Day 2

Day 2 – August 9, 2021 Denise Deahl

Matthew 6:32-33 

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

Jesus wants us to stop being preoccupied with getting, so we can be free to respond to God’s giving.  

People who don’t know God and the way He works worry about things like having enough food or clothes to wear.  But, as believers, we put our trust and confidence in God, knowing that He is the Giver of all good things and that He knows we need these basic things! 

In my experience God always provides what I need.  The issue is that I am often not satisfied with what I have.  This lack of contentment puts me in the same category as those who do not know God. 

Jesus tells us in these verses there’s something more important than food and drink and clothing.  He’s telling us that the key to overcoming our discontentment is to find out who God really is and how He meets all our everyday human concerns. 

As I pursue a relationship with God, learning what He said, obeying Him, and consulting His will in everything, He becomes my first priority.  Then, thinking about the Lord brings me peace and contentment.  Thinking about anything else is usually a shortcut to anxiety, fear, or worry.

Seeking God is not mainly about my actions or trusting in my own goodness or good works. It’s not even about prioritizing church activities, helping the poor, or giving more money in the offering. It’s a lifestyle of trusting that our heavenly Father is good and takes care of us as we walk through life. 

When we live in this love relationship with God, we are grateful, happy and have a positive expectation that we will experience His goodness.  We will receive everything else that we need in this life and it will, naturally, make us do good works for God. It is not us; it is Christ who is working in and through us.

PRAYER:  Thank you Lord for providing clarity about who you are and how you meet all my needs.  Please help me to connect with others so they can know Jesus.