Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
June 17, 2023
Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore, I say to you, don’t worry about your life, what you’ll eat or what you’ll drink, or about your body, what you’ll wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t sow seed or harvest grain or gather crops into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than they are? 27 Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Notice how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t wear themselves out with work, and they don’t spin cloth. 29 But I say to you that even Solomon in all of his splendor wasn’t dressed like one of these. 30 If God dresses grass in the field so beautifully, even though it’s alive today and tomorrow it’s thrown into the furnace, won’t God do much more for you, you people of weak faith? 31 Therefore, don’t worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32 Gentiles long for all these things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Good Morning, Stop worrying about tomorrow!
Anxieties and worries! How many sleepless or restless nights are filled with anxieties and worries? We began this conversation yesterday about giving one burden to Christ. So, which comes first, worry or anxiety? Worry is allowing one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. In comparison, anxiety is defined as a feeling of fear, dread, or uneasiness.
Some of our worries are easily dismissed. For example, if you are worried about waking up on time for a special event, once waking up has happened, you can forget that worry. Others are more long-term and even become like an onion, building layers upon layers as they grow.
Christ died for our sins and burdens, which comprise most of our anxiety. He paid that price in full so we might have eternal life and peace. We can claim that peace now. We must lay our burdens at the foot of the cross and accept the calm peace that fills that void.
Once you have felt this peace, you will have a desire to return to this feeling as often as possible. We long for the eternal peace that Jesus promises. We live hectic lives now, and unexpected challenges and obstacles occur frequently. Yes, these create worry and anxiety, but the quicker that we recognize our problems, the quicker we can turn them over to Christ.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Loving God, We thank you for Your blessings. We let our worries direct our lives. Help us to let go of our burdens. We are weak, but you are strong. Help us find the peace that You provide. We Thank You! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God is bigger than my fears.
Lay Your Burdens Down! Pastor Liz
Comments