God, Here’s Your Reminder…

Let me just get right to it.

Today at ethos, my home church, Pastor Dave spoke on Matthew 6:19-34.  Now this is a scripture that I have read countless times, but have failed to reach many of the conclusions found in Dave’s message today.  Yet there was one in particular that really hit home. 

Our worrying is an open assault on God’s ability to care for us.

Think about your own prayer life, it is probably a lot like mine.  We go to God in our times of need.  Every little petty thing, the things we usually worry about, we remind God that we are in constant need.  Dave painted a great picture of a son asking/reminding his father of his every need.  It sounded insulting. 

I asked myself if I treated God that way... reminding Him of everything I need that week?  Instead of asking the Lord for wisdom, discernment, or a deeper intimacy and love for him, I find myself reminding the Lord of my need to eat and pay the rent.  Do not misunderstand me, I’m not convicted by my trusting in God’s provision.  He wants us to fully trust Him for providing, and sustaining.  Yet my heart wants to trust that God will provide, without spending my intimate prayer time reminding God of my “little” needs.  Instead, can I trust without reminding God that my rent is due in two weeks and ask God to bring me closer to Him, whatever it takes?  Maybe that just means really trusting for God’s provision down to the very last minute.  

Not only does our worrying keep us from intimacy with God, it keeps us from trusting that God’s plans for us.  They are exciting, adventurous, and BIG plans, but we cannot let our worrying to openly assault God’s ability to care for us.  If we are caring for that which God will provide, we are incapable of being used for other things, amazing and God glorifying things.

In all honesty, there is sooooo much more to second half of Matthew 6 than just trust.  I really encourage any of you who are reading to listen to this message by checking out the church’s podcast (Sermon Title: More Like Jesus : Part 2 posted August 21st).

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds then.  Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:26

In Grace and Love,

PBANDCY