This week I am going to continue to share one passage of Scripture, Philippians 4:6-7. Just two verses, and these God gave me three decades ago as a Bible promise. I have quoted these maybe more than any other verses I have hid in my heart. We will take the verse apart and simply learn from it as well as apply what it says.
And here we go…
Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 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.
So many things stick out in these verses. We have talked about praying about everything and not worrying. Today we will talk about being thankful. The rest of this week we will talk about having God’s peace and how God’s peace guards us.
Today we go a little further to give us one piece that we struggle with, or that I struggle with.
Thank Him for all He has done.
Being thankful or grateful is a big deal. People who are not thankful tend to be stingy and often extremely self-centered. Have you found that to be true?
Choosing to be thankful changes our minds as well as our situations. Being thankful can open up doors or conversations or even blessings all around our lives. What these verses say about being thankful is big. Are you ready?
First is the direction of our thanks. Thank God. Thank Him for all He has done. Acknowledge that God has worked is working and you know He will work in the future.
Second is the benefit of our thanks. Less worry, more prayer and fueled with thanks. Often being thankful is part of the more powerful prayers. Just stop and thank God when you recognize His word or His work.
Third and finally is the fact of thanks being partnered with peace. There is a key to all this. Maybe it is prayer, but maybe it is being thankful. Either way both are important and both go well together. Like jelly and peanut butter. Like ham and cheese. Like a glove and a hand. Like a head and a hat. You get the picture.
May we always be thankful. May we be more thankful today than we were yesterday. Thankfulness is a by product of a heart turned toward God. Think about it.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Being thankful is part of obeying God and part of His will for our lives.
Hebrews 12:28 NLT
Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.
Worship breeds being thankful. Yep, prayer and worship are tied together. There is thankfulness right with it.
May we be thanking God for all He has done!
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