Philippians 4:6 is a reference to a Bible quotation that says we should pray, But what exactly is prayer? And why should we pray?

These are the questions and more that I will answer in this post by unpacking the meaning of Philippians 4:6.

Bible Notation

Here is the Bible quotation referred to as Philippians 4:6. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6.

Of course, you may be asking, What does the phrase “Philippians 4:6” mean? It is an example of what is known as Bible notation.

Now, the Bible is a collection of books. And each book in the Bible consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses. So, the Bible notation “Philippians 4:6” refers to the book of Philippians, the 4^th chapter, and the 6^th verse of Chapter 4.

Who is God?

Philippians 4:6 says that we should pray to God, so naturally the question arises, Who is God?

It turns out that on reading the Bible, you will find that “God” (Genesis 1:1) and “the Godhead” (Acts 17:29) are interchangeable names in the Bible for a divine Family made up of three Persons. So, God is indeed a Person or, rather, Persons, and not a thing or things.

And God describes Himself in the Bible by saying that He is “God, that cannot lie” (Titus 1:2) and “God is love.” 1 John 4:8. That is to say, each of the three members of the Godhead has a character of love that is identical to the character of the others. In fact, the love in God’s heart is the only definition of true love in the universe.

And, No, there are not three Gods! Why? Because the members of the Godhead never contradict each other at any time, that is, we can say that they speak with one voice. For there has never been nor ever will be any disagreement or contention among them. Therefore, we can say, “there is one God.” Mark 12:32.

Furthermore, each Person in the Godhead, the divine Family, is “without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” Hebrews 7:3.

And the names of these three Persons in the Godhead are “the Father” (Matthew 11:27), “the Son” (Psalm 2:12) also called Christ (Matthew 1:1), and “the Holy Spirit.” Psalm 51:11.

Therefore, with this understanding of who God is, a related question is, Who is Jesus? The name Jesus was given to Christ when He was born as a baby boy on earth over 2,023 years ago. So, Jesus and Christ are one and the same divine Person.

“Be Careful for [Anxious About] Nothing” Philippians 4:6

Philippians 4:6 says that we are not be anxious about anything and, many people will say, This is easier said than done.

So, let us examine the root cause of anxiety in human beings and, hence, God’s call in Philippians 4:6 to every human being not to be anxious.

Why Human Beings are Anxious

God created the first human pair, a man named Adam and a woman named Eve, with a character of perfect love just like God’s character.

And God placed Adam and Eve in a beautiful garden which God had specially planted for them and gave them the pleasant work of caring for the garden of Eden.

Every day God would visit them in the garden and have face-to-face conversations with them there. Thus, Adam and Eve were perfectly happy and had no cares or worries. So, why are there cares and worries in the world today? Why does God need to say in Philippians 4:6 that we are not be anxious about anything?

Well, a change came about on earth when Adam and Eve yielded to the temptations of an angel named Satan to do evil, which is to sin. Instantaneously, their characters changed from one of love to a character of selfishness.

Before we go on, Who is Satan that caused stress, cares, and worries, to enter our world contrary to Philippians 4:6? He is an angel originally named “Lucifer” (Isaiah 14:12) who rebelled against God in heaven and, therefore, sinned.

Satan caused some of the other angels to join him in his rebellion and, in the course of time, Satan and his “evil angels” (Psalm 78:49) became fixed in their wicked ways. Hence, God cast them all out of heaven pending God’s Judgment Day.

And, after they had sinned, God cast both Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden, thereby taking away their access to the tree of life. For to eat from the tree of life meant that one would live forever. Thus, in the course of time, both Adam and Eve died.

So then, two main factors have led to people being anxious contrary to Philippians 4:6. Firstly, all of Adam and Eve’s descendants have inherited their inclination to sin and, hence, all human beings have sinned. And thus, in a wicked world of sin and knowing that they have a limited lifespan, people have a fear of death which causes stress and anxiety.

Secondly, human beings lost face-to-face contact with God and so unbelief in God and His character of love settled in upon the human race. That is, in their natural condition, people don’t believe that God loves them and that God has a plan for them to have a happy future where they will live forever with God Himself. As a result, the world, in general, does not know of God’s words in Philippians 4:6 and, even when Philippians 4:6 is known by people, they often do not believe it, neither obey it.

These then are the reasons why human beings are anxious contrary to God’s command in Philippians 4:6.

Why God Calls Upon Human Beings Not to Be Anxious

Now “the wages of sin is [eternal] death [which is to be annihilated by God, that is to say, to cease to exist]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. This then is the essence of God’s plan of salvation, which is to save humanity from annihilation by God and instead give them eternal life.

Yes, it is possible that every human being could receive eternal life from God and, hence, God’s words in Philippians 4:6!

For “we see Jesus [Christ], who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace [blessings] of God should taste [eternal] death for every man [for every human being]. For it became [was fitting for] him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons [and daughters] unto glory [to fully display a character of perfect love like God’s character], to make [Jesus Christ] the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Hebrews 2:9, 10.

In light of God’s statement above, you may be wondering, If Christ has a character of perfect love, how then can Christ be made perfect through sufferings, if He is already perfect? That is, you may be saying, There seems to be a contradiction here.

This is a good question and one that gets to the heart of why God says in Philippians 4:6 that we are not to be anxious about anything.

“For in that he [Jesus Christ] himself hath suffered being tempted [to sin], he [Jesus Christ] is able to succour [to help] them [all humanity] that are tempted [to sin].” Hebrews 2:18. Here then is the foundation of Philippians 4:6.

That is, ever since Adam and Eve sinned, Christ has been the God who has taught and helped human beings to overcome every temptation to sin. And for the approximately 4,000 years from the time of Adam and Eve to the birth of Christ on earth as the baby boy named Jesus, this help from Christ was given to all human beings, in accordance with Philippians 4:6.

The justification for God giving this help to humanity was that Christ was promised by God to live in the future as the only human being that never sinned. This sinlessness of Christ, therefore, would qualify Christ to die to the sins of the whole word, thereby, exhausting the penalty of eternal death for the human race. Hence, God’s words in Philippians 4:6.

About 2,023 years ago, Christ did, in fact, live as a human being on earth who never sinned, thus fulfilling God’s promise. This, fulfillment was seen in the resurrection of Christ, that is to say, by Christ’s rising from the dead to live again forever. This is the reason for God’s words in Philippians 4:6.

Further, ever since Christ’s death over 2,023 years ago, Christ has been a help to human beings empowering them to overcome all temptations to sin.

Therefore, every human being who allows God to change their heart from selfishness to perfect love will receive eternal life from God. In other words, those who allow God to help them to overcome all temptations to sin will be blessed with everlasting life from God. Thus, God says in Philippians 4:6 that we are not to worry about anything.

Now, you may die before Christ returns to the earth or live to see Christ return. But, if your heart has previously been changed by God to one of perfect love, at that time when Christ returns, you will either be resurrected to live forever with God Himself, or enter into eternal life with God without seeing death. No wonder God says in Philippians 4:6 that we are not to be anxious about anything!

“But in Every Thing by Prayer and Supplication” Philippians 4:6

So, now that we know why Philippians 4:6 says not to be anxious, we come to the command in Philippians 4:6 to pray and to make supplications. And you may be asking, Why?

Again, this is a good question. To answer, I will first of all, explain what is prayer and what is supplication, then give a few reasons why we should pray. For there are many reasons why we should pray.

What is Prayer?

God says to every human being, “Call unto me [God], and I [God] will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3.

Here then is the essence of prayer. It is a two-way communication with God, in that, we speak to God and God answers us as Philippians 4:6 implies.

Note that there are two crucial things to know about prayer. “Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.” 1 Samuel 1:13. Note that Hannah prayed silently, in accordance with Philippians 4:6, and God heard her because God knows all our thoughts.

It is great wisdom to pray silently, in accordance with Philippians 4:6, without even moving our lips, for Satan and his evil angels, known as demons, are all around us, being invisible to our eyes. So, when we pray aloud, we tell these demons what they could not otherwise know and they use this information to plan how to tempt us to sin, so that we would lose everlasting life. This is the first point.

The second point is that you should not expect to hear God speaking audibly to you. God has spoken audibly in the past and this can happen today, but it is rare. Rather, God will, typically, direct you to the Bible by putting a thought in your mind, say, “Matthew 4:4” or impress your mind with other of His thoughts.

These two points help us to pray effectively in accordance with Philippians 4:6.

What is Supplication?

We come to supplication which Philippians 4:6 commands us to make to God. I will give two examples of supplications from the Bible.

Example 1: “O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company [this great number of wicked people led by demons, that is, by Satan and his evil angels] that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee [God].” 2 Chronicles 20:12.

Example 2: “For thy name’s sake, O LORD [God], pardon mine iniquity [my wickedness]; for it is great.” Psalm 25:11.

Here we see that to make supplication to God, in accordance with Philippians 4:6, is to make a request of God. Thus, a supplication is a type of prayer.

Why Should We Pray?

Here are just five of the many reasons why we should pray to God in accordance with God’s command in Philippians 4:6.

Reason 1: “Behold, I [God] stand at the door [of your heart], and knock: if any man [any person] hear my voice [“hear” my thoughts which are put by me, God, into their mind], and open the door [of their heart], I will come in to him [into his or her heart], and will sup [dine] with him [or her by giving them spiritual food], and he [or she shall partake of this spiritual food] with me [given by me, God].” Revelation 3:20.

In other words, God is constantly “speaking” to our hearts and minds and, in accordance to Philippians 4:6, calling us to pray to Him, God. Because those who never pray to God will not receive eternal life from God, as God is a stranger to them.

Reason 2: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD [God]: though your sins be as scarlet [red as the blood shed on earth through murder], they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson [like a bloodstained garment], they shall be as [white as] wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

“I will make a man [a human being] more precious than fine gold; even a man [a human being more precious] than the golden wedge of Ophir [which is the purest gold].” Isaiah 13:12. That is to say, with God’s help, every human being may become free from all sin just like pure gold is free from all impurities.

But, in order to achieve sinlessness, every human being must pray to God as commanded in Philippians 4:6, in order to get an understanding of what is sin and, hence, receive help from God to overcome all sin.

Reason 3: “Take with you words, and turn to the LORD [God]: say unto him [God], Take away all iniquity [all wickedness from us], and receive [accept] us graciously: so will we render [to you, God,] the calves of our lips [the sacrificial, spiritual offering of our prayer of devotion to you, God, as if we had actually sacrificed a calf to you as a foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrificial death for our sins].” Hosea 14:2.

Here we see that in making supplications to God we would be obedient to God’s command in Philippians 4:6 and this is a necessary step to our salvation.

Reason 4: “Ye [in your natural sinful condition] lust [for many things], and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not [help from God to overcome these sins], because ye ask not [of God]. Ye ask [of God], and receive not [from God], because ye ask amiss [ask for wrong things], that ye may consume it upon your lusts [for worldly things].” James 4:2, 3.

Here God is saying that just because you make supplications to God in accordance with Philippians 4:6, does not mean that you will receive a favourable answer from God. For if you ask for the wrong things from God (things that are not needs or things that will not help us receive salvation from God) you will not receive a blessing from God.

Reason 5: “Casting all your care [your anxiety] upon him [God]; for he [God] careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.

Here God, in accordance with Philippians 4:6, is saying that we can offload all our burdens of anxiety, cares, worries, and stress, unto God Himself. For God will then take the weight of these things off our shoulders because God loves us and wants us to be carefree and happy at all times.

What a relief we can find if we obey God’s command in Philippians 4:6!

“With Thanksgiving” Philippians 4:6

Philippians 4:6 says that we are pray with thanksgiving to God. Why?

Well, God says that we can say of ourselves in truth, “And this is the confidence that we have in him [God], that, if we ask any thing according to his [God’s] will, he [God] heareth us: And if we know that he [God] hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions [requests] that we desired of him [God].” 1 John 5:14, 15.

Yes, here is a reason to give thanks to God when we pray, in accordance with Philippians 4:6, even before we see the answers to our prayers!

Consider king Jehoshaphat of ancient Judah, who in accordance with Philippians 4:6, prayed to God when the nations of Moab, Ammon, and the Edomites of Mount Seir, came to fight against the kingdom of Judah.

“Then upon Jahaziel…came the Spirit of the LORD [God] in the midst of the congregation [of Judah].” 2 Chronicles 20:14. Thus, God answered king Jehoshaphat’s prayer as implied by Philippians 4:6.

Here is God’s answer to their prayer that was made in obedience to Philippians 4:6. “And he [Jahaziel] said, Hearken [Listen] ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD [God] unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude [of wicked people, Satan, and his evil angels]; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15.

“And when he [king Jehoshaphat] had consulted with the people [of Judah], he [king Jehoshaphat] appointed singers unto the LORD [God], and that should praise the beauty of holiness [of God], as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD [God]; for his mercy endureth for ever.” 2 Chronicles 20:21.

So, here we see king Jehoshaphat praising and thanking God, in accordance with Philippians 4:6, before he even saw any victory over Judah’s enemies.

“And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD [God] set ambushments [set ambushes] against the children [the people] of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten [defeated].” 2 Chronicles 20:22.

Hallelujah, praise God! What God will do for us when we obey His command given in Philippians 4:6!

“For the children [the people] of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay [to kill] and destroy them: and when they had made an end of [killing] the inhabitants of Seir, every one [of the people of Ammon and Moab] helped to destroy another [each other].” 2 Chronicles 20:23. So, God caused the three enemy nations to fight among themselves.

“And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude [of their enemies], and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none [of their enemies] escaped [alive].” 2 Chronicles 20:24.

This is a valuable lesson from God about why we should give thanks to God when we pray before we see God’s answer to our prayer, as God has commanded us in Philippians 4:6.

“Let Your Requests Be Made Known Unto God” Philippians 4:6

God’s command in Philippians 4:6 ends by saying that we should make our requests known unto God. This seems to be repetitious, so, Why does God add this phrase to His command?

Consider the case of king Ahaz of Judah: “Then said the LORD [God] unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet [king] Ahaz…and say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of [king] Rezin with [of] Syria, and of the son of Remaliah [king of Israel].” Isaiah 7:3, 4.

“Because Syria, Ephraim [that is, Israel], and the son of Remaliah [the king of Israel], have taken evil counsel against thee, saying, Let us go up against Judah, and vex [distress] it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a [new] king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal: Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.” Isaiah 7:5-7.

Here king Ahaz of Judah is facing a similar situation as king Jehoshaphat of Judah did earlier. Remember, as was said before, that king Jehoshaphat prayed and gave thanks to God in accordance with Philippians 4:6.

And again, in this case, God makes a promise to king Ahaz. “For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is [king] Rezin; and within threescore and five [sixty-five] years shall Ephraim [Israel] be broken, that it be not a people. And the head of Ephraim [of Israel] is Samaria, and the head [king] of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established [in your kingdom]. Moreover the LORD [God] spake [spoke] again unto [king] Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God [that my, God’s, promise will be fulfilled]; ask it either in the depth [of the sea], or in the height [of heaven] above.” Isaiah 7:8-11.

“But [king] Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD [God].” Isaiah 7:12. What? King Ahaz disobeys God’s command in Philippians 4:6 by refusing to make his requests known unto God! Why? Because of unbelief and a lack of trust in God.

So then, what is said twice in Philippians 4:6 and seems to be unnecessarily repetitious is God’s way of emphasising His command that we should pray.

And he [Isaiah] said, Hear ye now, O house of David [O king Ahaz]; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord [God] himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel…For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings [both king Rezin of Syria and king Pekah of Israel, the son of Remaliah].” Isaiah 7:13-16.

Here again is a valuable lesson from God. Let us not be found to be disobedient to God’s command in Philippians 4:6 and even to weary God with our unbelief and lack of trust in God.

Conclusion

God has given a command in Philippians 4:6 and it is accompanied with an explicit promise from God, in addition to those promises implied in Philippians 4:6.

God promises that if we obey Philippians 4:6, “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7.

What does this mean? Just what it says! Praying to God with genuine thanksgiving will result in our having a peace in the midst of all circumstances that we can know by experience, even though worldly people cannot understand the peace we have.

For we will receive from God, the same kind of peace that Jesus Christ Himself had when He lived on earth, even in the face of His own death.

Related Blog Posts

What is Sin?
Your Spiritual Journey with God
The Joy of Talking with God
The Hidden Reality
How to Trust in God

For Further Study

• Bible Study Principles
• Victory in Christian Warfare
• Know Your Bible in 50 Days: A Guide to All 66 Books

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