LIGHT FOR A THANKFUL LIFE (4)

“Be anxious for nothing; but IN EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known to God” – Philippians 4:6

Anxiety should never be found in a Believer who walks by the LIGHT for a THANKFUL LIFE: “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” (Phi.4: 6-7). Anxiety always bows to Prayer and Supplication bolstered by Thanksgiving. Every situation, even the most anxiety-inducing moments, must be met with a Response of Thanksgiving. Why? Because we have a Father Who is Almighty, and loves us as He loves His “only begotten Son” (Jh. 3:16).

Not only does God love and care for us, His complete delight is to continually abide with and help us in all circumstances. We should therefore heed His Word to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (v.6, NIV). In spite of the quantity, diversity, or intensity of trials, afflictions, and difficulties, anxiety should not exist under any circumstances. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” Why wouldn’t we be ever-thankful to our loving, caring Father?  

“IN EVERYTHING” implies even in the smallest matters of life. We are to take everything to God – little things, tiny things, or even what the world calls trivial things. We must take EVERYTHING, living all day long in holy fellowship with our heavenly Father and our dear Lord Jesus. We should develop a spiritual instinct that causes us to instantly turn to God when a concern wants to keep us awake at night. We should commune with Him during those wakeful nights, bringing our concerns or trials being faced before Him, no matter how small they may be.

“By prayer and supplication” – infers earnestly pleading, petitioning for God’s Help, persevering, enduring, and waiting on Him. The phrase “WITH THANKSGIVING” is the apex of the instructions: Prayer, Petition, with Thanksgiving! There are more than enough reasons to thank God than to complain: That God has saved us; given us His Holy Word, His Holy Spirit, and the most precious Gift of all – His Son. We have ample reasons for thanksgiving; and the Sure Reward is His Peace: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (v.7). To truly know this precious Peace, we must experience it, for it exceeds all understanding!

Let’s thank God for the seemingly “common,” but priceless mercies: Eyes to behold the sun; health and strength to take a stroll; the bread we eat and the raiment we wear; and that we are not cast out among the hopeless or confined amongst the guilty. Let’s thank God for liberty, friends, family, and work – for everything we receive and are endowed with from His bounteous Hand!