“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.

Matthew 6:31-34

Dear God, on the surface, this seems like ridiculous advice. Don’t worry about what we eat, drink, or wear?!? Don’t worry about tomorrow?!? Isn’t that irresponsible? I mean, if I’m going to be responsible then I need to have health insurance, life insurance, money in savings for a rainy day, a retirement account, etc. I need to set aside money I will owe for taxes at the end of the year. I need a will for my earthly possessions. I need my job so I can pay my mortgage. And to do my job right I certainly need to worry about tomorrow and plan ahead. No, this is ridiculous advice.

Or is it? What can I really control? I have zero idea what tomorrow holds. Illness? Famine? Pandemic? Recession? Death? Those are just a few of the countless possibilities. So I can plan (and a lot of what I mentioned in the beginning is really planning), but I need to 1.) remember that my plans are, by their very nature, flawed, and 2.) you are enough to cover the flawed parts of my plan. I have enough to think about today. There are broken relationships that need addressed. There are responsibilities I have to meet. There are children and a wife to love. There is a house that needs some maintenance. And most of all, there is a God to worship.

I’ll just add this, and I guess I’ll make this part of my worship of you today. I stand amazed at how powerful taking a day to pray and fast can be. I stand amazed at how you’ve blessed the fruit of my labor at work. You are amazing! And you seem to pay attention to every detail! I mean, how can you possibly do that? But you do. From our staff, to our safety, to our finances, you have not withheld anything from us at work. And for some of the surprise expenses my wife and I are experiencing right now, you seem to have provided the cash for that as well. And so for the things for family members that I’ve not yet seen answers, I trust that you are working on something I simply cannot see (and I may never see your plan come together in my lifetime). But I trust you, Lord. I trust you. Please show me what you have for me to do today.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen