The Reason to Give Thanks

Jim Ladd

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV

I know. You have been asked many times to make a list of the things for which you are thankful. ‘Tis the season! But let’s take this a bit further and learn a powerful way to live happy, anxiety-free lives every day - not just the Holy Days (holidays).

The command to “rejoice in the Lord” is a command to “enjoy a state of happiness and well being in the Lord.” In other words, God is giving us a command and a pathway to experience sustained happiness and well being. This is a profound thing, and a skill that can be learned. Here is how it goes:

The Command: Enjoy a state of happiness and well being in the Lord - always! Really. Like, all the time.

The Confession: The Lord is near! God knows that there is power in habitually confessing that His Presence is a constant reality and the source of our happiness and well being.

The Call: Rule over your anxiety - even the really legitimate anxiety - by presenting your requests to God. Do this by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 

  • Just talk to Him like He is near and eager to hear from you, for He is.

  • Articulate your specific requests and desires with all the urgency that you feel.

  • Wrap your prayers in the confessed reality of the nearness of God and the commitment He has made to you through Jesus. (The word “thanksgiving” is “Eucharista” - the word for the Eucharist or Communion. We give thanks because we can totally trust the One who was nailed to the cross to deliver us from condemnation)

The Consequence: The peace of God - which is beyond your mental capacity to fully grasp - will keep watch over your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. He will stabilize your emotions and align your thoughts.

So, you see? Thanksgiving is more than a holiday to remind us of the blessings we have received. It is a lifestyle that positions the people of God to be a people who are anxiety free, absurdly happy, and completely fearless, in a world of chaos, anxiety, and confusion.

So, rejoice in the Lord - always!

Jim Ladd