Disciples Don’t Worry about Tomorrow
Matthew 6:25-34
Do Not Worry
25 “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 clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Pondering Point
Our IMMERSION devotions take us to the middle of Jesus’ teachings about worry. Worry is like a nutrient-sucking weed in the soil of the Christian’s life. It robs Christians of energy that could otherwise go toward the growth of God's Word in our faith and practice of loving others – God and neighbor. There is a prayer from Wild at Heart Ministries titled Becoming Good Soil that shares this line: “I confess that I need to live more deeply in a habitat that allows my soul to thrive.” It later follows up with a prayerful conclusion that is being used as our prayer for the week:
Prayer for the Week
I give You the habitat of my life and I ask that You would bring it into alignment with the habitat that's right for my soul: Unforced rhythms of grace, learning to live freely and lightly, putting down everything that is heavy laden, everything that is ill-fitting, that doesn't fit me. Help me to be comfortable in my own skin. Help me to like me as You like me. Restore my soul. Integrate the whole person. God, I give You permission. I pray that You would cultivate the habits that are necessary so that I can be available to receive that which I can't arrange for. What do I need to abstain from? And what do I need to engage in? Teach me; I'm Your student. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Skill #4 from The 4 Habits of Joy-Filled People, Warner and Coursey
According to his website, Dr. [Daniel] Amen got the idea of ANTS (Automatic Negative Thoughts) after a particularly difficult day at the office. He came home only to find a swarm of ants all over his kitchen floor. As he dealt with the problem, it occurred to him that the swarm of ants mirrored the swarm of negative thoughts that often plagued his clients. His observation led to the idea that he needed to help his clients turn their brains into anteaters. The process worked so well he was soon decorating his office with anteaters. We would agree with Dr. Amen that it is a great idea to turn our brains into anteaters. We need to learn some skills and strategies for winning the battle in our minds or that battle of negative thoughts and unregulated feelings can consume us…. As Christians, Chris and I are convinced it helps to have a relationship with a God who is happy to see us and happy to go through suffering with us because it means we are never alone. It also helps to have a community of people who support each other in hard times.
~ pages 148-149, 154
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 51:1-2
- Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions. - Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
Read the verses twice.
Mark words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: Talk or write with God (journal) about those words. Ask Him to impress things on your heart and mind. Write them down.
Pondering Point
According to your unfailing love, O God… How many consecutive days has God continued to love you? May His unfailing love inspire an increasingly greater love to Him and to your neighbor.