PROMISE #208 - JULY 27

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? ~Matthew 6:25-26

It is a rather short promise, compared with the long corresponding Bible text. But if you just look at the simple message that Jesus is saying, the promise is brief and clear. The older I become, the more I learn that worry is unhelpful and irresponsible. Worry doesn’t make us live longer, but studies indicate that it can shorten our lives. More than 70 percent of all illnesses are stress-related. It suggests our bodies aren't designed to cope with too much stress.

Jesus tells us to 'take no thought for our lives.' Do not worry! Our Heavenly Father has promised to care for us all the days of our lives. In this Scripture passage, Jesus tells how His Father cares for the birds of the air, who do not sow, reap, or gather into barns. He asks, 'How much more valuable are you than birds?'

Worry implies that we are not convinced of our worth to God. But don't waste time worrying about it. Pray that God will reveal to you more of your infinite worth to Him. Good fathers provide for their children. After all, children don’t have to beg for provision; they can simply rest in the fact that a loving dad is taking care of them. As God's children, we can be confident that God will take care of us!

Prayer:

Father, thank you for promising to care for every detail of my life so I don’t have to worry about the future. Help me to know Your everlasting presence in this moment and to be at rest in Your loving arms knowing that You will take care of me.

I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.