Philippians 4:4-9 Get Rid of "Stinking Thinking"

 

Phil 4:4-9  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. ESV

• The command is repeated twice to rejoice in the Lord. Our basic nature should be that of joy. Rejoicing is the act of showing joy.
• It is demonstrated in the way we behave toward other by being gentle (NIV). Being reasonable. Letting reason be in control rather than following emotions and letting them dictate our paths.
• It is a command – don’t be anxious. About anything? Seriously? Yes. What is it called when we disobey a command? (Sin) What are we supposed to do when we sin? We need to repent of anxiousness not say I’m just a worry wart. That is not the nature God has given us, it is the nature of fallen mankind.
• When we repent, we put off the old and put on the new. The new is supplied in these verses. It is prayer, petition, and thanksgiving to God. What’s the difference between prayer, petition, and supplication? The basic idea of prayer is talking to God. We tell him the way we are feeling and even the way we are thinking. It may include confession that our thoughts are troubling us and our sins are troubling us. Psalm 38:18 says “For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin” (NAS).
• Petition is a formal request. After talking it over with God, we can make a request.
• Supplication is an emotional request. We are emotional creatures, and it isn’t wrong to strongly want an answer to our prayers. If we have talked them over with God, then we won’t let our emotions dictate wrongful prayers, but even if we do, we know that the Holy Spirit does interpret them and gives us what is best (Rom 8:26-29).
• This is how our minds then gain the peace that comes from God and transcends understanding. He gives us peace when we trust in Him and his word.
• Getting even more practical in putting on is Paul’s list of things to think about. What kinds of things fit these criteria? This is something to meditation on.
• Finally, is the concept that these things must be practiced as Paul practiced them. They aren’t a one-time shot that makes you immune to anxiety or any other kind of stinking thinking. If you find yourself lapsing into negative thought patterns, realize that your practice of these is more than your practice of good thinking. We reap what we sow (Gal 6:7-8).
• God has given us a promise that when we practice thing his way, his peace will be with us.