Re: How Thanksgiving Changes Everything (Phil 4:4-9)

I. Rejoice in the Lord always! (Phil 4:4-5)

Rejoice in the Lord always! What do you find your greatest joy and satisfaction in? Is it your job? school? sports? family? something of this world? Is your life characterized by joy? all the time? Most likely you answered "no". When our joy is based on circumstances, naturally there will be ups and downs. Paul, however, calls us to rejoice always in the Lord! When someone places their joy in the Lord, they are able to rejoice even in the most difficult of circumstances because the one in who they rejoice is unchanging, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Not only that, God all-powerful and all-knowing and loves you! And in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances, you can find peace in knowing that He is working it out for your good and His glory. So, even though we may not be in control of our circumstances, we can rejoice in the midst of those circumstances because we know the Lord is in control!

II. Pray with Thanksgiving (Phil 4:6-7)

In the midst of our trials and difficulties, it is so important for us to be reminded of God's faithfulness. Paul calls us to pray with thanksgiving, remembering the Lord's faithfulness and in doing so reminding ourselves that the Lord who was faithful in the past, is faithful now, and continues to be faithful in the future. In this, we can find a divine peace to comfort us in times of difficulties because we know that God who is in control of all things is carrying out His perfect plan for our good and His glory.

III. Thanksgiving Begins with the Mind (Phil 4:8-9)

How do we cultivate a thankful heart? Well, it all begins in the mind. What we spend the most time thinking about naturally influences us the most. If you spend most of your time reading the news, the writers of the news will have the greatest influence on you. If you spend most of your time listening to your professors and studying what they teach, your professors will have the greatest influence on you. If you spend most of your time talking with friends and  co-workers, they will have the greatest influence on you. Well, if you want God to have the greatest influence on you, then naturally, you should spend time in His Word. So often we spend so little time with God and then for some reason we are surprised when we find ourselves thinking and then carrying out our godless thoughts and wondering how we got ourselves into trouble again. There is a battle going on for your mind? What is occupying the most space? School, work, entertainment, or God? How will you begin to reclaim your mind for God?

Thanksgiving changes everything. A thankful heart begins with our minds, and when we spend time thinking about the things of the Lord, we are able to have a thankful heart and even when we are anxious, we are able to pray with thanksgiving and find peace in God, knowing He is in control and working it out for our good and His glory. This type of thinking and prayer leads one to be able to rejoice in the Lord always.

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you are able to find great joy and peace in our Lord as you spend time with loved ones this holiday season.