Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Vocabulary - Towdah (Hebrew), a formal public expression of gratitude to God; an annual U.S. holiday observed on the fourth Thursday of November.
Yes, it is that time of year once more. Most people look forward to the joy of Thanksgiving and the family gatherings and celebrations that happen at these times. However, this year may be a little different than other years. There may not be an abundance of turkeys, chickens, ducks, or hams this year due to production issues at the meat packaging plants; pumpkins and cranberries are in short supply due to farming production issues. And even paper plates and napkins may not be available because of hoarding issues all over the country. But are there things we can look forward to this Thanksgiving? You better believe there are. The Apostle Paul asks us to be careful for nothing or do not worry about anything. Let us examine more about this.
In 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18, the Apostle Paul writes “Always be joyful, keep on praying; no matter what happens”. Our joys, or our prayers, or our gratefulness should not depend on what happens to us, but they should remain steady and constant depending on God. God wants all of us to be obedient and faithful unto Him. God is the source of our joy (1st Peter 1:8). God has a plan, a purpose, and a will for all of us. And when we follow them our joy and contentment are assured, no matter what is happening around us.
Unlike Jesus’ brother James, we cannot spend great amounts of time in prayer, petition, and supplication to God. Livings must be made. However, a prayerful attitude, behavior, and conduct can be had at all times. Believers depend on God, live in His presence and try to be like Jesus always. So when we only have time for a short prayer, God will understand. Why? Because our relationship with God is good over our time spent with Him, our efforts spent in missions, and the help that we give His people.
And finally, the Apostle Paul is not teaching us that we should thank God for everything that happens to us, but in everything that happens to us. God is not the Source of the evil things or the bad things that happen to us. God is the Source of Good and not Evil. When evil does come, thank God for His Presence, His Provision, His Safety, His Care, and His Concern. Thank God for the good that He will bring out of the situation for our good and for His Glory! Amen.
Conclusion
Prayers are important requests to God. It does not matter that they are secret, corporate, or intercessory prayers, all of them want to get God’s attention for an answer. And if our minds, hearts, and spirits are right, God wants to answer our prayers. God does not want or need His people to worry, but to turn to Him with every single thing. Even Holidays! Happy Thanksgiving!