Chaplain

“Don’t be anxious about anything” says Paul in the bible. In our highly pressured and busy world this sounds like a trite and unachievable goal. We do not want to be anxious and we do not want our students to be anxious either, but how does this statement help? The verse does not stop with this statement but gives more insight as to how to reduce anxiety.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6. The exhortation not to be anxious reminds us of three things. First, God is interested in all our life and is willing to listen and respond. This gives us confidence to make our requests. Secondly, that thanksgiving is a great antidote to anxiety. As we are reminded of all that we have to be thankful for, we gain a better perspective. Perspective enables us to perceive the difficulties we face in context and a new light and so this helps reduce anxiety. Thirdly, this reminds us that prayer is a way of sharing the burdens we are concerned about.

We all experience some anxiety and this verse is a great encouragement in helping us to negotiate this with resilience. More serious anxiety will require us to get additional support but this provides a good starting point.

Prayer invites God to shape our perspective and thinking so that we begin to see the world, problems and situations from His perspective. Prayer also recognises that God is the sustainer of the universe who is active and powerful in our world.

This view of prayer is the reason that there is a parents prayer group that gather to pray on a regular basis. The Parents who Pray group will next meet on Wednesday 20 March from 8.30am to 9.15am in B.1.1 (next to the Maths staff room on the Senior Campus). This is open to any person who would like to come and pray for our school, students, staff, Executive and Board.

Blessings

Ms Bronwyn Lihou
Senior Campus Chaplain
blihou@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9830