Sermon Cloud

When Paul says he can do everything, he is referring to his ability to exit in all types of material circumstances – wealth or poverty, abundant food or no food, and so forth. The source of Paul’s ability to exist successfully in all circumstances is his union with Christ. This is Paul’s secret. Paul tells the Philippians not to be anxious, that is “stop worrying.” To worry is to display a lack of confidence in God’s care and in God’s control over the situation. Paul uses three synonyms in a row (prayer, petition, requests) to describe the alternative to anxiety. Instead of worrying, a person ought to converse with directly with God and lay out before Him all that is on one’s mind, confident that God will hear and respond. The result will be that God will meet all our needs.