December #jammed: Grace, gifted.

Day 343: Grace floats.

“Look at the birds of the air …” Matthew 6:26a

“Bloop…” Down went a loon, in search of a meal or maybe just respite from the wind that day.  Moments later …

“Bloop,” it popped up beside me again as I hastily walked down the pier with my crazy doodle dog, who scared it right back down into the safety of the river waters.

Today’s verse asks us to look at the birds. Do we look at the birds? They have these awe-inspiring survival skills built into them. Some can float. Others glide on the wind. Still more run fast on land.

There are other birds that are much less fascinating to watch. Like the seagulls that steal french fries even though there’s a lake full of food across the street. Or, geese that stay all winter long even though they can fly away to somewhere warmer.

Whether we understand all of them or not, there are a lot of them, and none seem worried about the methods to their bird madness. Maybe that’s why I”ve never been a fan. Perhaps I’m a little jealous of their carefree mind-state.

Bird-envy.

 Here is the bottom line: do not worry about your life. Don’t worry about what you will eat or what you will drink. Don’t worry about how you clothe your body. Living is about more than merely eating, and the body is about more than dressing up.  Look at the birds in the sky. They do not store food for winter. They don’t plant gardens. They do not sow or reap—and yet, they are always fed because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are even more precious to Him than a beautiful bird. If He looks after them, of course He will look after you.  Worrying does not do any good; who here can claim to add even an hour to his life by worrying? Matthew 6: 25-27

We are always worried about something. Finances, health, our children, our parents, friendships, hardships, road trips …no matter how successful we are at suppressing it, worry will pop back up for air just assuredly as the loon to breathe.

 Nor should you worry about clothes. Consider the lilies of the field and how they grow. They do not work or weave or sew, and yet their garments are stunning. Even King Solomon, dressed in his most regal garb, was not as lovely as these lilies.  And think about grassy fields—the grasses are here now, but they will be dead by winter. And yet God adorns them so radiantly. How much more will He clothe you, you of little faith, you who have no trust? Matthew 6:28-30

When worry threatens, dive into the safe waters of God’s Word.

 So do not consume yourselves with questions: What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?  Outsiders make themselves frantic over such questions; they don’t realize that your heavenly Father knows exactly what you need.  Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things will be given to you too.  So do not worry about tomorrow. Let tomorrow worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today. Matthew 6:31-34

Father, Praise You for this piece of Scripture, that encourages our worry-prone minds to rest in the presence of Your promises. Thank You for rescuing us from thoughts that threaten to drown us in anxiety. Forgive us for our lack of faith and trust in Your plans for our lives, and bless us to be more responsible with the reality You have entrusted us with. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Thought Re-Routing,

Megs

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