DEVOTIONS

Monday, May 22 – “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (Luke 12:25-26) You’re very good at worrying.  You might be a professional worrier or merely an amateur worrier. The point is this – All of us worry.  Thus, Jesus has something to teach all of us about worrying.  Jesus never tells us to stop worrying.  Jesus merely asks us to consider replacing our worry.  If you can do something about that which you are worrying, do it.  If you can’t do anything about that which you are worrying, drop it.   

Tuesday, May 23 – “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20) What are heavenly treasures?  What treasure is Jesus talking about that won’t be destroyed by moths and vermin or stolen by thieves?  Heavenly treasures are the things that nobody can take from you.  You can give them away.  But nobody or nothing can take them away.  Things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  These treasures are yours and nobody or nothing, outside of you, can ever take them away.

Wednesday, May 24 – “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.  ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:31) Peter stepped out of the boat and started walking toward Jesus, on the water.  Suddenly Peter realized what he was actually doing.  This realization caused Peter to shift his eyes away from Jesus and to the water.  In that moment doubt entered his mind, for nobody can walk on water.  Yet, there he was, walking on water.  Peter was good, until he took his eyes off Jesus.  Then he started to sink.  With that being said, what’s the message for you today?   

Thursday, May 25 – “But seek first his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” (Luke 12:31) You spend a great deal of your life worrying about “these things”.  Here’s the problem:  Worrying about “these things” is no guarantee that you will ever experience “these things”.  Also, worrying about “these things” is a guarantee that that you will never experience the kingdom of God.  Conversely, seeking first the kingdom of God is a guarantee that you will experience the kingdom of God, as well as all of “these things”.  It’s not about not worrying.  It’s about redirecting your time, talents and treasures towards what really matters.  As opposed to worrying about what really doesn’t matter.

Friday, May 26 – “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) A large part of your worrying mentality is a product of our culture’s obsession with providing for tomorrow’s needs.  There’s nothing wrong with planning for the future.  There’s a big problem when your future planning negatively affects your present reality.  When your worries about the future prevent you from living to your fullest potential today.  When your worries about the future prevent you from being all that God has created you and gifted you to be, today.  If all you do is plan and provide for the future, you truly stop living in the present.  Which, by the way, is a gift.  That’s why we call it the present.

Saturday, May 27 – “Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.” (Romans 10:3) How can you experience something that you know nothing about?  Left to your own devices, you will do everything that you need to do, in order to meet your own needs.  This is perfectly natural.  Yet, there’s a better way.  Aren’t you tired of trying to be the master of your universe?  There’s a better way.  Aren’t you tired of having to do everything?  There’s a better way.  Aren’t you fed up with the way this world seems to work?  Well, there’s a better way.  That better way is a relationship with God, through faith in Jesus.  There, I said it.  So now you know it and the rest is up to you.