‘Wrong Way Round’

Daily Devotional–Wednesday, April 28, 2021

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For [unbelievers] 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.” (Matthew 6:31-33, NLT)

I wonder if our prayers sometimes show up a deficiency in our understanding of God and the kind of relationship he wants with each one of us. How often are our prayer times consumed with a list of our needs—what to eat, drink, wear or whatever other concerns we might experience—rather than on the things of eternal value? Jesus tells us to stop worrying about the things of this world and rather put our focus on obeying him—growing the kingdom and growing in his righteousness.

When we seek first that which is to be sought first, God will provide the rest. But too often we focus on the things that should be of secondary concern to us because, from an earthly survival point of view, we cannot live without them and so we worry. Instead, we need to be living from a heavenly perspective. God wants us to be free from worry and to live life in full humility and submission to Jesus’ Great Commission—go disciple, teach and baptize—and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives—causing us to live lives that are genuinely loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, gentle, faithful, kind, good and self-controlled.
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When we put our needs front and center, we ignore the greater work that God, our heavenly Father, is calling us to do. Trust him. Live a life of surrender to God’s plan, seeking his kingdom and his righteousness, and watch how he provides the rest!
~ Pastor Jane