Devotionals

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Considering the Lilies....
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34, New King James Version)

"Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength- carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength." Corrie Ten Boom

I had someone I love tell me this week, "I am still looking for a job, I am doing all the things that have gotten me a job in the past without success, I am fast running out of savings and I do not know what to do. I know that the Lord told me to go to Haiti on that mission trip last week, but while I was there, two jobs that I was trying to get, hired someone else while I was gone. If I am doing something wrong, I wish the Lord would let me know and I will change it. I do not understand what is happening and I do not know which way I should go next. I wish the Lord would show me what he wants me to do."

I told him, "I understand; I too am facing the same situation. At the end of this year, my job will end and I will be in the same place. I ask the Lord everyday what he wants me to do next and he has not given me any direction. I ask which way to go, and there is silence. I do not know if I am to stay in the same industry or if I am to go into another direction. I have no direction, therefore I must force myself to trust that when the time comes, the Lord will guide me." I prayed for him over the phone that the Lord will provide for him, I told him that I loved him and then we ended the call.

I have to admit that I am a little worried, this is someone who is very dear to me and they are struggling, with not only the situation, but also struggling with their faith that God will provide. Father forgive me for worrying; I ask you Lord if you would, please intervene in this situation and please provide. Now, I must admit that I find that it is much easier for me to believe the promises that the Lord will provide for someone else, than it is for me to believe those same promises for myself. I have to ask myself; if I truly believe that God is who he says he is; then why do I find it so hard to trust him to provide for me as he does for others? I am reminded of a statement made by Corrie Ten Boom, "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future, to a Known God."


Jesus told his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount,

“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? (Matthew 6:25, New King James Version)
Jesus told his disciples not to worry.

Now, I must ask, what is the definition of worry:

1) dialect British : choke, strangle. 2) a : to harass by tearing, biting, or snapping especially at the throat b : to shake or pull at with the teeth c : to touch or disturb something repeatedly d : to change the position of or adjust by repeated pushing or hauling. 3) a : to assail with rough or aggressive attack or treatment : torment b : to subject to persistent or nagging attention or effort. 4) : to afflict with mental distress or agitation : make anxious. (Merriam-Websters online dictionary)

To worry something means to strangle it. When we worry, it is as if we strangle ourselves with our own hands. We worry when things are out of our control, by doing so, we forget that our Heavenly Father is in full control of our circumstances. When we worry, we strangle the very peace of God out of our own hearts and shut out the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This makes us incapable of hearing God when he does speak, because we are so worried, we strangle his words to us. Worry is one of the most effective traps of the enemy; it makes us focus on our circumstances and stop looking to God for our provision. This is why Jesus so often said to his disciples, do not be afraid and do not worry.

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? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? (Matthew 6:26-27, New King James Version)

Jesus is telling us in this passage that we should not focus all of our attention on what we are going to eat or where our next meal is coming from; that if God provides for the birds of the air, he will most certainly provide for you and me. The birds do not go about wringing their wings, worrying about where they will find their next meal, they just go out and the Lord provides for them. They rest in the knowledge that they will be provided for by God, we should do the same because God considers us much more valuable than the birds. He also tells us that we cannot increase our life by worry, in fact,there is evidence that worry will actually shorten our life instead.

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 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?
(Matthew 6:28-30, New King James Version)

"O you of little faith." Jesus is constantly reminding the disciples (and me) that God's provision is complete, he is not just focused on feeding you (and me), but also to cover you (and me) and provide for your (and my) well being. Just as God himself clothed Adam and Eve after they were expelled from the Garden; we should remember that HE will also clothe us. If God is so concerned with clothing the "lilies of the field" which live only a day and then are withered, he is much more concerned with our well being and he will provide for us.

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (Matthew 6:31-32, New King James Version)

Jesus is asking us to completely trust him to be our provision in every aspect of our lives because he loves and cares for us. However, so often, we think that we are so self sufficient, that we do not allow ourselves to be placed in a position where we must trust God for our provision. Trusting God completely can be an uncomfortable scary place and I for one would rather not be forced to trust him that way, but sometimes the Lord deems it to be in our best interest to remove our illusions of self reliance and reveal to us that we really can trust him with every aspect of our lives. "Perhaps only when human effort had done it's best and failed, would God's power alone be free to work." — Corrie Ten Boom (The Hiding Place)

We should remember that when we are waiting on God's provision, that He is never early, and never late, He is always right on time. We also need to understand that his thoughts are not our thoughts and HIS timing is not ours; it is, however always what is best. "God's viewpoint is sometimes different from ours - so different that we could not even guess at it unless He had given us a Book which tells us such things....In the Bible I learn that God values us not for our strength or our brains but simply because He has made us." — Corrie Ten Boom (The Hiding Place)

So what do we do while we are waiting and what are we to do instead of worrying about the future? Jesus said instead of focusing on worrying about our earthly provision that we should,

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:33-34, New King James Version)

Jesus is reminding us that if we focus on advancing the Kingdom of God and promoting His righteousness, that He will provide for our physical needs. Just like an earthly king provides for his troops when they go into battle, God will provide for us if we are focusing on working and advancing His kingdom. He even gives us the strength to do his will. "when we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus" — Corrie Ten Boom

So tell me, what are you worrying about today? What is it that you are trusting God for today? It does not matter so much what you are looking for God to do, so much as do you Trust the Lord to do it. Do you believe that the Lord will provide for that need? Seek His face. Pray to him and ask him to provide. Then ask him to help you to trust him completely with the answer, even if you do not see the answer to your petition the way you think it should be answered.


Let us Pray:

Father God,

I come to you and ask you to forgive me of my unbelief. Lord there are so many times that I have shown that I do not trust you to take care of me, and I repent of my faithlessness and unbelief and as you to forgive me for not trusting that you know and hold the future in your hands and that you have promised that you will provide for me and that you will take care of me. Lord I need your help to trust you, please give me the ability to believe that you are exactly who you say you are in the face of circumstances that try to convince me otherwise. Lord I love you and I surrender myself to you. Help me to live my life in such a way that it is pleasing in your sight. Please help me to love you and to follow after you, trusting that you will provide for me along the way. Lord I praise your holy name for everything your hands have done and what you are going to do. Thank you Lord for loving me and for sending your son Jesus to die on the cross so that I might have the privilege to enter into your presence. Thank you for saving my soul. I praise you for your excellent greatness and your provision. In all things I will praise you. In Jesus Name I pray, amen

Today's scripture:

Matthew 6: 25-34

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