"Do not be anxious about anything" is not in a vacuum. It is in the context of prayer and petition and thanksgiving, all directed to God, both working hand in glove.
"Do not be anxious about anything" is in the context of a prayer relationship with God, an ongoing communication with Him, as we make our requests known to God.
It's the heart turned to God and not to our strategy, our thinking, our rumination, but to God.
But first, let's confront the reality of anxiety.
Paul acknowledged that there are situations that could cause anxiety. He recognized it as a valid emotion.
In Philippians 2:28, he said he was sending Epaphroditus, who had been ill and had become better, to them, to allay his own anxiety.
Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety. (Philippians 2:28)
In another place, he mentioned his anxiety about all the churches.
Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:28)
Do not be anxious about anything
Anxiety is a sense of paralysis, a sense of being overwhelmed, that I cannot do anything about this. But Paul is saying no, you can. You can let God know your request. You can direct your gaze to God, not to your own strength.
Prayer, petition, and thanksgiving
Prayer is general, petition is specific, and God is waiting to hear all of that from us.
But let's not forget Thanksgiving. Don't go a day without thanking God.
A story about Jesus illustrates thanksgiving. He healed 10, but only one, a Samaritan, came back.
Now on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten men with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance, raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went along, they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He fell with his face to the ground at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. (Now he was a Samaritan.) Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to turn back and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to the man, “Get up and go your way. Your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19)
We don't know why the rest did not come back. But it is a warning to check our hearts.
Was it ignorance, oversight or a lack of faith?
Jesus seems to suggest that the one who returned had faith while the rest did not. So faith is expressed in thanksgiving as well as in request and prayer.
Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
That returning leper pleased God.
Thanksgiving is about turning back, taking a pause in your daily pursuit to acknowledge God for the big and small things. it's a focus on one thing and one thing alone - what God has done.
Train your heart to be grateful with a regular practice of thanksgiving. Do not be numbed into ungratefulness (2 Timothy 3:2).
Jesus showed us examples of thanksgiving in various places where he thanked God (Luke 22:19, John 11:41-42, John 6:11, Luke 10:21).
And in several places, including this letter, Paul said he thanked God for people when he prayed for them.
He prays for them, but thanks God for them along the way. He was probably thinking about where they were versus where they are now, and thanking God for what He has done in their lives.
We should likewise mix thanksgiving with our prayers, requests for ourselves and others.
Know that thanksgiving distinguishes us from God.
We thank Him; He does not thank us. (He rewards us for service.) We thank Him because He is the source for us and not the other way round (Luke 17:10).
James reminds us of a vital truth.
All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change. (James 1:17)
Which means He is dependable. He is consistent. He is the rock on which we stand (Psalm 18:1-2).
QUESTION
How can I repay the Lord
for all his acts of kindness to me? (Psalm 116:12)
ANSWER
I will present a thank offering to you,
and call on the name of the Lord. (Psalm 116:17)
Thanksgiving is how we repay Him for what He has done. That is what goes from us to Him. But what is a thank offering in the Old Testament, is the fruit of our lips in the New.
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name. (Hebrews 13:15)
The returning leper brought nothing, except the words of his mouth, and Jesus said that is faith in action.
So Paul is saying prayer, petition, and thanksgiving protect from anxiety. Let that be your daily practice.
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