Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6, 7
Dear God, everywhere we look there is proof of Your loving-kindness, of your tender mercies, Your grace and forgiveness. May we never take Your unending love and the price You paid to set us free for granted. May we live in a constant state of thankfulness. This is our prayer in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I have decided that Thanksgiving is such a wonderful time of the year that one day is just not enough to sing the praises of our God and Savior. Let us finish the week with thanksgiving!
Our Scripture for today begins with some wonderful words of advise. Using my words: Do not be anxious for any reason. Pray with thanksgiving, and tell God what you need. Paul is obviously addressing a problem and at the same time, giving the solution.
Anxiety can be a real problem. Most people, whether we are willing to accept the fact or not, have had a major or minor bout with anxiety, especially in these uncertain days in which we are living. Scripture speaks of this in these terms: “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth,,for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:26).
Two days ago, I wrestled with the question “why do we find it so hard to just take God at His word.” I believe that anxiety is a by-product of that problem. Scripture is full to overflowing with the promises of God; promises that CANNOT fail because of the One who made them. Yet we will fret ourselves into anxiety, with the Bible in our hands.
Paul’s prescription is very sound. Do not give entrance to anxiety under any circumstance. Rather, ask God for what you want, giving Him thanks as you ask! That means that you are sure that God is listening while you pray to Him, and that what you need will be granted, so you thank Him in advance, with the assurance that what you have requested is already granted! With such an assurance there can be no place for anxiety.
Jesus left us an example of this. Listen to His prayer as he was about to call Lazarus from the grave: “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying.[ And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, ‘ “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” ‘ Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, ‘ “Lazarus, come forth!” ‘ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘ “Loose him, and let him go” ‘ ” ‘ ” ‘ ” (John 11:41-44; emphasis provided).
When you pray according to God’s will and for His glory, give Him thanks for your answered prayer even before you receive the answer. Anxiety cannot take root in the soil of faith and thanksgiving!