In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul admonishes us. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Rather than wallow in the cares of life, God calls us to thanksgiving.

Imagine a fork in your life-road. Either path leads to your destination. To the left is Anxiety Avenue--a wide road, but pitted with ruts that  cause you to stumble. Thieves lay in wait along the path to rob your joy and peace.  To the right, the Thanksgiving Turnpike is narrow but smooth, passing through beautiful scenery. Peace and joy thrive there. Every day your problems require a choice of one road or the other.

We choose Anxiety Avenue because we lack faith that God is powerful enough to manage whatever He has allowed into our lives. On the Thanksgiving Turnpike, we remember God's power. We know He is able to be victorious because we've seen Him work before. Nothing is too big for God. After all, He hung the stars. His plan is infinietely better than anything we could hope for or imagine. Even His timing can be trused.

Thanksgiving is not about our circumstances but about our choices. That's what Paul told the  Philippians: "Finally brothers, 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 . . . And the God of peace will be with you."

Unfortunately, trouble is part of life. Choose to thankful anyway. Fill your thoughts, your prayers, your comversations with thanksgiving. God promises to fill your hearts with His supernatural peace--the peace that passes all understanding.