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 (or keep) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7 (Emphasis added)
What a wonderful promise! Our hearts and minds will be guarded by the peace of God. The original Greek word used here for ‘to keep’ or ‘guard’ means; - to protect by military guard, to prevent a hostile invasion.

Thanksgiving equips us to withstand the 'hostile invasion' of the enemy in our thoughts – especially in times of trial or crisis.

Notice here how the peace is appropriated – through thanksgiving - as we put our requests before the Father. He is interested in every part of our lives and here’s the amazing part of His love for us…He knows our needs even before we bring them to Him but He delights in us doing just that - presenting our requests to Him, with thanksgiving.

The Holy Spirit has been encouraging me in the area of thanksgiving over recent weeks and reminding me nothing ever happens to me that takes the Father by surprise! He has only the best for me so I can be CONFIDENT that even when my circumstances seem to be out of line with what I would consider to be best for me, I know that He is working all things together for my good. (Rom 8:28)

His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. He’s not just a bigger version of you and me!

Thanksgiving is an attitude of the heart and mind. It really is an act of the will, especially when the situation or circumstances in our lives ‘screams’ that we should be anything but thankful. The Bible calls it a sacrifice of praise – i.e. we CHOOSE to praise Him in spite of the situation, trusting Him to turn anything that the enemy has meant for evil around for our good.

As I look back over my life, I see again and again (with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight) ALL of the crises, disappointments, tragedy and heartbreaking situations contained ‘gold’. Of course at the time the gold wasn’t evident and if honest, I wasn’t always looking for it (or even interested in doing so), but I can see the hand of God was in EACH and EVERY situation. Does that mean He sent these disasters to me to make me a ‘better person’ or because I deserved punishment – ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Nothing is wasted in God’s economy or Kingdom. He has a purpose and plan for our lives and as I learn to trust Him more, I find greater peace flows especially in the tough times by choosing to be thankful in every circumstance.

Just recently I woke in the small hours of the morning and my mind immediately started thinking about all manner of things that had potential to bring fear, anxiety and worry. It was my choice what to do with these thoughts..

I began to purposefully thank God for my wife & family and just ‘worked my way’ down the list not just thanking God I had a wife and family but for all the goodness and joy they bring to me and the way He has provided for us.

Before I knew it 40 minutes had passed & I hadn’t progressed passed my family! In that entire time I never had one anxious thought. Why is that? Simply because fear and faith can’t co-exist in the one ‘container’. You simply can’t be anxious when your heart and mind is full of thankfulness!

Thanksgiving releases faith and fear and anxiety have to flee! God is GOOD ALL THE TIME and when we choose to acknowledge His goodness it changes our perspective on the things that come against us.

4 Reasons to be thankful

1. It magnifies God – not that we can make Him any bigger but our perspective shifts.

2. It’s the will of God for us; “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thess 5:16-18

3. It expresses our trust in His goodness and faithfulness to us.

4. We fill our minds with the goodness of God thereby rendering null and void the enemy’s plans for fear.

May I encourage you to adopt a lifestyle of thanksgiving and watch and see the peace increase in your life. He keeps His Word – He will guard or keep your heart & mind in peace – which will surpass your understanding.