“Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke much about overcoming anxiety, saying: “Take no thought for your life…. Take no thought for tomorrow…” He went to the root of the problem—our thinking. Perhaps we could say our over-thinking. He was not talking about preparing for the future. What He meant is: Do not worry!
But Jesus revealed that it is not just our thinking that produces worry, but also our speaking: “Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear?” (Matthew 6:25-34). Jesus went on to explain that worrying over such things doesn’t change the circumstances, so why worry? Instead, trust in your Heavenly Father to take care of you, because His track record is good.
Paul knew that we have to replace worry with something. Our minds cannot just be in neutral. The antidote is “making requests to God with prayer and supplication.” The two Greek words rendered request and supplication both refer to specific needs. Don’t just cry, whine, whimper, or tell God how bad it is. Be specific. I am a firm believer in being specific when I pray for situations, including healing. I not only pray against specific symptoms, but against the cause and the root. Jesus said, “Every plant my Father has not planted must be rooted up.” (Matthew 15:13). As the situation changes, I adjust my prayers accordingly.
Also, there is more than one Greek word for prayer, and the one in this verse can only be addressed to God. The way to overcome nagging anxiety is looking upward to God: “My voice shall you hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning shall I direct my prayer unto you, and look up” (Psalms 5:3).
Finally, don’t forget to offer “thanksgiving,” for what God has already done and in expectation of what He will do in response to your request. Once while preaching this Scripture in the pulpit, I heard the voice of the Lord in my spirit say:
“Thanksgiving is the stamp on the envelope of prayer!” Let me point out that the Greek word for thanksgiving means you speak it out loud.
A Menu for Your Mind
“Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things…. And the God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).
Our peace is tied to our thinking, and we can’t stop thinking, so we must direct our thoughts what to think. Our words and actions follow our thoughts: “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he…” (Proverbs 23:7). You are what you think, so you must take charge of your thoughts. We are going to be and have what we think and speak, whether good or bad, whether positive or negative.
“All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he that is of a merry heart has a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15).
People who are negative thinkers and speakers create misery in their own lives which creates more negativism in their attitudes. A miserable heart makes miserable days, miserable weeks, miserable months, miserable years, and a miserable life. It is said “misery loves company,” but no one wants to be around a miserable person. We can break the cycle of negativity by thinking on good things.
On the other hand, one who has a merry heart has a continual banquet of joy, regardless of the circumstances, because he is directing his thoughts onto the good report of God’s Word, which fills him with expectation of good to come. His life is a smorgasbord of praise and thanksgiving.
Peter said: “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind…” (1Peter 1:13). The men in his day wore robes down to their feet. If they needed to run or walk very fast, they would trip over them. So they wore a “girdle” or type of wide leather belt around their waists, so they could pull the loose material up and gird it around their loins. Peter was saying that you cannot just let your thoughts run loose. You must bring them into captivity to the obedience of the knowledge of God’s Word (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Whenever Satan suggests a bad scenario to you, you must immediately cut it off. Don’t let it play out in your mind, because it will trigger unfounded fear in your heart, and once fear has the playing field of your mind, tormenting emotions take over. You must in the authority of God’s Word say, “game over.”
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts…. And be you thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
Don’t forget your stamp on your envelope of prayer— the stamp of Thanksgiving!
This article is adapted from Sharon’s Fresh Manna Devotional—Manna Bites from 40 years of Pulpit Preaching.
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