In this chapter of Luke we are told that non-Christians will worry, because they know not the Almighty God who provides for His children like He does for the birds. Although I am a child of God, yet I find myself under the influence of the world at times and I ‘worry’. Perhaps you do as well, so let me encourage you to join me as we meditate together on these encouraging words from God!
DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2021-09-01
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL
BY: Ed Algreen
SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 12:22-26
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)
BIBLE TEXT: 22 Jesus taught his disciples, saying, “Listen to me. Never let anxiety enter your hearts. Never worry about any of your needs, such as food or clothing. 23 For your life is infinitely more than just the food you eat or the clothing you wear. 24 Take the carefree birds as your example. Do you ever see them worry? They neither grow their own food nor put it in a storehouse for later. Yet God takes care of every one of them, feeding each of them out of the abundance of his love and goodness. Isn’t your life more precious to God than a bird? Be carefree in the care of God! 25 “Does worry add anything to your life? Can it add one more year, or even one day? 26 So if worrying adds nothing, but actually subtracts from your life, why would you worry about God’s care of you?
APPLICATION: Often we worry, because we can’t see what’s ahead, nor the outcome we could expect from our current circumstances. However, the Word of God says that God is our provider and He will care for us even better than He does for the beautiful birds of the air. The awesome encouragement in this is that God not only knows our current needs, but in providing for us, He takes into consideration everything that could possibly cross our paths in the future. Allow me to share a personal experience. There are two families in this story, a father and his son. The father had reached an age where his heart was beginning to give him trouble, but he was retired and since he had 5 children, I believe he felt relieved that he and his wife would be cared for. He was a Christian, so he also depended on God to watch over him and care for his every need. However, in the life of his oldest son, God began working on a plan to move him far away and continue his career in that foreign land. But his heart was broken when he told his dad about this move, because the dad felt like this would destroy his support system and separate his children, especially now as he was becoming older. Because of the direction felt from God, the son moved, just as he felt led by God. Within the first 18 months of being in his new home, his dad was rushed to medical professionals and hospitals very near to the son’s new location, where they saved his life from a heart attack that was misdiagnosed in the dad’s home country. Friends, I am the son in this story, and my dad sat down in tears after arriving home from the hospital and told me ‘now I could see what God was doing for me, when He opened doors for you to move’. You see, we absolutely cannot outdo God. He loved my dad, and was preparing a path for him to get the help that he needed when the time came. I felt like I was just blessed of God in how smoothly my move went, but God had a greater plan in mind for my dad, praise the wonderful name of Jesus! Please know that I may be blind to the very real challenges that you may feel pressed upon you at this time, but let me assure you that our God is greater than all our troubles and worries, and He has His children’s best interest in mind as they allow Him access. Be at peace my friend, that our hand rests in the hand of the creator of all things and He will never fail us. Trust in Him today and give Him access to the very intimate parts of your life. He cares for you!
BLESSING(S) NOTED: Worry is a sign of the non-Christian. Trust in God with all your heart, soul and mind, and He will take care of you – guaranteed!
PRAYER: Lord God, it is humbling to say that I am amazed by You. Thank You for taking care of my dad, and thank you for touching the lives of so many that will read or listen to this devotional. Please open the eyes of those who tend to worry, because they don’t know the God who can do I all things. Please soften their hearts and cause them to surrender their life to You before it is eternally too late. Please embolden us with the strength and wisdom to live life without worry, knowing that there is nothing impossible with You. AMEN!