Do you believe?

 Hello Bride of Christ, 

How often I spend my time planning. Planning. The calendar marked hour by hour with activities for my family and myself. The forward thinking...what clothes need to be prepared, what materials / equipment is needed, what lesson is going to be shared and how, what time it all starts, how long will it take to get there? I use to dread planning because it was always paired with anxiety. Planning plus anxiety truly equals exhaustion. When I learned what my Father God's good pleasure was, planning became much more joy filled.  

Jesus Lesson

One of the first teachings Jesus gave was to His disciples. This teaching was filled with many various lessons, but the one we will focus on today is the one given in the book of Matthew 6:25 -34 and Luke 12: 22-34. 

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matt 6:25-34)

All the questions Jesus spoke of What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ Are all valid questions. The answer to these questions are essential to the basic needs of our human lives. We need food, water, and clothing to survive. They are also items that require planning and preparation to acquire. To eat breakfast, we must first buy the food, and before that, make the money or plant the seed to grow the garden to produce this food. Right? 

Luke also captures the same lessons from Jesus but his writing of the teaching highlights and provides further insight to what Jesus was trying to teach His disciples and us as well. 

"Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:22-34)

Did you know it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom?

The kingdom! The kingdom is everything pertaining to this earth and beyond. The kingdom consists of everything God has to offer. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" Romans 14:17

Are you settling for less? 

Bride of Christ, when I realized I could plan every little activity in my life, I could prepare for all types of scenarios. I could work hard and make sure all my barns and stocks where filled. But I cannot control the unfolding of plans. Only God could. So why rely on myself? Why rely on my limited purview of life? Why plan with anxiety of not being prepared or having to face the unexpected? Did I not believe my Father? He desires to give me the kingdom! The kingdom is His best! Is not God's best enough? 

Believe

Believe Jesus when He says Father God knows you need these things. 

Believe Jesus when He says it is Father God's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Believe Jesus when He says Father God values you more than the lilies of the fields and birds of the air. 

Believe Father God takes good care of you! 

For planning plus belief in Jesus and His words equals a life lived with joy.