Php 4:6-9,11 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report. if there be any praise, think on these things. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
I love Thanksgiving. Not just because of the food, but the family and the fellowship. It is also a great time to count your blessings and not your problems. What are you going to eat for Thanksgiving this year? May I suggest a few things God would like you to have on your plate this Thanksgiving.
Don’t forget the Meat of Prayer. Bring out the Turkey! My preference on Thanksgiving is a delicious mouth watering turkey. I believe meat is the center of the whole meal, unless you’re a vegetarian, then think of a giant bowl of salad. Now, you can even ask my wife, I am a meat and potatoes kind of guy. But if you think about it, everything on Thanksgiving compliments the main dish of meat. All of the other fixings — stuffing, mashed potatoes — are all complimenting the piece of meat on your plate.
Without it, you don’t really have a complete meal, just a bunch of sides. So, what I noticed about Paul’s thoughts on thanksgiving is that everyone wants to have peace. You can try to be content and thankful; you can try to think on the right things, but without verse 6, being anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer. The other stuff will not matter. Remember, it’s the meat that makes the other sides come alive.
Paul mentions the Lord, or God, three times. He tells us to let all our requests be made know unto God. The Meat of Prayer that Paul is talking about is a relationship with God. Paul’s secret of peace was that he took everything to God. Not just when he was in trouble but all his fears, struggles, desires, dreams, and decisions he took to God. God isn’t the fire department that you only go to when you’re in trouble. He isn’t a religion you just practice on Sunday. God wants you to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is what Paul was trying to tell this Church at Philippi and this is what he is trying to tell us. Without the relationship, without the meat, nothing else matters. That is why Paul later says that we need to pray without ceasing.
Secondly you need the Stuffing of Contentment. I love stuffing. And one thing I noticed is that it does exactly what it says, it stuffs you. I don’t want anything else sometimes because I am so full of stuffing. I am satisfied. I am fulfilled. I don’t want anything else. That’s generally when my wife gets mad at me because I don’t eat all the other sides she made. Most people want the same thing in their life, to be filled. It’s number one on everyone’s Christmas list this year, to be satisfied, to be content, to have purpose, and to know why I am here.
Paul said that he learned to be content no matter his situation. It was a learning process as he learned to trust in God and depend on Him. It took time, but the secret is in what he says later in the chapter in Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Paul had a lot of persecution and struggles, but he learned that promise and tested it out in real life. He learned that contentment doesn’t come from everything going good, or his job, or people. Those things are always changing, but Jesus Christ does not change and His promises do not change.
Thirdly, we need the Mashed Potatoes of Right Thinking on our plate. Paul says we need to Be Careful for nothing or Anxious for nothing. The word literally means to be pulled in different directions or to be strangled. If you have ever been anxious, you know it feels like you are being pulled in different directions. From God’s point of view, Paul is telling us that worry is wrong thinking — wrong thinking about people, circumstances, and things. Wrong thinking leads to wrong feelings, and before long the heart and mind are being pulled apart and we are strangled by worry.
Paul tells us to go to God in prayer right away when we start getting anxious or stressed. Take it to God. He also tells us to think on things that are true. Sometimes we worry about worst case scenarios and things that haven’t even happened yet. Paul said think on truth, and on things of praise, and on things that are lovely. When Paul was beaten and thrown in jail at Philippi, he didn’t start complaining or get anxious, but started praying and singing praises to God. He took his eyes off his circumstances and put them on someone who was above it. Paul is trying to remind us that thanksgiving isn’t a season, it’s a way of life. Having an attitude of gratitude will reduce your anxiety and change your mood. The Bible says it is good to Praise the Lord.
Happy Thanksgiving!
— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Matthew Spoonhour is pastor of First Baptist Church, Monroe.
