Discipleship Point
Matthew 6:25-33
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Journal Prompt:
What are you currently anxious or fearful about?
Discipleship Prayer
Father God, continue to unfold blessings for me – and for my brothers and sisters – as we work through our devotions this week. Let Your Word and Spirit enable me to handle anxieties and pressures in ways that are healthy for my spirit. Then let this have an encouraging effect on those around me. I pray to experience in practical ways the blessings You describe in Philippians 4 about peace that guards my heart and my mind despite anxieties. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 32:8-11
- I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. - Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you. - Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him. - Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Read the versus of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Teaching or Command of God
Psalm 105:2
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
The Promise
Psalm 112:4
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious
and compassionate and righteous.
Pondering Point
Can you hear this hymn in your mind, Rejoice Ye pure in heart (LSB #813) or its variant title, Rejoice O Pilgrim Throng? It draws from Psalm 32:11:
Pslam 32:11
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!