don't worry

Matthew 6: 25 "That is why I tell you, don't worry about your life — whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God* above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

I remember well the day my sweet friend, Aaron Barth, came to staff prayer & told us about how he'd ben studying Jesus' sermon of the mount in Matthew 5-7. He said that he found that it was unnecessary to read this whole passage - that the crux of the who thing was in the first few words - "don't worry about your life"

This was the 4th & final verse God gave me for 2008, & now He's carried them over into 2009.

I can't tell you the dozens & dozens & dozens of times He's reminded me in the last year, "don't worry about your life." Hundreds of times, as I worried while I walked toward being a catalyst for a presence downtown, I would worry & fret about all kinds of things. Each time I'd start to spin, He'd quietly remind me, "don't worry about your life."

"don't worry about your life"

"don't worry about your life"

"don't worry about your life"

"don't worry about your life"

"don't worry about your life"

I know that Aaron finds it interesting how a passing comment has been a pivotal part of my life these last 13 months, & beyond.

Think about this - many times, our words have similar impact on people's lives, unbeknownst to us - words that are kind, encouraging, & helpful. But so can our words that are not kind, encouraging, or helpful.

Thanks again, Aaron, for sharing from the profundity of your life. God continues to speak to me through it.

And thank You, Father, for "don't worry about your life."