Thanksgiving Brings Peace

This is The Power of Giving Thanks for All Things, pt.3

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4-7) Here is another passage that is often preached. The part we most remember, if not that which is most emphasized when the passage is taught, is generally the last half: "the peace of God...will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Be at peace, and that peace will guard your heart.... It becomes almost a command to know His peace, rest in Him, and everything will be okay. Don't be anxious or troubled; be at peace. But how?

By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. When you do, His peace will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

If you believe He is God, you will believe that He is capable of meeting your needs. If you believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him, you will believe that He is willing to meet your needs and there is no need for anxiety. Thanksgiving is the expression of faith that He is & He is a rewarder. Thanksgiving says, "God, I have this need. I thank You for it because You will bring glory to Yourself through it, and You will use it to make me more like Christ. I voice my need to You, and ask that You resolve it; meet my need by Your awesome power and grace. I faith that You will do so, and so I thank You for that, too. I don't see the answer yet, but I thank You anyway, because I know that You are faithful, and You will take care of me."  Thanksgiving replace anxiety with an expression of faith that He is, that He is a rewarder, and that He will hear your prayers and supplications and supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil.4:19).

So, thanksgiving brings peace, freedom from anxiety, and rest. Thanksgiving is an expression of our faith in a God who is real, and who really loves us.

What does it mean that His peace guards your heart? I think it's two-fold. I think it guards in the sense that You know He is watching over you, that you are protected, and that brings you peace, so you are guarded from anxiety. More than that, it guards from sin (from the perspective of Romans 1). When you have His peace, you don't need anything else. You know that He is sufficient. You don't need anything the world offers to meet your need in that area of your life. So, temptation is defeated. There is no need to embrace or do anything sinful. If man would learn this lesson, to give faith God, and give thanks, we would not find ourselves embracing foolish speculations, having our hearts darkened, and falling into sin.