In Philippians 4:6-8 I read, “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)
God wants me to trust him one day at a time. He wants me to ask for my “daily bread” (Matthew 6:11 ESV), not my weekly, monthly, or yearly bread.
The Bible 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” (Philippians 4:6-8 NLT).
This passage teaches four things to do daily to trust God:
Worry about nothing. “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34 NLT). Why is worry such a big deal? Because it’s not just a bad habit, it’s a sin. But God keeps his promises, and I can trust that he will take care of me.
Pray about everything. Prayer changes 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, the sin that kept me from heaven, when he sent Jesus to die for me. If God loved me enough to send Jesus to die for me, it's apparent that he loves me enough to take care of all my other problems?
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” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 GNT). I don’t have to be thankful for bad things or evil. I don’t have to be thankful for cancer or a car accident. But God says that in everything I can give thanks. Why? Because I know that God’s going to take care of me. I know he’s going to meet my needs. I know he’s going to help me.
Think about the right things. In Philippians 4, God has given me a list of things to think about, things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise.
Where do I find things that are pure and lovely to think about? I won’t find them watching TV or scrolling through social media. I will find pure, lovely, and honorable thoughts in the Word of God. Read it, study it, memorize it, and fill my mind with it. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (NLT).
Make today the day I start trusting God one day at a time.
In summary, I shouldn’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what I need, and thank him for all he has done . . . Fix my thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. God wants me to trust him one day at a time. He wants me to ask for my “daily bread”, not my weekly, monthly, or yearly bread. Philippians 4:6-8 teaches four things to do daily to trust God: First, worry about nothing. God keeps his promises, and I can trust that he will take care of me. Second, pray about everything. Prayer changes things. If God loved me enough to send Jesus to die for me, it's apparent that he loves me enough to take care of all my other problems? Third, thank God for all things. No matter what happens, give thanks. I don’t have to be thankful for bad things or evil. In everything I can give thanks. Because God’s going to take care of me. I know he’s going to meet my needs. I know he’s going to help me. Fourth, think about the right things. In Philippians 4, God has given me a list of things to think about, things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Where do I find things that are pure and lovely to think about? I will find them in the Word of God. Make today the day I start trusting God one day at a time.
Imagine never worrying about anything! It seems like an impossibility; everyone has worries on the job, home, etc.. But Paul's advice is to turn my worry into prayers. In order to worry less, pray more. Whenever I start to worry, stop and pray instead. God's peace is different from the world's. True peace will not be found in positive thinking, absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. My citizenship in Christ's Kingdom is sure, my destiny is set, and I can have victory over sin. Let God's peace guard my heart against anxiety. What I put into my mind will determine what will come out in my words and actions. Paul tells me to program my mind with thoughts that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Learn to replace harmful input with wholesome material, read God's Word and pray. Ask God to help me focus my mind on what is good and pure. It will take practice, but it can be done.
Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me.
Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.
