SCRIPTURE: Jesus said, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:31-34 NIV
THOUGHT: Worry is like a ravenous wolf. It gobbles at sleep…it steals attention from what is really important…it robs us of joy…it tears at relationships with those we love. When we fall prey to its clutches, our eyes lock on what we fear. We forget ways in which God has delivered us in the past and promises he has made for our future. Like Peter, sinking in the waves, we can only see imminent danger, not the imminent triumph of God over our fears.
Jesus teaches his friends that the antidote to worry is keeping our eyes on the kingdom of God – lifting our eyes from the waves, making kingdom-living our prize and being right with God our goal. As it was with Peter, it’s about what we focus on: if we keep our focus on God, he promises we don’t need to worry about tomorrow.
So don’t give in to worry. God has made provision for the things you need. Rest in that, give thanks, and save your energy for the work he’s given you to do for the kingdom today.
PRAYER: God, thank you for the promise of provision. You know we need certain things to live, and I’d love to never worry about tomorrow again. Help me lay hold of your generous promise, forsaking worry and giving my full attention to your will. Your kingdom come; your will be done.
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Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
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