Chapter 6

25“That’s why I’m telling you to stop worrying about your life—what you will eat or what you will drink—or about your body—what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing, aren’t they? 26Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t plant or harvest or gather food into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. You’re more valuable than they are, aren’t you? 27Can any of you add a single hour to your span of life by worrying? 28And why do you worry about clothes? Consider the lilies in the field and how they grow. They don’t work or spin yarn, 29but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 30Now if that’s the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, won’t he clothe you much better—you who have little faith? 31“So don’t ever worry by saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32For it is the Gentiles who are eager for all those things. Surely your heavenly Father knows that you need all of them! 33But first be concerned about God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well. 34So never worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Mathew 6:25-34

This is God speaking here. When we are hungry we need to eat. Thirsty, we need to drink. It would behoove us not to run around naked. We need to take our children to the doctor’s when they are sick. There is insight here into a world to come that God has already prepared for us before the Heavens were created. It is interesting to me as He references lilies that die in contrast to us, noting that we need not die. He also speaks of His Kingdom and all the things that are to come. 

If it’s not worth praying about, it’s not worth worrying about. 

Through prayer and humility we submit to God’s kingship, His righteousness. All knowledge and truth conceived in the mind of man comes from The Holy Spirit, there exist no other source. Worry cannot exist in the same space as faith. This is not to say that we do not have to eat. This is telling us simply that God will provide. 

When we ask in prayer that God give us our daily bread, He will provide us with everything we need that day. It may not be in the form of bread. It may come in the circumstance that include and orchestrate that which we need to provide for ourselves or through others. We often feel the urge to embrace a lesser default plan of our own. We cannot comprehend God’s plan for our lives. He granted us life and promises His daily blessing upon us. It takes true courage to let go and let God. 

1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

Psalm 1:1-3

While staying with friends in Fort   Lauderdale, my son, Andrew, and I volunteered to take their dog for a walk. Andrew was relatively quiet that day. We stopped at a street corner and took in the moment together. I just love that kid. 

Since a daddy-son check up was just about due, I asked Andrew what he thought of his first ten years of life. He said, “It’s been OK.” 

“Well,” I said, “Is there anything that worries you or is there anything you would change?”

Andrew hesitated while I listened silently. Then he said, “There is one thing.” 

“Tell me son.”

He said, “I’m a little worried whether I’ll make it to Webelos.” Webelos is the rank of Cub Scouting just before becoming a Boy Scout. 

I assured him, “Son, sure you will. You’re ahead of schedule. I’ll help you get it all done. I promise, buddy boy. Say a prayer about it.” I hugged him and said, “Andrew, I’m proud of you and I love you with all my heart.” 

In similar fashion, God also wants us to lift our worries up to Him in heaven. He wants us to come to Him in prayer on a personal level to present our inner fears. He will help us. He promises. We are the apple of His eye. He loves us with all His heart. 

Draw yourself a pie chart of the things that worry you. Calculate what percentage of the things on your chart will be here in the end of time as we know it. Trusting in God and allowing Him to help us gives God joy. He loves us. Through prayer, we will find what He has for us. He will show us the way.

Go back to your pie chart and compare it to what it would have looked like five years ago. Are you closer to God today? That, my friend, is the only thing that matters. God cares very much about our relationship with Him and the love we demonstrate for others.

34When the Pharisees had heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they got together in the same place. 35One of them, an expert in the Law, tested him by asking, 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’,  38This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39The second is like it: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’,  40All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Mathew 22: 34-40

Trusting in God and asking for His blessings will provide us with precisely that which we are meant to have on this Earth. It is important to Him that we love Him as well as others. This is all He asks in return.

The Lord is near. 6Never worry about anything, but in every situation let your needs be made known to God in prayers and requests, with thanksgiving. 7Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5-7

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Philippians 4:8

11When people bring you before synagogue leaders, rulers, or authorities, don’t worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say. 12For in that hour the Holy Spirit will teach you what you are to say.”

Luke 12:11-12