Do Not Worry
25 “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? 26 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? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 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? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34 NIV
I heard myself say, “Call me before I give into worry.” Wow, what a revealing statement! Like a trumpet blast, “…before I give into worry,” announced a resounding choice was to be made. Worry, or not to worry.
In Matthew 6:25-34, our Lord addresses our human tendency to worry about our life. Expressing, the birds don’t worry. Why do you? What does worry add to your life? Are you worried about provision? The days ahead? Children? In verse 33, instead of worrying, Jesus instructs us to, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”
In every situation, are you worry free?
Or, upon introduction to one another, would we secretly say,
“Hello. My name is ____________, and I am worried about___________ today.
Jesus knows our worries, and is willing to take them on daily.
So, why do we worry? The answer seems to lie in the thirtieth verse of this passage. Our worry reflects our measure of faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) I am certain none of us wants to stand before the Lord, and be addressed as one of little faith. Assuredly, we would much rather hear the Father speak “Well done,” over our lives. Then, for what reason do we worry? Perhaps, as we fret, our anxious thoughts are reflecting our innermost focus?
Admittedly, the battle is real.
However, in looking to the Lord, lies the victory.
Worry can root within a life, stemming from fear, self-preservation, and pride. Consider the following within your life. Fear. Has fear overshadowed trust? Self-preservation. Have you allowed the lessons of life to teach you self-preservation? Pride. Are doubt and unbelief concealed within your heart, cautiously cloaked by pride?
The key to a faith filled life stems from trusting in God. Take a second, and look back at the standard the Father has set. His reputation goes before Him. Trustworthy! Tried! True! Our God is faithful, even if the situation we fear seems to be falling apart; our God remains the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
In every circumstance, moment by moment if necessary, we need to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. In doing so, He will vanquish our worry with His perfect peace, setting our hearts free to fly.
Be like a bird!
Take flight!
Prayer
Hello Lord,
You know me by name, and know all of my worries.
I repent for consulting worry first, and not the kingdom of God and Your righteousness. Forgive me, Father. Help me to focus upon You and the standard of Your character. I place my worry within Your hands, laying down all my anxiety, exchanging it for Your perfect peace. Uproot in me all fear, self-preservation, and pride, that has kept these anxious thoughts in place. Establish the kingdom of God within me, as I trust in You.
I trust You with my past. I trust You with my today. I trust You with my tomorrow. You’re not worried, so why am I? Though the situation before me seems great, You God, are greater. Trustworthy, are You Lord. Assuredly, the Lord, my Shepherd, will prove faithful to guide me through every difficulty I face. My hope is in You.
I rebuke all doubt and unbelief that whispers in my ear, “Worry!” I respond, “No! Not today!” Decreeing, “The victory is mine in Christ Jesus!” In the mighty Name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I break any spiritual stronghold of worry off of my bloodline, my very life, the life of my children, and the generations to come! I take back the ground worry took from me, and exchange it for the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Through Your Holy Spirit, I am free, no longer caged by worry.
Peace has given me wings to fly.
In the Name of Jesus, I do believe, I hear the hum of a worry free life!
Amen!
Footnote
Hummingbird
You way be wondering, “Why did she pick a Hummingbird?” To answer your question, it was the bird that came to mind. Here are some of my thoughts regarding the Hummingbird, and the prophetic symbolism I saw within nature of this bird.
The Hum of the Wings
Father, may a song of joy rise up in me as I am busy about Your work, releasing a hum of harmony with God, that would fill the airwaves around me.
Motion of Flight
Forward. Backwards. Up. Down.
Father, may I be flexible and faithful to follow Your direction: forward, back, up, down.
Iridescent
May I shine for the Father’s glory!
Small
Father, may I be less that You would be more.
Nectar
Father, may I be drawn to Your holy nectar. Feeding on Your Word daily.
As for you? What bird do you imagine?
An eagle? A Phoebe? A Sparrow?
Whatever bird you visualize, may your flight reflect the Father’s glory.
Hum!
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