My Secret

My Secret

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Over the years, I’ve had more than one person ask me, “Dr. Anderson, why are you so cheerful all the time? I always see you with the sickest of patients, yet you never get sick. You’re surrounded by people who are dying, and yet you always seem happy. What’s your secret?”

My secret is contained in today’s verses.

When I started medical school, I was an atheist. One night, I had a date with a pretty blonde woman who told me she was a Christian. When she found out that I didn’t believe in God, she wasn’t interested in pursuing a relationship.

At the university we both attended, she co-led a Bible study. As a part of her preparation, she had to memorize the book of Philippians. The only way she would spend time with me was if I helped her memorize those verses. Night after night, I’d go to her apartment and quiz her on verses, then chapters, and finally the entire book of Philippians. As I helped her study, I memorized the verses too.

Months later, I read a book by C. S. Lewis that she gave me. Then I started reading the Gospel of John. When Jesus revealed himself to me in a dream and I gave my life to him, it took a while for Karen to believe that the changes in me were real. But eventually, that pretty blonde woman became my wife.

At the time, I had no idea how precious the book of Philippians would become to me as a doctor. During the darkest moments, when delivering the worst news—an unfavorable diagnosis or telling parents about an untimely death of a child—today’s verses in particular would come to mind. When I share these verses with patients, they often find peace, knowing that God is with them.

What the patients don’t know, unless I tell them, is that the very same verses once healed my heart and refreshed my broken life.

TODAY’S RX

Memorizing Scripture has a lot of health benefits. Start today by memorizing today’s verses from Philippians.

Help me to keep your Word hidden in my heart, Lord. May I store up your commands, draw from your well of knowledge, sing your praises, and remember Jesus’ parables to help me through every season. Thank you for allowing me to know you better through the Bible.