“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, when it comes to raiment and nourishment, the birds of the air have nothing on us. Through the gospel, we’re clothed with your perfect righteousness, and feast on heavenly bread and living water. Thank you!
Nevertheless, our fears flare up and 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 to minimize pain, change situations, and usher in more of the wholeness of your Kingdom… NOW.
We’re weary of the mean-spiritedness, volatile climate, and caustic words filling our culture. How long before wolves, bears, and lambs; Democrats, Republicans, and Independents frolic kindly together in the new earth?
And then there’s our kids and grandkids. More than anything else, we want them to know you, Jesus—to find safe haven in your heart, peace by your grace, and delight in your love. Keep them restless until they rest in you, Lord. And keep us kind and patient.
For friends, and family members, facing vocational crises and health issues, faith struggles and relationship challenges… Jesus, show us how to love well, without meddling and manipulating. We’d love to dispense formulas that work and anesthetics that relieve. But the biggest need, in any of our lives, isn’t for relief, but for more of you.
