“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?'” Matt. 6:25-27 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, the birds of the air have nothing on us. By your life, death, and resurrection, we’re clothed with your perfect righteousness, feast on bread from heaven, and drink living water. Thank you.
Nevertheless, our fears flare up and our worries weigh us down, so, we run to you today, confident of your welcome and needful of your grace. Please help us with situations we’d love to control, but can’t. We’re not anxious to add an hour to our lives, but we’d love guarantees of healing and salvation, more beauty in our world and freedom in our hearts.
Compassionate Jesus, watching our children suffer is so hard. We’d gladly make their pain and difficult stories ours if you’d let us trade places with them. We adore you for already taking their place on the cross, and for securing complete salvation and healing. We’d just love to dictate WHEN you manifest your eternal generosity. Help us trust you, Lord.
King Jesus, we so weary of the new norm of mean-spirited, anti-civility. How long before wolves, bears, and lambs; Democrats, Republicans, and Independents; North Koreans, South Koreans and Americans; Calvinists, Arminians, and Pentecostals frolic kindly together in the new earth?
Loving Jesus, we long for the Day when we’ll love perfectly as you love us—the Day when we’ll never take things too personally again, the Day when we’ll never be tempted to sin again, the Day when all defensiveness and offensiveness, spite and flight, addiction and manipulation, all hurting and being hurt will give way to Perfect Love forever. Please, Lord
Jesus, we will trust you—not horses, chariots, or strategies. Grant us grace, fuel our hope, and give us peace. So very Amen we pray, in your loving and strong name.
