“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 important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 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? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. 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 [unbelievers] 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.” ~ Matthew 6:25-34

Let me get one thing out of the way quickly. The above picture is not of lilies, but geraniums. I think they are beautiful! So I used this picture instead, the principle remaining the same. (Smile)

This is one of my favorite passages. I don’t know about you, but I tend to worry. I try to disguise it sometimes saying I am not worried, just concerned, but deep down I know when I am trying to disguise my worry and anxiety.

When you have a moment read the above verses more slowly, with comprehension. Read them several times, at different times. Let Jesus’ meaning soak in.

God does not tell us to stop something without telling us what to do instead. Every now and then I have to get clear in my head what my job is. The above passage tells me that my job is to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.” I really needed reminded of this message again this morning. You see, I am completing my master’s in nursing, deep into completing a thesis. I am in uncharted territory for me. My control is limited. I research; I write; I revise, but mostly I listen to my professors who are the experts and do what they tell me. Not too different than the exercise in following Jesus each day, is it?

What I do know is that when I focus on thesis my anxiety increases dramatically. I can feel it in my heart rate, headache, upset stomach, and tight shoulder muscles, but when I focus on the above picture and consider how important I am to God and his care of me, my body starts relaxing. Thank you so much for giving me a reason to revisit Jesus’ instruction to me this morning!

Let’s pray: 
Ah, Father, God! In this life, the problems, to-do lists, and daily hassles are always in our sight. Please help us as we learn to focus on your kingdom and your righteousness; please teach us what that means and what it looks like in real life. Help us today to consider the birds of the air, and the flowers you have created, and your watchful care you provide. In this life, there are those who try to make us believe that we are not more valuable than the birds, but you say differently. Help us to live in your culture rather than the culture of the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.