Rejoice and rejoice.

Don’t be anxious. We’re not just given the order. We’re told how. We pray and pray. We give each thing over to God with thanksgiving.

Why is the thanksgiving necessary?

You can fret while you are praying and feel worse afterwards, but if you pray from a heart of thanksgiving, then you are recognizing God’s goodness and sovereignty and are trusting Him to take care of things perfectly.

Worrying is either denying God is in control or denying His goodness. It’s irreverent.

Honor God and don’t act like He will choose what is wrong for you and your family or that He can’t do what’s needed.

Rejoice. Give thanks. You have a God!

If you recognized that very basic fact in your prayers of thanksgiving, peace would guard your heart and mind. Isn’t that what we all want? A heart and mind guarded by peace?

We’re told how it can be ours. Pray with thanksgiving. Know your God. Trust Him. Rejoice.

We have another direction to help us with our minds. Those who walk in the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Those headed for destruction have their mind on earthly things. This is important stuff. We set our mind on things above. We look to Jesus. We think on Him. He is what is true and pure and lovely and praiseworthy.

He is the Word. Fill your mind with the Word. Listen to Scripture, in audio Bibles or in music. Fill your mind with Truth.

No matter how hard things seem for you now, know that there is way though, and His name is Jesus. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We can be content. We can live at peace.