Monday, January 20, 2014

Worry Lacks Faith

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Your basic needs may seem to be what you should be most worried about. Shouldn’t you be getting a job so you can provide for you and your family? You need food and clothes in order to function. But I am trying to tell you that those things are not as important as you think they are. 

Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?
Those birds are completely dependent on me, and they trust in my provision. If I don’t feed them with what I’ve created, they will die. I have known you by name since the beginning of time. You are worth infinitely more than you can comprehend. Do you not think your Dad will take care of you?

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
If anything, worrying is going to shorten your life. You can’t enjoy the present if you are trying to plan the future. You can’t plan out your life. I know where you’re headed. Let me help you get there. What I have for you is better than anything you can dream of. 

If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest?
In the end, the things you are most worried about are small. 

Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 
Flowers are clothed in my grace. They do not strive to be beautiful, but they are simply because they allow me to provide for them.

If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? 
Why don’t you have faith? Have I not provided for you in the past? Think of everything that has happened to bring you where you are now. I was by your side through all of it. I was constantly loving you and caring for you the whole time. Am I not worthy of your trust?

So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. 
Don’t worry about how you will provide for yourself. That is the mindset of someone who is of the world and who doesn’t follow me. 

Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 
But you follow me, and I know your needs before you do. I will provide what you need at the time you need them.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.
Follow me and love as I’ve commanded you. You will no longer worry about the things you used to think were important, and I will provide for you what you need without you having to do anything. Let my grace take care of you.

Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.
Today is all you have. Your worry reveals your lack of trust in me. Love me and others because of the love I have for you. That should be what you’re focused on.

Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
My child, don’t worry or be afraid about how your life is going to turn out. I want to give you what you need. All you really need is me. My Spirit within you is more than enough.