What a great time of year this is.  I do enjoy Thanksgiving.  I hope everyone found something to be thankful for during the past holiday weekend.  For me, it was certainly time spent with family, especially my wonderful wife and four children.  However, it often seems we are concerned about the things we don’t have instead of giving thanks for our many blessings.  We are consumed by the desires of this world and obsessed with pleasing others, instead of God.  These habits bring about anxiety and worry, both of which are bad for your general health.

In fact, the verse from Philippians above begins with, “Do not be anxious about anything…”.  Even more amazing, Paul wrote this letter of joy from a Roman prison.  He was beaten and placed in chains by the Emperor Nero (it is believed that Nero had Paul executed a few years after this letter).  One of the most well-known verses in the Bible comes from this piece of scripture. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Our society uses this verse as a battle cry for all the mighty things we can accomplish through Faith in Jesus (which is absolutely true).  However, when we read a few verses prior to this, we begin to realize that Paul is saying he has learned to be content even in horrible circumstances.  How can this be?  Paul knew that Christ suffered and died the sinner’s death that he deserved in order that all who believe can have eternal salvation.  I encourage you, read all of Paul’s letter, and experience the joy of knowing that Christ’s Grace is sufficient for all your needs.

Dr. B