“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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 4:6-7

As we head into more end-time headwinds, none of us can escape the negativity that seeks to entangle us. Thoughts and proclamations of doom and destruction threaten to defeat us. Fear grips each of us every day, but this fear is not of the Lord. In Him we should experience only a freeing, righteous fear of God. But how can we overcome fear when we are continually faced with threats of illness, death, and loss of relationships with family, friends, and coworkers? The Lord says we do this through thanksgiving!

It may seem like a crazy idea when we’re facing threats to our well-being on every side. But I challenge you to retrain your brain to look for all the signs of the positive, life-giving hand of God at work in your life. It does not matter what your circumstance is; the beautiful, life-giving God of creation is surrounding you every moment.

Look for His handiwork, listen for His voice, and thank Him for what He is doing. As we look to see the face of God and His goodness all around us, we will discover endless blessings. What’s more, our lives will supernaturally move toward hope, newness of life, and joy.

The Bible says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Phil. 4:8). Thinking and speaking true, life-giving words about ourselves and others has power to change a negative circumstance into something positive. So, beloved one, be intentional about speaking words of thanksgiving, and watch your world supernaturally transform from fear into shalom, the peace that passes all understanding.

Thank You, Lord, that I am alive to complete Your plan for my life. Thank You, Father, for sending Jesus and Your Holy Spirit so I know I am not alone and am equipped for any battle. Thank You for the warming sun and the cleansing rains. And thank You, Lord, for giving me eyes to see in the Spirit, which equips me to focus on the beauty, life, and hope that surround me.

Cynthia Schneider, From Passover to Pentecost (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2021), Used by permission.