S7 E7: Thankfulness {Part 3} Overflowing Gratitude

Hi friend! Happy week of Thanksgiving! Actually, to continue this month's focus on the podcast I’m going to say Happy life of Thanksgiving 

These past few weeks, we have talked about how to live a life of Thankfulness intentionally. And even though this is the season of celebrating Thanksgiving here in the states. It should also be our intention and focus so if you haven’t listened to the previous episodes you can go back and do that now or any time you need the reminder.

Another word for thankfulness is gratitude and today I want us to look at one of my favorite scriptures it’s found in the book of Philippians chapter 4 vs 6,7

Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer daily, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:6,7 (passion)

Soo much goodness packed in these verses!! 

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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (NKJV)

You might have noticed that there was another word added to prayer. 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication

The original Greek word that is added to prayer in this verse is talking about supplication.

So what exactly is supplication?

In the faith tradition I grew up in supplication was equivalent to as many called it ‘praying through’

*study notes supplication …” but to fully transfer the burden of one’s soul into God’s hands”

So again the length of your prayer or how many words are offered up isn’t the point… but rather the act of transferring the weight of worry or whatever you are carrying into the hands of God.

And you will know when that has happened because as the verse goes on to read that the peace that passes all understanding ..

Now, this doesn’t mean that this won’t pop up in your heart and mind again but this is when you remind the accuser that this has been settled. 

It’s not your burden anymore…it’s in the hands of God

And that is something to be thankful for!

I want to end by reading this same passage in the message version…

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (The message)

Thankful for you and pray you have a beautiful week!