Pray with Thanksgiving

Note from today’s Bible reading: Philippians 3-4

Everyone deals with things in life that have the potential of causing anxiety. Christians are not immune from this. However, Paul told the brethren in Philippi that they were to be “anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6). How could they do this?

Notice what Paul wrote next: “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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

This is not teaching that the situations or conditions that are causing us to be anxious will always be corrected or eliminated. That could happen, but it is not promised. Instead, the promise is that we can have a “peace” that “surpasses all comprehension” despite the troubles we face in life.

The key to this is praying to God about those things that are worrying us, and doing so “with thanksgiving.” This requires us to recognize what God has blessed us with, what He is continuing to provide for us, and what He has promised us (in this life and in eternity). We have so much to be thankful for. By expressing our gratitude, we are also reminding ourselves of the goodness of God which provides the assurance that whatever might be troubling us is nothing compared to the goodness He offers.

So pray with thanksgiving. Recognize the great blessings the Lord has provided and the hope that we have for the future. If we will do this, we can face the challenges of this life with a sense of “peace,” knowing that God will see us through them.