ANXIOUS ABOUT TODAY?

SCRIPTURE:  “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?’ 31 ‘Therefore do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?”’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthews 6:25-33)

Jesus warns the disciples against worrying. For the byproduct of worrying is more worrying. Worrying today robs us of trusting the Lord. Every day we tend to experience roaring minds filled with anxiety of things… putting our care upon things of the world. We constantly direct our thoughts about tomorrow with multiple ‘How do I...?’ ‘How will I…?’ or ‘Should I…?’ Tormenting thoughts: disturbs our trust in the Lord; dampens our hope in Him; hinders us from enjoying what the Lord has given us; and hinders our enjoyment of whose we are and the enjoyment of our friends. On the other hand, unbelieving thoughts blind our trust in the Lord; clouds our faith in His Word; keeps us in bondage and from knowing the almighty God who made the heavens and the earth.

Jesus again warns us not to worry (Matthew 6:25, 31, 34). Worrying adds nothing to the situation. Whether it’s food, drink or clothes to wear, the Lord knows what His people stand in need of, and He makes provisions (Matthew 6:32). Why would He forsake His people and leave them to suffer hurt and starve for lack of substances? People are important to the Lord. He is our Father, and we are His children. Let’s look at the fowls of the air and learn from them. They trust the Lord (Matthew 6:26). They are all fed and with foods convenient for them for all seasons. Our heavenly Father feeds them, and they do not have to depend on man. Yet, man feeds upon them. It is rare that any fowl perish for lack of food. Fowls soar high in the heavens; and when he plants his feet on the ground, there’s a grain of food there for him. The fowl of the air do not sow, reap or gather for the future (Matthew 6:26). They sing cheerfully among the tree branches. If man were by faith as unconcerned about tomorrow as fowl are, we’d sing cheerfully too. The Lord makes provision and thus provides for all flesh. Hallelujah Lord!

Beloved, we should ease up on our burdens of care by casting it upon Him, because it is He that cares for us (I Peter 5:7). (Matthew 6:33)- We have better and greater things to take thought about. The life of our soul…eternal life. We must seek the things of Christ more than those of our own. Fix your heart and mind above. The Lord is able and will provide as much as He sees good for us and more. His source never runs dry.

Every day brings along with it its own burden of cares, grievances and troubles. Remember, God knows that we need certain things in order to live (Matt. 6:32). It is not wrong to possess things, but it is wrong for things to possess us. Jesus warned against the sin of living for things of this life (enslavement) (Matt. 6:19-24). Materialism will enslave the heart (vv. 19-21, mind (vv. 22-23), and the will (v. 24). “Materialism begins with the wrong view of God, which produces the wrong view of things.” (Surf -In the Spirit, Randy Alcorn 2020)

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You love me, for Your love never fails. You always provide for my every need according to Your will for my life. You cannot be blinded by my needs. Nothing can erase Your love, Your grace or eternal security. Your plan for me is sure. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
By Sis. Novella D. Carpenter