Faith to Feeling: With Thanksgiving

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

“With thanksgiving.” In high school, those two words were voted “most likely to be ignored in Philippians 4:6.” (Yes, it was an odd category.)

ftf_350We’re so eager to get rid of our anxiety, to give it to God, to make our request of the ultimate authority, that we often rush right past “with thanksgiving,” one of the essential ingredients in shaking loose of crippling worry.

When we take the time, focus, and mental energy to start really thinking about the good things God has already given us – all the ways he has helped us during high-stress moments in the past – we start to realize again just how good and loving and powerful our Father really is.

I can trust him with the thing I’m worried about because he’s already proved his goodness to me in all the things I have to be grateful for.

Think: Have you ever noticed that making an effort to tell God thanks leads to a sense of peacefulness? How often do you practice thanksgiving when you’re feeling really worried and stressed out?

Pray: Ask God to help you to give your requests to him with thanksgiving as often as it takes to get rid of your worry.

Do: Make a quick list of ten things you can tell God thanks for today. Then tell him.