication to a life of worship, service, and ethical living.

Worship in Islam is not confined to rituals alone but extends to every as­pect of human existence—how we earn, govern, lead our families, engage with society, and preserve the environment. Every righteous deed done with sincer­ity for Allah’s pleasure becomes an act of worship.

Imam Al-Ghazali explains in Ihya Ulum al-Din that true worship stems from knowledge of Allah and a heart that submits lovingly to His will. Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah likewise stresses that man’s highest honor lies in fulfilling the purpose of servitude (`ubudiyyah) to Allah, which brings inner peace and divine elevation.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) demonstrated this perfect balance of worship and engagement in worldly affairs. He was a husband, a leader, a statesman, and a worshipper who said: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are the most consistent, even if they are few.”

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(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6464)

Living in harmony with this divine purpose not only brings personal fulfillment but also collective peace. Conversely, neglecting it results in moral confusion, injustice, and spiritual emptiness.

Therefore, recognizing and living by our purpose is not a luxury but a neces­sity. It is the key to real success in this life and salvation in the Hereafter.

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author

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Fruitful Living

 Trusting God with our anxieties (final)

 Jesus not only instructs us not to worry — He explains why worry­ing is counterproductive to our well-being:

❖ Worry is blind. It re­fuses to learn from nature, history, or personal experience. Birds and flow­ers testify to God’s faithfulness. The history of Israel is filled with God’s miraculous provision — from Egypt to the Red Sea to the Promised Land (Deut. 8:14–15).

❖ Worry refuses to learn the lesson of life. Time and again, God has helped us bear the unbear­able and overcome the insurmount­able. He strengthens us even when we reach the breaking point — and keeps us from breaking.

❖ Worry is irreligious. It stems not from our external cir­cumstances, but from a heart full of fear and distrust. Yet Scripture de­clares:“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” — Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

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The antidote to worry: El shaddai

Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righ­teous run to it and are safe.” One of the most comforting names of God is El Shaddai, which first appears in Genesis 17:1 and appears 218 times in the Bible.

❖ El means “Strong One.”

❖ Shaddai means “The Breasted One.”

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Together, El Shaddai paints a picture of God as:

❖ Our Strong Nourisher

❖ Strength Giver

❖ Satisfier

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❖ All-Bountiful Supplier

❖ Fulfiller of Needs

❖ The Life-Giver who brings dead things back to life

(e.g., Abraham and Sarah conceiving Isaac at 150 and 90 years respectively)

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In knowing who God is, we find the courage to release our anxieties. If He is truly El Shaddai — strong, sufficient, and sustaining — then we are safe in His hands.

Practical steps to peace

In Philippians 4:6–7, we are given a divine prescription for peace:

1. Stop being anxious and fretful. Recognize the emo­tional and spiritual toll of worry.

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2. Go to God in prayer about everything. Nothing is too big or small.

3. Pray for yourself. God is your Father — your relation­ship with Him is personal.

4. Thank Him as you pray. Gratitude builds faith and reminds us of His past faithfulness.

When we do this, God’s peace — not the world’s peace — will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

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“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

CONCLUSION

We are living in uncertain times. Pressures abound and anxieties easily multiply. But as children of God, we are called to walk a different path — one of quiet confidence, steady trust, and daily surrender.

God’s Word is clear: worry doesn’t help — but trust in God brings peace. Let us shift our focus from fear to faith, from anxiety to adoration. Let us anchor our hearts in the unchang­ing character of El Shaddai — our Al­mighty God — and rest in His perfect care.

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By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author

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