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Daily devotional · July 12

Birds and Wildflowers

“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? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:25-34 (BSB)Read the whole chapter →

Jesus points to the birds and the wildflowers, and asks us to actually look at them. Birds do not have barns, yet they are fed; flowers do not spin cloth, yet they are dressed more beautifully than a king. His argument is gentle: if the Father cares for these, will he not care for you? He also asks a practical question: can worry add even one hour to your life? Anxiety feels like responsibility, but it gives us nothing in return. Jesus does not tell us to stop planning; he tells us to stop being consumed. The invitation is to seek God's kingdom first and to take each day as it comes, since every day has enough trouble of its own. Today, spend five minutes outside or by a window, watching something living. Then write down one worry and one small action you can take, and leave the rest with God. If anxiety feels overwhelming, talk with a trusted friend or counselor.

Prayer

Father, you feed the birds and clothe the flowers. Help me trust you with today.

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