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The Christian Chameleon

By Kathy Pollard

Did you ever have that one friend back in junior high that acted like your best friend at church but then when you saw her at school, she acted like she didn’t know you? Perhaps she was ashamed of you when she was with her other friends because you weren’t cool enough for the school crowd. Do you remember how that made you feel?

That kind of juvenile behavior is unfortunate but not surprising. Young people can struggle with insecurities. They want to be seen in a certain light to be accepted by certain groups. And that objective becomes a stronger motivation than caring about how their actions might hurt or affect others.

Unfortunately, for most of us, that desire to be accepted doesn’t dissipate when we grow up. By the time we’re adults, we’ve honed our skill of reading the crowd and learning how to blend in to become part of it.

Some of that is natural and good. When we move to a new state or start a new job, we observe our new environment and learn how to find our place and fit in. We make friends by learning what others like and are interested in and then try to emphasize areas of common ground. A sense of community is important and we want to feel that our part in it is valued. Paul even said, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9:22). He observed people and found ways to connect with them.

The problem comes when our desire for acceptance becomes a stronger motivation than our determination to be Christlike. It’s a fleshly thing and I imagine that, even as Christians, we all struggle with it at some point or in certain situations. For example:

  • When our conversations around the water cooler at work are different than our conversations in the fellowship hall at church.
  • When we put all kinds of effort into befriending, helping, and hanging out with the “cool kids” at church but barely offer a nod to those who are on the fringe or those who were converted through benevolent outreach.
  • When we use edgy or worldly humor around some to get a laugh but present a more spiritual tone around an elder’s wife.

What’s the difference between these scenarios and Paul’s declaration? Paul had one clear goal and that was saving souls. He never compromised his faith or integrity. He wasn’t trying to be liked or fit in or gain a following (1 Cor. 1:10-15). In all of his efforts to reach others, He first determined to look like the Christ he was representing.

So how does one “become all things to all people” without becoming a chameleon (presenting a different face in different situations)?

  • Pray for pure motives. While being accepted is nice, our objective in all of our interactions should be, “What can I do to point the way to Heaven?” If we take the focus off of self, it will help remove the temptation to compromise in order to be liked (Gal. 2:20).
  • See people as Jesus did. Think about everyone He interacted with. The Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). Zacchaeus (Luke 19). The woman who was a sinner (Luke 7). Jesus wasn’t worried about what other people thought about Him, even when His own disciples questioned His actions. Jesus could have blended in, like a chameleon, for self-preservation. But He was more worried about what others needed. Who’s sitting alone in the pew where you worship? Who goes to an empty table at the fellowship meals? Who can you invite to lunch that probably isn’t being invited? Who is being ignored where you work because their life got messy and it made them mean? Jesus SAW people and went out of His way to get to them.
  • Be genuine. Paul was the same with everyone but Peter stumbled in this area. He was nice enough to the Gentiles until certain Jews came around. Then he snubbed them. He would “draw back and separate himself from them.” Paul rightly accused Peter of playing the hypocrite (Gal. 2:11-14). When others see us, it should be a given that we will be warm and friendly to them, every time, as often as we can, no matter who’s around. If we’re only thoughtful toward certain people, we’re not really thoughtful, are we?
  • Protect souls. Peter’s actions lead others to ignore the Gentiles, too. Even friendly Barnabas followed Peter’s example. I imagine this had to leave a bad taste of Christianity in the mouths of those Gentiles. If we’re interested in getting others to Heaven, we will be very careful of our own influence when it comes to how we treat everyone around us. We will be protective of others. This means we will protect the souls of the worldly by trying to influence them with Christlike behavior. We will protect the souls of the less fortunate by doing our best to make them feel wanted and worthwhile. We will protect the souls of those who are on the social fringe by widening our circle to include them. We must lead the way in this!

Jesus had an inner circle but He often left them to make His way to the those who were shunned. Jesus had a comfort zone but He left it to come to earth to reach us. As much as He loved others, He didn’t always feel like being the one to make the sacrifice (remember His prayer in the garden?) but He did it anyway. And the result? Saved souls, genuine relationships, eternal acceptance.

Human Beans

By Janelle Pollard

When I was a kid, there were a few words that I’d always believed were correct until I was a little older and found out they were, in fact, not actual words. A couple examples:

– “Wallago” — “a while ago” – Example of this word used in a sentence: “My brother went to his friend’s house wallago so he will probably be home soon.”

– “Human beans” — “human beings” – Example of this used in a sentence: “Aliens live in outer space, but human beans live on earth.”

When I found out, at the age of about 6 (or maybe 16, but who’s counting?), what the words truly were, my mind was blown. How could I have been wrong for so many years on something I absolutely knew to be true? Well, as I have learned many times over, it is very possible to be wrong on something you believed wholeheartedly to be correct. This is just a fact of life. This fact matters most when it comes to our faith.

Have you ever believed something for as long as you can remember only to find out later you were wrong? I have. It can be a humbling realization and a hard pill to swallow. What we choose to do with that realization is what really matters. If this drives us to seek answers and find the truth, we will grow in more ways than we probably could have ever imagined. We will learn more about God, and in turn, ourselves. Our knowledge, faith, and assurance will increase.

I will admit that sometimes I read my Bible with a checklist type of mentality. While there is, of course, never any harm in reading the Bible, it won’t do near as much good to help my faith and knowledge grow as it would if I carve out time in my day for an intentional Bible study. (Side note: I have found that it’s easier to put consistent Bible study on the backburner if I see this as a task I must do rather than seeing it as a means of finding out more about who God is. Changing your mindset on why you are studying God’s Word can make all the difference if you are having trouble making this a priority in your life!)

In Acts 17:11, the author writes about a group of Jews known as the Bereans. We don’t hear a lot about the Bereans, but they set a great example for us in one single vese. “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” A few things I noticed about this verse:

1. The Bereans were noble.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “noble” is defined as “having or showing very fine or admirable qualities.” These people were special.

2. They received the word “with all eagerness.”

If you are eager about something, you are excited! The Bereans were enthusiastic and ready to dig for a deeper understanding of God’s Word.

3. They examined the Scriptures.

They were not checking off a to-do list in order to get to their next duty. They were actively investigating.

4. They did this daily.

This is what I like to call a good ol priority. If something is not a priority, we may or may not get to it. But if it is, it is part of your day and is something that will occur without question. This text is not a command, but gives us an example that we would be wise to emulate.

5. They wanted to make sure what they were reading was true.

Sometimes as human beans, we can be lazy. As I have been guilty of, we can take a belief of someone we trust and accept it as accurate and true. But when we don’t examine these beliefs for ourselves to make sure they are correct, our very souls could be at risk.

We should try to be more like the Bereans every day because one day, we will be judged by what is in the Bible, according to John 12:48, which says, “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.” If we know that the Bible is the book by which our souls will be judged one day, maybe we should ask ourselves if we really know what it says. The only way to find out is by opening it and like the Bereans, “examining the Scriptures daily.” “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

If Your Life is Hard to Bear Right Now

By Kathy Pollard

  • Physical suffering
  • Family crisis
  • Financial insecurity
  • Disappointment, grief, anxiety
  • Marriage problems

If, for whatever reason, your life is difficult and you have to gear up just to face each new day, remember the tremendous amount of hope you might be giving others.  Those who know you well, and even those who barely know you, can be encouraged by your example.

If you lack general comfort but you are relying on the Comforter (Romans 8:26,27).

If you lost someone dear but you are leaning on the Giver of Life (John 5:24).

If your tasks are overwhelming but you trust in the promise of rest (Matt. 11:28-30).

If your struggles keep multiplying but your faith is unwavering (1 Peter 1:7).

If your body is weak but you know a better one awaits (Phil. 3:20,21).

If your nights are long but you go on because it is only temporary (Rev. 21:22-25).

Then even though you might feel like you can barely tackle one day at a time, rejoice in the fact that you are strengthening others.  A conversation with you fills others with courage for whatever they might face and lets them see that all things are indeed possible with God (Matt. 19:26).  What good you are doing in the kingdom!  Thank you for your invaluable commitment and faithfulness.  May God uphold you as you continue to encourage others.

black small dog standing next to yellow chrysanthemums
Hang in there, friend!

The ‘Key’ to Success

By Janelle Pollard

As long as I can remember, I have wanted to learn to play the piano. I began lessons when I was 8 or 9 years old, but my piano teacher was very stern and my desire to learn piano was trumped by my desire to avoid my teacher. For my birthday this year, my husband, Dale, got me a new keyboard. I couldn’t have been more excited, as my dreams to play the piano were finally within reach! However, I was sorely disappointed when I realized mastering this new instrument wouldn’t be as easy as it looked on YouTube. I’ve watched and listened to many people play piano over the years with wonder. They make it look so easy and sound so beautiful. So of course, when I sat down for the very first time and couldn’t play Mozart within a few hours, I was disappointed, to say the least. 

In reality, I knew that it would be hard. It would take a lot of patience, determination, and consistency. I had to decide, and still do, that it would be worth the effort. I have gotten frustrated when my hands won’t follow what my brain tells them to. I have wanted to give up. But I have decided to keep trying (partly because I want to be good at piano one day and partly because I want Dale to know how thankful I am for this gift). Some days when I practice, it seems that at the current rate, it will take approximately three hundred years until I will be successful at this new hobby. But some days, I learn something new and can see that the time I have put in is paying off. It’s such a rewarding feeling and keeps me excited to continue on. My goal is to learn and be good at playing the piano. The only way to get to this goal is to never give up. 

In many ways, this is similar to our walk as Christians. We all have the goal of spending eternity in heaven with our Creator & taking as many people with us as we can. Some days, we may feel like we’ll never get it right. But if we keep putting one foot in front of the other in the direction of heaven, we will find that no matter how hard some days may seem, we will be rewarded greatly and every hard day will be more than worth it. The only way to reach our goals, whether earthly, or more importantly, eternally, is to NEVER give up!

At the end of our days on this earth, may these verses be able to define our own lives:

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Time Management

By Janelle Pollard

As a nurse, time management is very important. There are often more tasks to do than it seems I have time for. Generally, what I do in the first 2 hours determines how the next 10 will go. Some mornings, I get right to work, doing full assessments on my patients, filling out their whiteboards, and bringing their early medications with a fresh cup of ice water. Now, I’m ready to take on my next task of charting all that I just did. Because as we nurses know, “if it isn’t charted, it didn’t happen!” If every shift started out this seamlessly, I would never need to stay a single minute late. However, it’s rare that something doesn’t pop up unexpectedly to throw me off my game. A patient rings the call button, “I need my nurse in here right now!” I drop what I’m doing and run to their room, expecting an emergency, only to hear, “I need you to scratch my foot.” Or maybe, upon assessing a patient, I notice her breathing is very labored. She’s more lethargic than an hour ago and her oxygen level has dropped. I stop everything else and this patient becomes my top priority. When all is settled down and she is better, all of my other patients’ medications are going to be late. Now, I’m behind on charting and still need to give insulin before lunch arrives. But what about my lunch? Because now I’m starving and can I even be a good nurse if all I can think about is my growling stomach? Well, it’ll have to wait because my goal has now become to everything without having to stay late.

This is a real world example of what happens in life. If everything could just go according to plan, we would have all the time in the world to prepare for the life after this. But does it ever? That’s a big NOPE. Life gets busy. Each day brings a new challenge or change to our schedule and we constantly have to alter our plans. Priorities shift and sometimes things that are the most important get put on the back-burner because we “just don’t have time today.” But after days and weeks of being on the back-burner, these “priorities” become no more than a small check at the very bottom of a seemingly endless to-do list. This is precisely how the devil wants it to be. A slow fade. If for months or years, we were in the habit of daily Bible study, constantly in prayer throughout our day, and then all of sudden that all changed from one day to the next, it would be very noticeable and we would work hard to get back to our happy and healthy state of equilibrium. But when this occurs over time, it’s less noticeable and sadly, bothers us less.

In healthcare, we talk to patients a lot about preventative measures. We give prophylactic treatments. Keeping you healthy by staying ahead of the problem is almost always better than treating one after it’s already become one. The same goes for us spiritually. How can we prevent this from happening to us? How can we manage our time and our lives so that our top priorities stay at the very top?

  1. Pray about it. Ask God to keep you diligent in your prayer and study. Ask Him to make you more aware of how you are spending your time.
  2. Plan your time. If you don’t already have a planner or some kind of daily agenda, consider it. Write out at the beginning of the week, how you will spend your time and include time each day for Bible study.
  3. Find an accountability partner. If you know someone who is grounded in daily Bible study, consider asking them to be an accountability partner with you. Ask each other each day or each week how their doing in their studies and pray for each other.
  4. Do a Bible study on time management. The Bible has plenty to say on how we spend our time and reading about it will be a great reminder for us! Ecclesiastes and James are a couple that come to mind.

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

-Ephesians 5:15-17

Image from Corporate Finance Institute

What Matters in this New Year

By Chelsea Pollard

We’ve experienced some interesting things in the past few years, don’t you think? Some of it has been unpleasant, but I have seen so many good things come out of it. We’ve grown closer to our friends and family. In general, being kind to the strangers all around us! In times of struggle and disaster, helping the community in a very hands on way. Maybe we got caught up in some of the negativity in the beginning, but more and more I’m seeing positivity and the spread of it! At the start of a new year, I like to read over some of my favorite verses. These verses help me in a lot of different ways, and I’d like to share them with you.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Father who is full of mercy, the God of all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble so that when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

“Don’t worry—I am with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.” Isaiah 41:10

“You comfort me in my suffering, because your promise gives me new life.” Psalms 119:50

“My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give my sheep eternal life. They will never die, and no one can take them out of my hand. My Father is the one who gave them to me, and he is greater than all. No one can steal my sheep out of his hand. The Father and I are one.” John 10:27-30

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people—people who could stand before him without any fault. And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. And this brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely. He gave us that grace in Christ, the one he loves.” Ephesians 1:3-6

“The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need. He gives me green pastures to lie in. He leads me by calm pools of water. He restores my strength. He leads me on right paths to show that he is good. Even if I walk through a valley as dark as the grave, I will not be afraid of any danger, because you are with me. Your rod and staff comfort me. You prepared a meal for me in front of my enemies. You welcomed me as an honored guest. My cup is full and spilling over. Your goodness and mercy will be with me all my life, and I will live in the Lord’s house a long, long time.” Psalm 23

I want to start out the new year remembering what’s important. Rather, who is important. God’s love for us is so much more than our human brains can imagine.

“The only one who truly loved me to death.”

Inspiring or Draining?

By Kathy Pollard

There are several variations of a quote that goes something like, “People can inspire you or they can drain you…choose wisely.” Sage advice if it’s true that we become like the people we spend the most time with. We need to invest in relationships that will bring out the best in us, and be careful around those whose disagreeable traits could rub off on us.

Don’t you think it’s pretty easy to tell the difference? When I think of those who inspire me, I can rattle off several reasons why. The same goes for those who drain me (that sounds harsh, I know). Here’s how that looks to me:

Inspiring

  • expresses love
  • encourages
  • compliments
  • looks for the positive
  • cheerful disposition
  • instills courage in others
  • sees the good in others
  • expresses gratitude
  • patient
  • smiles
  • warm
  • pays attention
  • brings people together
  • engages
  • tries new things
  • shares
  • speech reflects a Phil. 4:8 mind

Draining

  • complains
  • criticizes
  • points out the negative
  • finds fault
  • fuels drama
  • angers easily
  • impatient
  • gossips
  • self-absorbed
  • always a victim
  • puts others down
  • sarcastic
  • argumentative
  • interrupts
  • moody
  • distracted
  • doesn’t do anything they don’t want to

With as much grace as possible, you can probably think of the people in your circle and see which list they tend to fall under. It’s a fairly easy discernment to make, right?

Okay, having said all that…it wouldn’t be very fair for this quote to be so one-sided. Otherwise it becomes a selfish exercise.

You’re good for me. Let’s hang out.

I’m tired of your constant griping. Buh-bye.

The rest of the quote should be something like, “You can inspire others or you can drain them. Choose wisely.” Perhaps this should be our greater focus. Instead of inspecting the strengths and flaws of others, what if we looked a little closer at ourselves in light of those two lists? Ah, but this is not as easy to discern because I know the excuses behind my complaints and criticisms. I know I’m exhausted, or in the midst of a trial, or disappointed, or having the worst day ever… Whatever the reason, the effect is the same. My attitude impacts those around me. With every encounter, I am defining myself as an inspirer or a drainer, and I am the only one who chooses which it shall be.

I know which one I want to be. How about you? No one’s going to perfectly live out the inspiring list, and I know for a fact that there are some doozies on that drainer list that I need to work on. Let’s commit to bringing out the best in each other, okay?

Happy New Year, friends. 2 Cor. 4:16!

Written on Our Hearts

By Janelle Pollard

Most of my life, I’ve heard that I should be memorizing Scripture. From Bible class teachers, parents, college professors, and more. Some Scriptures you hear and read so much, you don’t have to work to memorize it. You already know it. It’s already written on your heart. And if you’ve used the same Bible for years, you can probably even find exactly which verse you’re looking for not by the book name or chapter, but by the location on the page. There are many places in Scripture that we can find the author encouraging the reader to memorize Scripture. But why? 

“Why is it so important to memorize Scripture if I have access to the Bible at all times?” 

Well, there’s actually more than one answer to that question…

  1. Because God said so. This is one of those answers we probably heard as children. And the principle remains, God is our Father and we must do what He says. Thankfully, the things He says are out of love and give us many blessings. His commands are a blessing! 

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

  1. Because of others’ examples:

-Jesus memorized Scripture 

Matthew 21:42- Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

-David memorized Scripture

Psalm 119:11- “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

    3. We don’t know that we will always have easy access to the Bible. 

What if in our lifetime, having a Bible wasn’t legal anymore? Sounds dramatic and probably a little conspiracy theory-ish, but when I was a kid, had you told me that one day, God would be taken out of schools and our country would be run by people who wanted this, I wouldn’t have believed you. But we are living in a world where that is unfortunately becoming the norm. If there is a chance that we could have our Bibles taken and wouldn’t be able to remember what they say without them right in front of us, shouldn’t we be memorizing everything they say and writing them on our hearts so we can always have them as guidance, even if not as physical guides?

  1. That we may not sin against God.

Psalm 37:31 says, “The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.” And in chapter 119:11, the psalmist writes, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” We should meditate on and memorize Scripture so that we won’t sin against God. If His Word is what we think about more often that what we see on TV or on our phones, we will be a lot more aware of our behaviors and our speech, and our character will be more like God’s. 

But how??

Most people say that are not good at memorization. But I bet you would be surprised at how good you could be if you just stuck with it! Here are a few ways you can try for yourself:

  1. Just the first letters

Something that has worked for me is just writing the first letter of each word. 

For example: Using the verse listed above, Ps. 119:11, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you,” we will just take out the first letter of each word:

IHSUYWIMH,TIMNSAY

P119:11

That way, you can have a little help without seeing the whole word! You can write these letters on post-it notes throughout your house and every time you see them, you must recite the verse out loud. I have even written the letters on my hand before so I can practice throughout the day when not at home.

  1. Bible Memory Apps (just search for this and you will find several options!)
  2. Spiral Index Card Notebook– writing is a great way to learn a verse- and you can quiz yourself with this format!
  3. Dry Erase Board– write the verse out and erase one word at a time, seeing how many times you can recite it, as you take away more and more words.

Scripture Memorization doesn’t have to be dull! There are many ways to commit the Bible to memory and you will be blessed for writing it on your heart! 

Share with us what methods you have used to memorize Scripture!

When the Rubber Meets the Road

By Emily Pollard

We’ve all heard the phrase, “When it rains, it pours.” While there are rare occasions that we might get to focus on a single responsibility or situation, most of our time is spent juggling several simultaneously. When one challenge arises, we expect a few more to come knocking. While this can be overwhelming (a feeling Satan just loves for us to have), these are the times in our life when we find out what we’re really made of. When it seems hardest to make a godly decision, when it seems impossible to know the right answer, when you don’t WANT to do the right thing, when the rubber meets the road, your response reveals the contents of your heart. Over the past few weeks, I have seen fellow Christians, young children, and total strangers whose lives have been turned upside down by tragedy, uncertainty, and harm. In moments like these, we must ask ourselves: When the rubber meets the road, who am I? In His word, God tells us how we can know who we truly are. The following questions paired with scripture help us answer this question for ourselves. 

>>When life gets hard what do I cling to for comfort? 

1. Read Numbers 13:25-14:4… After spying out the land of Canaan, fear turned the Israelites’ hearts back towards Egypt. They had finally set their eyes upon the promised land…but it wasn’t that simple. Canaan was filled with bigger, stronger men than the Israelites. Instead of marching forth in faith to overtake the land, the Israelites’ response was to retreat to their past lives in slavery to Egypt. When life gets hard, do I miss my past life without God?

2. Read Psalm 18:29-31…When David was surrounded by adversity, his gut reaction was to cry out to God. David relied solely on the power, perfection, and precepts of God to pull him through. When life gets hard, is turning to Him my gut reaction?

>>How much can my faith take? 

1.     Read Job 2:9…Job’s wife endured suffering and loss alongside Job, but her faith in God had its limits. Faithfulness to God wasn’t worth the pain. When our faith crumbles, our hope is lost along with it. Job’s wife allowed present sorrows to overshadow her trust in God. At what point does life shake my faith? How much can life dish out before my faith in God’s way and word weakens?

2.     Read Job 2:10…Job kept his faith, knowing that hardships are inevitable. God blesses, but He also disciplines those He loves (Heb. 12:6-7).

>>Do I let my own life take away from the good I can do for others? 

1.     Read Phil. 2:3-11… Christ knew the pain, temptation, and ridicule that awaited, yet His heart was not consumed with His own grief. Pain was part of the process. The sole purpose of Jesus’ life was to offer healing, hope, and salvation to others. Our Savior’s earthly hardships never swayed Him from His Heavenly purpose. Do I allow my own stress and difficulties to distract me from lightening the burdens of others?

“Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil and let us see what we are made of.”

– Charles Spurgeon

Worry

By Chelsea Pollard

Arthur Somers Roche said, “Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.”

We define worry as: “a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.”

Anxious, uncertain, concerned. Does that sound familiar? I find it funny that the definition includes not only actual problems, but potential ones! Anxiety can easily get the best of you, and it’s overwhelming. I’d like to take a look at Matthew 6:25-34 and see what Jesus has to say.

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday 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? 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? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 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, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 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? So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Jesus uses two examples to show how creation is cared for: birds and flowers. Both are fragile and short lived, but they are still taken care of. The birds are fed and the wildflowers grow beautifully, only to be here for a short time. Why are we worried, when we are more valuable to Him?

Verse 27 stands out to me, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” We know that worrying doesn’t help a thing, but it seems to difficult to manage. But, why? He’s got us.

In verse 32, Jesus says: “These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” We shouldn’t let our anxieties control us, because we have Him on our side. We should know, that He knows!

He continues to say in verse 33 that if we focus our energy on His church, His family and align our moral standard with His, He will take care of us.

It’s interesting how we can relax on a plane, but not know the pilot. We step onto a plane with the confidence that the pilot knows what he is doing. The pilot will fly you safely to your destination. Why can’t we relax in life knowing that God is in control? He’s here for you, He loves you and wants you to know that you’re taken care of. It really is a comforting thought, as He is the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). Go to Him with your concerns and once you do, let them go.

We often sing “Bring Christ Your Broken Life” and it serves as a great reminder:

“Bring Him your every care, if great or small. Whatever troubles you – oh, bring it all. Bring Him the haunting fears, the nameless dread. Your heart He will relieve, and lift up your head.”

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