Philippians 4:6b

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

(v6, NIV)

We are not to be anxious about anything. This doesn't mean to be carelessly oblivious to the world around us. We are to take notice or take action when required, but not partake in fruitless worry. What are we to do instead of being anxious about anything? Instead of worry, we are to present our requests to God. We have things we might worry about or may cause us anxiety. Lift them up to God in prayer. Cast your burdens upon the Lord. This is what we are to do.

When we lift up our requests to him, this doesn't mean we'll get what we want. God isn't a genie in a bottle. It's not like we rub him the right way and we get what we want. God works the way he works, and sometimes in our human mind, we think God should work a certain way. In our sinfulness we expect some things from God, and when God doesn't meet those needs, we assume God doesn't exist or think God is unjust or unloving. God is holy, righteous, just and pure. God doesn't conform to our way of thinking. If God worked the way we wanted him to work, he wouldn't be the awesome God that he is. He would defy his own nature and cease to be loving and righteous and pure and holy. So, lift up your requests to him, but do not jump to conclusions when he doesn't answer you the way you want him to answer you.

How are we to lift up our requests to him? We are to do so with thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for. God breathed life into us, he sustains us and loves us. We may also receive blessings from him. He is rich in mercy. If he wanted to, he could smite us right now, and we would deserve it too. Be thankful to the Lord. If you can't think of something to be thankful for, then you don't know him. Learn more about him. He is good.