Philippians 4:6-9 says “Be careful for nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

This is a remarkable prescription for living a good life. Let’s break it down. Philippians 4:6 First, be careful for nothing. That is King James “speak” for do not worry. Instead, through prayer (directly addressing God) and supplication (asking or begging for something earnestly and humbly) with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God. Paul is saying, or re-saying: God is our supply; He is the one to whom we go to meet our needs; He has promised to supply them as Jesus Himself says in Matthew.

Matthew 6:31-33  “Therefore, take no thought, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or, ‘What shall we drink?’ or, ‘Wherewithal shall we be clothed?’ 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.“

And in Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

Philippians 4:7 The first thing we are to attain when we lay our needs at the Lord’s feet is His peace. This peace is incomprehensible. Why? because it displaces worry and assures us that God “has got this:” that our prayers have been answered. This is reiterated by John in 1 John:

1 John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in Him: that if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: 15 And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.“

After attaining this peace we are to meditate on good things, truth, honesty, justice, purity, loveliness, things of good report (well spoken of), virtuous (of high moral value) and anything praiseworthy. Meditating on positive things changes our energy and outlook and is an antidote to worry. You have His peace; now find His joy.

Philippians 4:9 Paul tells the Philippians to use him as a role model. We don’t have the benefit of having known Paul personally but we do have some insight into his character, faithfulness, hard work, studiousness, compassion, determination and courage (to name just a few of Paul’s virtues); and the bottom line is to be a doer: do something! Act on our knowledge, be engaged on the field rather than to just be a spectator.

In summary, ask God for what you need, attain the peace faith brings, find beauty and virtue and meditate on them, and practice what you know to do as a Christian.