Don't Worry Be Thankful

Don’t Worry is a Command.

When you and I make a habit of harboring worry, we are violating a command of Scripture. That means habitual worry is sin.

Although this may seem harsh, we must view things biblically, so that we can be properly motivated to respond in a God-honoring way. God promises to take care of all our needs many times.

Prayer and Thanksgiving are Actions.

In most cases, worry is really just inaction. It’s just meditating on negative outcomes.

In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:15-30, the wicked servant who is given one talent refuses to use it.

He claims that his fear of having the Master not accept his performance caused him to bury the money in the ground. Ironically, worry and anxiety often lead to inaction, which result in negative outcomes.

Worry and anxiety might also result in overreaction. We try to take too much under our own control, failing to leave God an opportunity to work on our behalf. In our desire to control outcomes, we experience much unnecessary stress, and miss opportunities to honor and glorify God through demonstrations of faith. Prayer and thanksgiving work in tandem. An Old Testament example for this can be found in Leviticus 2:13, where the Law commands that all meat offerings must include salt.

Just as salt purifies and preserves those meats that were offered to the Lord, a spirit of thanksgiving purifies our prayers to God, helping ensure we are coming to Him with a proper mindset.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:13 that His disciples are the “salt of the earth.” They provide a “godly” flavor in an otherwise rancid world. A spirit of thankfulness helps purify our prayers to God, and reminds us of an important reality: God has blessed us so greatly!

Where can you find scriptural examples of prayer mixed liberally with thanksgiving? Psalms.

Peace and Stability is the Promised Result.

Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, according to Galatians 5:22.

Jesus says in John 14:26-27 that the peace He gives through the Holy Spirit is different from any worldly peace. That means His peace is supernatural in origin.

Godly peace will “keep”, or “guard” our hearts.
This word has a strong military connotation. It pictures a heavily armed soldier, or perhaps an entire army, watching guard over us. When we do our part (prayer and thanksgiving), God is sure to do His (peace and guarding).