Do you know this wonderful verse about worrying? Matthew 6:28-35 tell us:
“And why do you worry about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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— o you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. "
Consider the lilies ©artist Morgan Weistling
That says it all, doesn't it? We don't need to worry about one little thing in our lives, at anytime. Our Lord makes it so simple for us. If we SEEK Him and His Kingdom, everything will be taken care of for us. It's His promise and God doesn't break His promises. So, why is it so hard for us to do? Why is it so hard for us to give everything over to Him?
We tend to worry about every little thing in our lives. Our family members, our jobs or lack of them, our homes, our bank accounts, our health, keeping up with the Joneses, what we wear, what we have in comparison to others, and where we think we are at this particular point in our lives.
Matthew 6:27 says: "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
On December 1, 2011, I lost my Mom. She had been going downhill for the past 6 months and she slipped away peacefully before I arrived with my other family members by her side.
My Dad remains in the same nursing home and understandably he's not doing well. They were together for 64 years. That is a lifetime of living and loving the same person. He'd been sick for the month preceeding her death, no doubt doing much of his grieving before she even left him. Now he's very ill with a bad infection and that is bringing him down further.
When I think of him laying in that nursing home by himself, a big part of me wants to go up there and just take up residence in that bed right next to him and try to help him get through this terrible thing that has happened.
But I know I can't do that, and that wouldn't really help him anyway. He's going to have to get through this all by himself, if he can do it. I'm concerned and scared to think that he may have lost his will to live. That often happens to couples when one passes, the other isn't far behind. I hate to even think about that, but I know it is a reality I must face.
The best thing I can do for my Pop right now is to pray for him. Philippians 4:6-7 says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, and with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
What a glorious promise that is and that is exactly what I am praying for. I am thanking the Lord for the lives of my Mom and Dad and thanking Him for their 64 wonderful years of marriage. I'm asking Him to surround my Dad with his loving arms of comfort and peace to get him through these difficult days.
I don't know what's going to happen in the coming days, but I know the one who does know and I put my faith in Him. I know that He will give me, my Dad, my brothers and all of my family the strength we need to face the trials of each day in the coming months.
Do you have something or someone that has you worrying? Don't. Give it to God and let Him have all your concerns and worries. He has big shoulders, He can handle it. Worrying is simply a lack of faith. Don't go there. Stand strong in the Lord and His promises. Reach out to Him and let Him help you with your worrying and concerns. He doesn't want any of us to live that way, distressed and tied up by worry. His Word says so.
I remember years ago when I was teaching an Elementary Sunday School class. We made a "God Box." Each child in my class decorated their "God Box" up just the way they wanted them with plenty of glitter and stars and colorful paint. Then I asked each child to write down something that was bothering or troubling them and asked them to take that folded piece of paper and put it in the God Box. Once they did that, I told them they didn't have to worry about it anymore because God was going to handle it for them. I was amazed how the members of my class told me the next week that once they did that, they didn't think about it anymore because they had given it to God. Every week, we put more and more concerns in those boxes and slowly but surely, those small children began to trust that God was in control of their worries, not them.
So, if you need to, make yourself your own God Box and put all of your worries in them. Give them to God. He wants them and in return He will give you His peace which surpasses all human understanding and that, my friends, is quite a promise!
My verses for today are above in red.
My prayer for today:
Dearest Heavenly Father:
Thank you for my parents who gave me life. Thank you for their long and happy marriage of 64 years. I pray for my Dad. I know he, along with all of us, are grieving the loss of our beautiful Mom. Give him your peace Father, which surpasses all understanding. Comfort Him, so he knows he is not alone, help him to find solace in your loving arms. Heal him Lord, body and soul. Be with all my family members who are suffering and worrying about Dad and other situations in their lives. Help them to find your peace. Give them your wisdom and strength.
In Jesus Name I pray,
Amen
“And why do you worry about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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— o you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. "
That says it all, doesn't it? We don't need to worry about one little thing in our lives, at anytime. Our Lord makes it so simple for us. If we SEEK Him and His Kingdom, everything will be taken care of for us. It's His promise and God doesn't break His promises. So, why is it so hard for us to do? Why is it so hard for us to give everything over to Him?
We tend to worry about every little thing in our lives. Our family members, our jobs or lack of them, our homes, our bank accounts, our health, keeping up with the Joneses, what we wear, what we have in comparison to others, and where we think we are at this particular point in our lives.
Matthew 6:27 says: "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
On December 1, 2011, I lost my Mom. She had been going downhill for the past 6 months and she slipped away peacefully before I arrived with my other family members by her side.
My Dad remains in the same nursing home and understandably he's not doing well. They were together for 64 years. That is a lifetime of living and loving the same person. He'd been sick for the month preceeding her death, no doubt doing much of his grieving before she even left him. Now he's very ill with a bad infection and that is bringing him down further.
When I think of him laying in that nursing home by himself, a big part of me wants to go up there and just take up residence in that bed right next to him and try to help him get through this terrible thing that has happened.
But I know I can't do that, and that wouldn't really help him anyway. He's going to have to get through this all by himself, if he can do it. I'm concerned and scared to think that he may have lost his will to live. That often happens to couples when one passes, the other isn't far behind. I hate to even think about that, but I know it is a reality I must face.
The best thing I can do for my Pop right now is to pray for him. Philippians 4:6-7 says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, and with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
What a glorious promise that is and that is exactly what I am praying for. I am thanking the Lord for the lives of my Mom and Dad and thanking Him for their 64 wonderful years of marriage. I'm asking Him to surround my Dad with his loving arms of comfort and peace to get him through these difficult days.
I don't know what's going to happen in the coming days, but I know the one who does know and I put my faith in Him. I know that He will give me, my Dad, my brothers and all of my family the strength we need to face the trials of each day in the coming months.
Do you have something or someone that has you worrying? Don't. Give it to God and let Him have all your concerns and worries. He has big shoulders, He can handle it. Worrying is simply a lack of faith. Don't go there. Stand strong in the Lord and His promises. Reach out to Him and let Him help you with your worrying and concerns. He doesn't want any of us to live that way, distressed and tied up by worry. His Word says so.
I remember years ago when I was teaching an Elementary Sunday School class. We made a "God Box." Each child in my class decorated their "God Box" up just the way they wanted them with plenty of glitter and stars and colorful paint. Then I asked each child to write down something that was bothering or troubling them and asked them to take that folded piece of paper and put it in the God Box. Once they did that, I told them they didn't have to worry about it anymore because God was going to handle it for them. I was amazed how the members of my class told me the next week that once they did that, they didn't think about it anymore because they had given it to God. Every week, we put more and more concerns in those boxes and slowly but surely, those small children began to trust that God was in control of their worries, not them.
So, if you need to, make yourself your own God Box and put all of your worries in them. Give them to God. He wants them and in return He will give you His peace which surpasses all human understanding and that, my friends, is quite a promise!
My verses for today are above in red.
My prayer for today:
Dearest Heavenly Father:
Thank you for my parents who gave me life. Thank you for their long and happy marriage of 64 years. I pray for my Dad. I know he, along with all of us, are grieving the loss of our beautiful Mom. Give him your peace Father, which surpasses all understanding. Comfort Him, so he knows he is not alone, help him to find solace in your loving arms. Heal him Lord, body and soul. Be with all my family members who are suffering and worrying about Dad and other situations in their lives. Help them to find your peace. Give them your wisdom and strength.
In Jesus Name I pray,
Amen
