But here are three very simple rules, easy to follow, and they will never fail.  They are not my rules, that is, not of my making, or I might not be speaking so positively.  They are given by the blessed Holy Spirit, through our dear old friend Paul.  In Philippians, chapter four, verses six and seven, are the words that contain the rules:  “In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.”

The first rule is this, anxious for nothing. In other words, don’t worry.  Deliberately refuse to think about annoying things.  Set yourself against being disturbed by disturbing things.  Say to yourself, it is useless, it has bad results, it is sinful, it is reproaching my Master, I won’t. That is the first simple rule.

Thankful for Anything.

The second helps to carry out the first.  It is this, thankful for anything. Thanksgiving and praise are always associated with singing.  When you feel the worry mood creeping on—­it is a mood that attacks you—­when it comes sing something, especially something with Jesus’ name in it.  These temptations to worry are from the Evil One.  He can come in only through an open door.  Remember that.  Yet the open doors seem plenty.  Even when we trustingly and resolutely keep every door of evil shut the circle in which we move will open doors upon us.  Singing something with Jesus’ name in it sends him or any of his brood off quickly.  They hate that Name of their Conqueror.  They get away from the sound of it as fast as they can.

A friend was calling upon another and began pouring out a stream of personal woes.  This had gone wrong, and this, and this other would go wrong.  Everything was wrong.  And her friend, who knew her quite well, had her get a pencil and paper and asked her if possibly there was one thing for which she could be thankful.  Reluctantly from her lips came the mention of some particular thing for which she felt indeed grateful.  Then a second was gradually recalled, and then more.  And as the train of thought grew on her she suddenly asked, “Why was I so despondent when I came in?  Everything seems so changed.”

It’s a fine thing to go about one’s work singing some hymn with praise in it, and with Jesus’ name in it.  And if singing may not always be allowable under all circumstances, you can hum a tune.  And that brings up to the memory the words connected with it.  I know of a woman who was much given to worrying.  She made it a rule to sing the long-meter doxology whenever things seemed not right.  Ofttimes she could hardly get her lips shaped up to begin the first words.  But she would persist.  And by the time the fourth line came it was ringing out and her atmosphere had changed without and within.