Thanks for Everything – Gratitude Pt 5

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 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. (Philippians 4:4-7 NLT)

Paul’s underlying and overarching theme in his letter to the Philippian church is joy. He says joy is something that you can be full of and express honestly, even when you don’t feel “happiness” as an emotion. Joy doesn’t depend on your emotions, just as being grateful and keeping your Thankfulness Tank full and overflowing doesn’t depend on your circumstances.

He starts with an exhortation: “Always be full of joy in the Lord!” This joy is in the Lord. And it’s the joy of the Lord. And it’s activated in the expression of it; “Rejoice!” Be considerate in all you do. Why? Because the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything (See GraceNotes 02-20-20 Don’t Worry – Pray). And here’s how we simply do that:

1) Tell God What You Need.

  • Because in telling our need to God, we’re moving from worry and anxiety to trust. We’re taking the burden off our shoulders and placing it in God’s hands.
  • Because in telling God what we need, we are making a specific request that God can answer specifically.

2) Thank him for ALL he has done.

  • Because when we are worried and burdened, we’ve lost our consciousness of ALL that God has already done: All he has done in creating and managing the universe; All he has done in providing, protecting, and caring for his people whom he loves; and All he has already done for us through a lifetime of caring for us and answering prayers large and small.
  • Because with the gratitude we express, faith rises in our hearts and minds. Faith replaces fear, confidence replaces doubt, and hope replaces despair.

Prayer:

Father, I rejoice in you, your love, your faithfulness, and your care. Hear my prayers as I tell you what I need. I thank you for ALL you have done. Please do it again! Flood my soul with the peace that comes only from you! I trust you! In Jesus’ Name!