“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Matthew 6:33

God’s encouragement…

In this scripture Jesus is providing God’s way to set priorities in our life. My way to set priorities was based on what I needed to do for my job (first) and my family (second). I thought this method would bring security and stability and keep anxious thoughts at bay. It didn’t. When anxious thoughts surfaced, I doubled-down and worked harder. But God wants us to live a life of trust in Him, not a life driven by anxious thoughts.

To teach us to embrace God’s way, Jesus reminds us of all the Father does for His creation. Using the birds of the air as one example, Jesus points out they do not sow, reap or gather and yet God feeds them. He tells us how the lilies of the field are clothed more beautifully than even Solomon in all his glory yet neither toil or spin. He assures us that we are valued more highly by God than these.

My first step to follow God’s way was to pray before making decisions. I also spent time with Him each day by reading and studying His word. I embraced taking a Sabbath day of rest each week, something I thought was impossible even after more than 15 years of attending church regularly.

Over time, I stopped getting upset when something interrupted my plans. In fact, He lead to say no to some requests and taught me to accept the disappointment this sometimes caused. As He taught me what is important to Him, He brought a deeper purpose to my life. As promised, He has “added all things” I truly need. And He has given me His gifts of peace and patience in the process!

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Image: watercolor by Robin Lybeck: Blessings

Full Scripture Text: Matthew 6:25-33

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”