As we begin the new year, Converge churches and missionaries from around the globe will embark on 21 Days of Prayer. Join us on this prayer journey by reading the daily entries on Converge’s blog, or by downloading your free 21 Days of Prayer: Upside-down Kingdom guide (English/Spanish). In addition, you can share daily posts from our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter feeds. Thank you for joining us as we open 2022 in prayer together.
Day 15: Do not worry
Matthew 6:25-34
25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Anxiety in today’s world is high. People spend a lot of money and time trying to curve their anxiety and find peace. Here, Jesus wants his people to have faith and trust our Father in heaven who is generous and gives us what we need. Jesus states that both birds and flowers are taken care of, live for the day and have beauty — they do not worry. Jesus wants us to learn from nature that just as God sustains birds and flowers, so he will also sustain us because we are more valued than those.
Jesus asks, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” What a great question that gets straight to the point. In fact, as we worry, we use up our time and our life. We can spend so much time worrying and creating what could happen that we do not actually live or step out in faith.
Jesus emphasizes that our Father knows what we need. We need to see him and his Kingdom, and we will get what we need — not necessarily all we want, but what we need. Later, in Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus wants us to trust in God and rest in him. Each day has enough to worry about. Jesus wants us to focus on today and on our heavenly Father and seek his Kingdom. By doing this, we can curve anxiety and rest in his love, provision and presence.
Prayer
Lord, every day is full of things to worry about. I pray I can focus on you and give you my burdens. Help me to see your provision and care in all that is around me. And help me to know I am loved by you more than I can ever imagine. Help me to seek your Kingdom and righteousness and to know you have all I need today. Thank you for loving me and providing for me. In your sons loving name, Amen.
