Strength Equal To The Day – Crushing The Sin Of Anxiety

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Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting an encouragement and warning about worry and anxiety concerning the future by Theodore Cuyler, courtesy of Grace Gems:

(Theodore Cuyler, “Beulah-Land” or, Words of Cheer for Christian Pilgrims)

Matthew 6:34

“Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:34

Faith does not shed tears over sorrows which may never come. God never made a Christian strong enough to stand the strain of today’s duties–and all the load of tomorrow’s anxieties piled upon the top of them.

The apostle Paul himself would have broken down, if he had attempted the foolish experiment. We have a right to ask our Heavenly Father for strength equal to the day–but we have no right to ask him for one extra ounce of strength beyond it!

Faith . . .
carries present loads,
meets present battles,
feeds on present promises, and
commits the future to a faithful God!

We should not penetrate into the secrets which tomorrow hides–if we could. It is far better to know Whom we trust, and that He is able to keep all that we commit to Him, until the last great day.

We cannot live on yesterday’s meals. As the children of Israel gathered fresh manna every morning–so must we look upward for a fresh supply of heavenly rations for the day’s march. The secret of happy days is not in our outward circumstances–but in our own heart life.

A large draught of Bible taken every morning, a throwing open of the soul’s windows to the precious promises of the Master, a few words of fervent prayer, a deed or two of kindness to the first person you meet–will brighten your countenance and make your feet “like hinds feet” for the day’s march.

“As your days–so shall your strength be.” Deuteronomy 33:25

And Will He Feed His Birds-And Starve His Children?

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Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting a great thought  from John MacDuff about God’s provision for His children, courtesy of Grace Gems:

God Providing for Birds

(John MacDuff, “Looking unto Jesus!” 1856)

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:26

From the general care of God for these lower creatures–with what confidence may we infer God’s special care for His people, who are His by so many close and tender ties!

Are the birds of the air fed? Do they find their food provided by a hand which they cannot recognize? Does He who gave them being, and who has assigned to them their appointed place in the ranks of creation, supply their daily needs, so that none of their species perish for lack of sustenance, but continue, from age to age–a standing monument of His providential goodness?

And will He feed His birds–and starve His children? Will He care for the one–and neglect the other? It cannot possibly be! The Savior refers to their comparative value, and asks, “Are you not of more value than they?” You are rational creatures, spiritual creatures, immortal creatures, yes, redeemed creatures–and therefore unspeakably more important than the birds are. If He then cares for them–oh! will He not care for you?

In connection with the above consideration, we may refer to the relationship which exists between God and His people. He is their Father–and they are His sons and daughters. Now a kind earthly father has it in him, as a natural instinct, to care for his children. His heart is set upon helping, supporting, directing, comforting, and blessing them. Such a concern has he for their well-being, that scarcely any sacrifice is deemed too costly by which that concern shall appear in practical manifestation. And if his concern for them should be repaid by nothing but ingratitude, as, alas! is often the case–yet even this cannot destroy his affections and feelings.

And if earthly fathers care for their children–will not our heavenly Father care for His? If they are full of concern for their offspring–then is it to be supposed that He, who implanted those kindly principles in their hearts, can be unconcerned about His offspring?

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:26

photo credit: Freedigitalphotos.net

A Lesson About The True Value Of Possessions

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About a week and a half ago, my wife and I took a trip out of state in order to watch our niece graduate from college. Once we got back home, my wife noticed that her car was damaged (no, that’s not our car in the photo). Of course, whoever hit our car didn’t bother to leave a note or contact one of the neighbors.

Due to the location, extent, and shape of the damage, I believe that it was either a garbage truck or delivery truck that hit our car. It was mangled pretty bad on the front, driver-side corner, leaving the headlight and signal light exposed and dangling.

Since it is an old car, we do not have collision coverage on it. If it was just a cosmetic issue, then we would just live with it, but the damage was enough for us to get a traffic ticket while driving (especially with the cops in this state 😡 ), so we had to get it fixed.

Instead of think about how ugly the car now is, or how much money it will take to fix it, my mind immediately focused on God. I have really been thinking lately about the fact that we as Christians should not worry about earthly treasures or possessions. Listen to what Jesus had to say about this topic:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~ Matthew 6:19-21

I know not to place any value in my cars or other possessions (I’m working on the laptop, but I’m getting there ;-)), because they are just temporal and can easily be destroyed, stolen, or malfunction – they can also be replaced! I need to place value in the things which matter to God. If I lose some possession, that should not affect my mood or joy at all.

The things which hold my affection, and are valuable to me should be the heavenly treasures which the bible promises to believers. Along the same lines, there is another thought that has been in my heart lately, and it is expressed in Hebrews 11:13-16:

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

My true home is in heaven, and as such, I know that I am not trying to establish an “empire” here. As Christians, our purpose is not to simply amass a ton of riches and possessions in this life, but we are to honor and glorify God in all that we do (1 Corinthians 10:31). That doesn’t mean that we can’t work hard or have wealth, but it does mean that we can’t make it our goal.

Since I am nothing more than an exile and sojourner on this earth, I am content as long as I have enough to sustain me, while I travel to my real home. If I have to drive around in a car that has a huge gash and plenty of dents, then I’m fine with that!

I think I will actually write more about this thought in an organized manner in the future, but I just wanted to get this out there, since this experience really made me reflect on this truth once again.

Oh, here’s the great thing about the car. We took it to our mechanic, and they managed to secure the lights and smooth out the tears and gashes enough so that we don’t cut ourselves when standing next to the car. When we called him to find out how much it would cost us, he let us know that he did it for free! That reinforces God’s promise found in Matthew 6: 25-33

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

If we focus on God, and not spend so much time worrying how every small detail of our life is going to come together – especially when it regards the basic necessities of life – then God will provide those things for us. Of course, I don’t always expect to get services for free, but it is great to see things work out when we rely on God!

photo by betty x1138