“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? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?’” Matt. 6:25-27 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, the birds of the air have nothing on us. By your life, death, and resurrection, we’re clothed with your perfect righteousness, feast on bread from heaven, and drink living water. Thank you!
Nevertheless, our fears can flare up and our worries can weigh us down. So, we run to you today, confident of your welcome and needful of your grace. Please help us with circumstances, storylines, and hurts we’d love to control, but can’t. We’re not anxious to add an hour to our lives, but we’d love guarantees of healing and salvation, more beauty in our world and freedom in our hearts.
Watching a spouse, children, or our parents suffer is so hard, Lord. We’d gladly trade places with them, if you’d let us. We know you’re filled with mercy and might, kindness and compassion. We’d just love to be able to dictate when your eternal generosity and resurrection power are manifest.
Jesus, we’re more-than-weary of the new norm of mean-spirited, anti-civil, vitriolic discourse. How long before wolves, bears, and lambs; Democrats, Republicans, and Independents; and Christians of all kinds of tribes will frolic kindly together in the new heavens and new earth?
On the personal front, we long for the Day when we will love others perfectly as you love us, Jesus—the Day when we’ll never again be easily offended, quickly defensive, or triggered unto anger; the day when we’ll never again promote ourselves, be selfish, or even be tempted to sin. We crave that Day.
Because the gospel is true, we won’t lose heart nor hope. Great is your faithfulness and grace, Jesus. So very Amen we pray, in your loving and strong name.
