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Following is an excerpt of "With Thanksgiving" by Jesse Hendley added on 06/05/2002.
With Thanksgiving
Jesse M. Hendley
Philippians 4:6

Now friends, if you have your Bible turn with me to Philippians 4:6. My subject today is "With Thanksgiving." In Philippians 4:6 Paul says, "Be anxious 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."

Are you having trouble mentally, difficulty with your mind and with your thoughts? That's what we have here. The word "hearts" is the center and source of the physical, spiritual, and mental life. And the word "minds" here is thoughts. So our minds and our thoughts trouble us many, many, times with questions. People ask, "Why this and why that, why the other?" They ask why God does things this way or that way, and why the Bible says this or that. And it's good to ask questions if we can get the answer. There are many answers and thank God for them, particularly about salvation. What we know is wonderful but there are some things we don't know that the Bible does not reveal and God does not reveal to us. That's where faith comes in.

So the Apostle Paul here in Philippians 4:6 speaks very clearly to us on a great spiritual truth. The Spirit of God, speaking through the Apostle Paul, tells us how to avoid anxiety. He tells us that it is possible to live a life free from worry. Remember that these are not the thoughts of Paul. They are the thoughts and utterances of the Spirit of God in and through him. If anyone knows how to keep from worrying, it is God. He's an authority on peace and freedom from worry. Here He tells us "worriers" how to stop this unhappiness so we can live in peace and enjoy this present life. Somebody says, "What is this way to freedom from anxiety?"

Well, first of all, the Apostle Paul says:

Number (1) Take everything to the Lord. Not to some human being, not to the neighbor over the back fence, not to some counselor, but to the Lord. Now there are instances, of course, where God would have us use human intelligence and help. There's no doubt about that. But He's talking here to people who are in touch with the Lord. Go to the Lord. That implies that we know Him, that we are on speaking terms with Him and He with us, that we are saved and are trusting Jesus as our Saviour. And let me say immediately, as I want to say constantly to people, we are saved by faith that Jesus Christ on the cross paid for our sins with His blood, and that God, in love, laid all our sins over on Christ.

Number (2) Ask Him for the things you desire. Tell out your heart to God. He cares. Tell Him everything. He's One you can discuss the details of your thoughts to, without any fear of rebuke as long as they're honest.

Number (3) Come before Him in prayer. "Pray," he says. Have a prayer life. Some people do not pray but right thinking people do.

Number (4) Address Him with supplication. Ask Him for ...

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