Thank your worries away

6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, 7 and the peace of God, that is superior to every frame of mind, shall be garrisoning your hearts and your apprehensions in Christ Jesus. Paul in Philippians 4

“I have so fervently prayed God to take away my worries, but it seems as if He does not hear me. Why?” Paul’s answer to this question is rather simple: The road to Divine peace in the heart is through thanksgiving; not through praying, in every possible way: Take my worries (about my child, my partner, my health, my job, etc.) away; but by saying, Thank you, that your way is always the best! Yes, do tell GOD (= the One who gives everything a place) what your wishes are. Paul writes: “ALL your requests,” whatsoever they be. That is very personal. And with the disclosure of your requests, you can already thank God in advance for the fact that He is able to fulfill them! After all, He is GOD! That is thanksgiving number one. But you can also thank Him, that if He does not give you what you asked, that this is because you know that He has something better for you. GOD has not only what is good for you, in mind, but the very best. “When we ask for silver, GOD gives gold!” By accompanying all our requests with thanksgiving, God’s peace (that surpasses all understanding!) will fill our hearts. Our hearts and our thoughts will be safeguarded as in a fortress. This is not a theory of Paul, but sheer practice and experience. He wrote these words in prison, under high pressures and tensions. And yet: He was untouchable and overflowing with joy! ——————————— translation: Peter Feddema      

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