Today’s Scripture: Philippians 4:6, NIV- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Merriam-Webster defines the word, every, as “being each individual or part of a group without exception.” Without exception. Paul is instructing us to bring EVERY thing to God with thanksgiving.
The word every seems more definitive than everything. We do compartmentalize our lives and our moments, don’t we? We often fail to seek thanksgiving in every situation and thing. We are quick to approach God with our desires and desperations. We must pause and present these requests with thanksgiving.
Philippians 4:6 reminds us to replace our anxieties and worries with thanksgiving. In EVERY situation and thing, we can find thanksgivings from and towards God, without exception. As the mouths of young children innocently pray thank you for waking us up today, we too are reminded we can be thankful for waking up today. We take for granted our breaths and heartbeats. Out of our thanksgivings, blessings, and trust we can approach God.
We can be thankful that we can approach or fall before the Most High God. We can be thankful that Jesus Christ tore the vail so we have immediate access to the Holy of Holies. Without exception, we can bring our thankful and anxious hearts, minds, and souls to God.
Paul is promising us in the very next verse, Philippians 4:7 that when we do bring every situation and thing to God with thanksgiving, we find that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” It does not make sense, at times. We cannot understand it, but we can find thanksgiving and peace in EVERY moment.
In Philippians 4:8, Paul is reminding us to be careful of what we are thinking about. We can always turn our thoughts to what is good, noble, and thankful. We learn from Paul’s thanksgiving from a Roman prison that we can find the peace of God no matter where we are. As Paul wrote in Philippians 4:12, we can “learn the secret of being content.” (NIV)
We do come to learn Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Trusting Christ in all and every situation we find the peace of Christ that exceeds all understandings and feelings. When we set our minds and our hopes upon Christ, we learn to trust Paul’s words in Philippians 4:19, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)
Can you pray in your time of need out of your thanksgivings of the glorious riches you have received in Jesus Christ?
Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the glorious riches given to us through Jesus Christ. Thank You LORD, for our teachers such as Paul who have taught us to turn our hearts, minds, souls, and strength towards thanksgiving, contentment, and faith in You. Thank You LORD for Your peace that surpasses all understanding. I am trusting and praising You LORD in every thing. In thanksgiving of our Christ, we do pray. Amen.
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