Week 1 Day 2 Giving Christ First Place

Week 1, Day 2

Memory Verse: Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you"

God's Promise

Read Matthew 6:25-30

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Commentary from ESV:

Matt. 6:25 Therefore . . . do not be anxious. If one makes the right choices, there is (“therefore”) no reason that one should be anxious. Jesus gives two a fortiori (“how much more”) examples—“look at the birds” (v. 26), “consider the lilies” (v. 28)—to show that, since God cares even for the birds and the lilies, how much more will he care for his own. To be anxious, then, demonstrates a lack of trust in God, who promises that he will graciously care for “all these things” See also Phil. 4:5–6.

Matt. 6:26 Human beings are of more value than animals (cf. 10:31; 12:12) because only humans, out of all God's creatures, are created “in the image of God” (Gen. 1:27), because God gave the human race dominion over all the earth and all its creatures (Gen. 1:28), and because God loved human beings so much “that he gave his only Son” to die for our sins (John 3:16).

Matt. 6:30 Grass was a natural source of fuel for fire and a common biblical metaphor for human frailty (e.g., Ps. 37:2; 102:4). Little faith implies a deficiency rather than an absence of faith (cf. Matt. 8:26).

STUDY QUESTIONS:

1. What causes you worry?

2. How much time do you give each week to worrying about these things? Keep a journal each day and jot down a "tick" mark every time you worry. Count them up at the end of the day.

3. When you find yourself worrying, what else could you do?

4. Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, in that prayer He says, "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." How would your life change if you invested the time you spend worrying in prayer, Bible study, exercise, witnessing?

5. Read Matthew 21:22 and find God's promise to you. He will provide for your every need. Ask Him now to use you wherever you are.

Pray The Serenity Prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.

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Keep writing things down in your prayer journal, even if it is just one line. Don't forget to list at least three things for which you are grateful. Work on the memory verse and repeat it often throughout the day.

Beloved, He is always with us. In the good times, the boring times, the tough times--His kingdom marches on toward that wonderful day when Jesus will crack the sky for His bride! I've been on such a wonderful spiritual plane these past few months. Today I find myself a little jumbled-up with priorities and concerns. It is time to take a deep breath, breathe in the mighty Holy Spirit and allow His overflowing love to envelope me.

Oh Holy Spirit fuel me with love and wisdom today. Lead me on the path to righteousness, temper my salt with light and love; cause my mind to remember that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Remove my stony heart, any pebbles that hinder the work you would have me do today. Give me a heart that is soft, pliable, filled with the blood of Jesus and the breathe of the Holy Spirit. Father, protect me from every hindering spirit, let not my foot slip on the rocks of life but keep it firmly planted on Your Word. I love you today God, Jehovah, Lord, Master...keep me still to hear your voice and know that you are God! Amen

Have an awesome and focused day in the Lord Beloved, until tomorrow, Sister Lisa.