Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Ver. 6. In nothing be careful] Or care for nothing, viz. with a care of diffidence and distrust. See Trapp on " Mat 6:25 " See Trapp on " Mat 6:26 " &c.
But in everything by prayer] This is the best cure of care. "Cast thy burden" (or thy request) "upon the Lord," said David, Psalms 55:22; "and he shall sustain thee." Remove thy trouble from thyself to God by virtue of that writ or warrant, and then all shall be well. "They looked unto God, and were lightened," Psalms 34:5. Luther in a certain epistle of his to Melancthon complaineth thus: Ego certe ore pro te, et doleo te pertinacissimam curarum hirudinem meas preces sic irritas facere: I pray for thee, but to no purpose so long as thou givest so much way to carking cares.
Supplication with thanksgiving] We should come to pray with our thanks in our hands, standing ready with it, as Joseph's brethren stood with their present, Genesis 43:25. In the old law, what special request soever they had to make, or what sacrifice soever to offer, they were commanded still to come with their peace offerings. Prayer goes up without incense when without thankfulness. The Church ascends daily to her beloved Christ in these pillars of smoke, Song of Solomon 3:6, for she knows that unthankfulness hindereth much the restful success of prayer. And the apostle seemeth here to hint that God taketh no notice of their prayers that do not in addition give thanks.