Don't Worry, Be Thankful

Don't Worry Be Thankful
Philippians 4: 6-7
Rev. Deborah Rozier

“Don’t worry, be thankful” Well, you say, this is all very well to say don't worry, but how do you stop it? Every time I try to stop worrying, I worry all the more. You can't stop it just by the exercise of will power. But the secret of running the race? Here it is: in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

I love those words in every situation. That means there is nothing too small to bring to God. Someone asked, is it alright to bring small things before the Lord? Is he concerned about the small things in our lives? The answer is: is there anything that looks big to God? Everything is small to him, so take everything to him in prayer.

Prayer is the expression of our dependence upon his promises. It isn't necessarily on your knees, or in the closet, but it can be simply that quiet prayer of the heart, in continual recognition that you need to lean back upon his grace and strength in everything, constantly relating to that indwelling life of God the Son in you.

Petition means, keep it up, over and over again. Whenever problems develop lean back again in prayer to the one who is able and competent within you through his indwelling life. Thanksgiving is that forward look of faith that thanks God for the answer before you see it. Knowing his character, you know something — the right thing, the perfect thing — will be done.

 His grace, his strength, insight, wisdom, patience, love, and compassion. And as we lean back upon him in that inner dependence of faith, which is prayer, we can also begin to give thanks that the answer has come, and in our thanksgiving, we discover the experience of it as well. So as in everything where we let our requests be made known to God, the result is peace. The peace of God that passes all understanding will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Prayer: I confess, Lord, that I so often prefer worry over prayer. Thank you that you invite me to cast all my cares upon you. I pray that I may learn to do that with a heart of continual thanksgiving. In Jesus’ Name I Pray, Amen.