In review of Philippians 4:6 and 8b it says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done . . . Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise”
Bottom Line:
Instead of worrying, turn to prayer and thanksgiving. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
What this means to me:
Instead of worrying or being anxious about things, I should pray about it and give thanks for all he has done. I am to fix my thoughts on things that are excellent - those that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable.
Today's passages come from the 4th Chapter in the book of Philippians where Paul is giving words of encouragement to the church in Philippi. Paul tells us to always be full of joy and rejoice in the Lord. We are to let everyone see that we are considerate in all we do. He tells us that instead of worrying (which is our natural tendency) we should pray about it, telling God what we need and being thankful for all he has done. Paul then tells us to fix our thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable (things that are worthy of praise.) We are to continue to put into practice all we have learned and received and seen examples of. If we do, then the peace of God will be with us.
This ties back into what I had been looking at for the last several days. God wants me to turn toward him and trust him, not just once but, one day at a time: I am to ask to “Give us this day our daily bread.” Not for next week. Not for next year. Not for next month. Just one day at a time.
Philippians 4:6 and 8 show me that there are four things that I need to do to trust God on a daily basis: “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. . . Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (NLT).
I am to not worry about anything. “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34 NLT).
Instead I am to Pray about everything. Prayer can change things. Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (NIV) God solved my biggest problem, getting into Heaven when he sent Jesus to die for me. If God loved me enough to send Jesus to die for me, I would think he loves me enough to take care of all these other problems.
I am to thank God in all things. No matter what happens, give thanks. The Bible doesn’t say, “For all things give thanks.” It says, “In all things give thanks.” I don’t need to be thankful for bad things in life and I should never be thankful for evil. I don’t need to be thankful for cancer or a car accident or war or abuse. But God says in everything give thanks. Why? Because I know in midst that God’s going to take care of you. I can know that he’s going to meet my needs and that he’s going to help me.
Think about the right things. God gives me a list of things to think about, things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. But where do I find things that are pure and lovely to think about? At the movies or TV? Not likely, seems I will only find pure and lovely and honorable thoughts in the Word of God. Therefor I am to read, study, memorize, and let it fill my mind. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (NLT)
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