This verse tells us to think about the good and praiseworthy things in our life and not the lies that the enemy has told us. It’s not saying to ignore your problems, but if we think about good things and look on life with a positive outlook, those things that seemed big, will no longer feel big. The holidays are a time with family, friends, food, and laughter. So why is there so much stress? Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time where you reflect on what you are thankful and grateful for, but it usually turns out to be the opposite. We always wish our house looked a certain way, the dog acted a certain way, or the food tasted a certain way. We have all these expectations and wants, when it is all about being thankful for what you have, not what you want. So much stress gets piled up on one day because it has to be perfect, at least we think it does. All the family is coming so we have to make the house look pristine, we have to look a certain way and act a certain way. The Bible says to think about what is good and praiseworthy and not what is not. It is so easy to get caught up in what people will think of us, when really that is the opposite of what Thanksgiving is all about. 

King’s Way Student, Raegan Goostree, believes this verse, “is a great example of how Christians should live their lives. Every part of our lives should reflect Christ and that includes our thoughts.”

Corresponding with Philippians 4:8,  Psalm 107:8-9, says, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”

 This alone can give us peace because He will always provide because of His unfailing love and wonderful deeds. We are sometimes hungry and thirst for the wrong things, like money, popularity, or a job, but that will never truly fulfill us. We will always be hungry and thirsty for something different, but if we hunger and thirst for the eternal God, we will be filled with good things that will fulfill us. As we sit down for our Thanksgiving feast and fill our bellies with turkey and stuffing, remember who will actually fulfill you. When the family leaves and your fulfillment starts to wane, thank the Lord for the people He has put in your life and the power to fulfill you. We often think, if this goes a certain way, I will be fulfilled, or if I get a certain grade, I will be proud of myself, when really that doesn’t last. The moment is going to end and along with it, the contentment. Sometimes we are so excited about the holidays because we know what it will bring, but when it’s over, we feel empty. All the family left and all the food was eaten. The only thing we are left with is a messy house and a pile of dirty dishes. But with God, that is not the case. He is always there and He will never leave you. His love never runs out of things to give. Now that is something we can be thankful for.