Bible Verse of the Day


2 Peter 1:5-8


For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Matthew 6:25-34 NIV “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? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
  
 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers 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—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.

I needed to read that scripture again today. I know it, yet still fall into the trap of worry. I’m a planner, someone that puts together the details of events and makes the lists to make sure things are not left out or undone. Many years ago the Lord showed me He didn’t care a hoot for my lists or my need to know when or how things were going to happen. In fact, once when I was praying for direction and pretty much asking for a detailed outline, He ‘told’ me He wouldn’t show me Step B until my foot was in the air leaving Step A. That’s a bold move for a detail person but needs to be a common practice for the Believer.

But that is the Lord's way. God is a gentleman. He doesn't show us more than He feels we need to know. He knows that we are weak and He's merciful enough not to give us more than we can handle. What He desires for us is to lay our worries upon Him and trust Him for our future.

If I ever did get that postcard of directions from Heaven I keep asking for, I might rely on my ability to walk it out rather than placing all my trust and faith in Him. He has given us the power to overcome what faces us today. Just as the children of Israel could collect only enough manna for one day, God gives us power to face our trials one day at a time. His mercies are new every morning and He watches over us, providing what we need when we need it.

He will surely give us the strength to endure the trials we'll face with each day. Let's trust Him for today's trials — and let Him worry about the rest!

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