Written by: Scotty Smith
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they are? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?’” Matt. 6:25-27 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, sometimes birds teach us a more than books, professors, and podcasts. When our fears flare up, our worries weigh us down, and waiting wears us out, we don’t need control; we need you. Confident of your welcome, and needful of your peace, we run (or hobble) to your throne of grace today.
In your presence, we gain calm, perspective, and wisdom. Adoring you, our hearts are refreshed, our burdens feel light, and our idols seem silly. Lingering before you, our threats are tamed, our “giants” shrink down, and our course is set.
Jesus, we’re not anxious to add an hour to our lives, but we’d love to have more peace as we wait upon you. Some of us are facing transitions we didn’t choose, changes that disrupt our dreams, and a future that’s suddenly unclear. Others of us feel conflicted and confused about choices in front of us. Let us really believe that life is more about trusting the right Lord (you), than making the “right” decision.
We don’t just pray for ourselves today, but also for family members and friends. Jesus, lift the weight of their worries, as you give them the assurance of your engagement. Show us how to serve them well, without meddling and manipulating, enabling or fixing. We’d love to dispense formulas that work and anesthetics that relieve. But the biggest need, in any of our lives, isn’t for relief, but more of you. We will trust you, Jesus, not horses, chariots, or strategies. So very Amen we pray, in your loving and strong name.