Due to Pastor Al being out of town, we are providing archived devotions from July of 2000.
Text: Matthew 6:31-34
Therefore do not worry, saying "what will we eat?" or "What will we drink?" or "What will we wear?" For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today.
Perspective is critical to how we look at what is needed in the day. God knows, already, that we need these basics. Actually they are what is needed in order to live within the Reign of God if that Reign has truly arrived in Jesus. But now, do we put the weight of the day on living within the life of the vision of the Reign of God or do we make our focus these things that are needed. It is my guess that when our focus shifts to the "stuff" we need that focus has a way of pulling us...or sucking us...into an immediate concern for those things. Therefore, we can become anxious about not having them or where we are going to get them or how we are going to get them or whether we have "enough". It becomes an never-ending cycle that grabs our attention and we worry our way right out of the life of the Reign of God.
Connection: Stay focused. There will be many things that will call for your attention as you go through this day. Some of them will concern you very much and you must deal with them. Others concerns you will be dumping on yourself - causing much anxiety and worry. How many of those things can you "let go"?
O Lord of the day, remind us of your loving care. Guide us as we look at our world and enter into it with the vision of your Blessed Reign. Lift us out of the worries that can consume us and rob us of life. AMEN
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