Matthew 6 : 25 - 34 (NRSV)
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. 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 can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Daily Byte
It is all too easy to get lost in the stress of worrying about our daily needs. Life is hard, and ensuring that we provide for our families emotionally and materially, that we do what is required for our work, and also do what it takes to keep ourselves healthy, can all feel like too much to carry. But, if we can life our eyes, just for a moment, to look around at the natural world, we may find our faith growing. Jesus certainly believed that the beauty of the birds and the flowers is able to teach us and strengthen our trust in God’s grace and provision. What a difference it makes to life when we take the time to get in touch with nature. What wonderful lessons, and what amazing grace, we find among the creatures and plants that God has made.
How often do you get out into nature just to enjoy its beauty? How does your relationship with the created world (or lack of) affect your soul, do you thing? When you see a beautiful sunset or flower, an amazing animal or a breath-taking vista, does this grow your faith? Why do you think that happens? In worship God teaches us to appreciate beauty and find wholeness and inspiration in it. How can you open yourself to worship and to its lessons of beauty-appreciation this week?
Pray As You Go
When life gets difficult, God,
it’s tempting to just put my head down and work even harder to survive;
It’s tough not to feel like anything beautiful, natural,
unproductive
is a waste of time and energy.
But, you call me to lift my eyes, to open my soul,
to allow the world to teach me,
to sooth my stressed-out mind;
and in the visions of beauty I see,
the birds and the flowers,
the trees and the hills,
I discover your grace again,
and am able to trust you a little more.
Amen.
Today’s devotion is taken from Rev John van de Laar’s outstanding book ‘The Hour That Changes Everything: How worship forms us into the people God wants us to be.’ Used with permission
To order copies of this book and for other superb worship resources visit http://www.sacredise.com
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