“Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done . . . Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:6, 8 (NLT)
God wants you to trust him one day at a time. He said to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread”—not for next week or next year but just one day at a time.
The Bible says there are four things we need to do to trust God on a daily basis: “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done . . . Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:6, 8 NLT).
Don’t worry.
Why is worry such a big deal? Because it’s not just a bad habit—it’s a sin! God keeps his promises, and you can trust that he will take care of you for the big and the small things. “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34 NLT).
Pray about everything.
Prayer can change things. Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (NIV). If God loved you enough to send Jesus to die for you and solve your biggest problem, don’t you think he loves you enough to take care of all your other problems?
Thank God in all things.
No matter what happens, give thanks. The Bible doesn’t say, “For all things give thanks.” It says, “In all things give thanks.” You don’t have to be thankful for the bad things in your life. But you can give thanks in everything because he’s promised to “never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV).
Think about the right things.
Where do you find things to think about that are pure and lovely and true and honorable and right and admirable? You find those things when you focus on God and his goodness. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (NLT).
Read the Bible—study it, memorize it, and fill your mind with its truth—so you can grow in your trust of God’s love and care for you.
Do you believe that prayer can change things? Why or why not?
Where do your thoughts turn most often? Do they turn to things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable?
In what situation do you need to thank God today?