Study

From Anxiety to Intimacy

Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart
6 Days
Introduction
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6

Release Worry With Thanksgiving

Day 3

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It’s day three of From Anxiety to Intimacy. We’re looking back at Philippians 4, except this time, we’re focusing on thanksgiving.

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:6

Ben Stuart addresses the question many of us may ask ourselves: Why would I be grateful if I’m anxious?

We offer thanksgiving to God, acknowledging that He not only rules the world and all that we’re concerned with, but invites us to bring our requests to Him because He cares. Our worries are not too heavy for God; He is strong enough to hold us and loving enough to want to.

When we are able to not only release our worries to Him and allow Him to carry them, we can then express our gratitude. So, stop for a minute and tell God what you’re grateful for. Search for the things you’re thankful for, even if it’s hard initially. We can stop focusing on what we lack and instead focus on Him.

Summary

In Ancient Rome, a man was baptized, and his name changed from Titedios to Titedios Amerimnos. "Amerinmos" signifies "without worry." We all have the opportunity to trade our worries and to rest in intimacy with our King.

Modern researchers are seeing the benefits of meditation and thanksgiving, which Christians have been practicing for thousands of years. Gratitude can be a remedy for anxiety. We trade in chaos for a sense of contentment because Godliness with contentment is a great gain.

In Philippians 4:6, Paul says to offer up our prayers with thanksgiving. Why would we be grateful if we are anxious? We have so many things we are concerned about. Where do I work? Will it provide enough money? Where should I live? Will I ever get married? Gratitude has a way of interrupting that anxiety.

How does this work?

We thank God, not anyone or anything else. We acknowledge that God rules all of the world, even the things we are concerned about. He allows us to bring our requests into the throne room. This is a stunning truth for the believer.

In 1 Peter 5:7 and Psalm 55:22, we see that the command is the same, but the motivations are different. One says He is strong enough to hold us, and the other recognizes that He is strong enough to want to.

We, and our burdens, are not too heavy for the Lord. We are going to be taken care of.

What's Next?

As you write out your anxieties, start recording what you are grateful for. Thanksgiving is an antidote to rising anxiety, allowing us to shift our focus from what we lack to what we have in Him, who loves and sustains us. He will not let the righteous fall (Psalm 55:22).

Scripture References

29
And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.
30
For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.
31
But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
25
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life
?
28
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
31
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
11
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.
12
Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
13
Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.
14
The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
15
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.
40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41
“Martha, Martha,”
the Lord answered,
“you are worried and upset about many things,
42
but few things are needed—or indeed only one.
Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
22Cast your cares on the
Lord

and he will sustain you;

he will never let

the righteous be shaken.

1There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.