“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “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.
Matthew 6:24-34

Dear God, I heard someone say recently that “righteousness” or “righteously” can be translated as “justice” when it’s translated into different languages. So, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live justly, and he will give you everything you need.” I don’t know how accurate that is. I’ve read a lot of English translations of this and I’ve never heard that, but it certainly tweaks the meaning a bit.

I think it starts with seeking your kingdom. [Note: I’m picking this up after having started this particular prayer several months ago.] And now I’m at a point where money has caused so many problems. It’s why I look at this whole NIL thing with college players and I worry for the players–the ones who are getting the money. If they were getting used before, how much more are they getting used now? The money will be fleeting and, for most of them, gone quickly. What will they have learned? Will they have gotten any education?

Money is central to some problems I am experiencing right now with family. Personally, I wish it were gone. Entitlement and arrogance are ruling the day because of it, and somehow I’ve gotten caught in the middle.

Father, there’s so much more than this going on today. I have an aunt, uncle, and cousins who are in deep pain and mourning. I have patients who are scared and need your help. I have staff who are scared and need your help. I have so much personal pain, as does my wife. But this is an opportunity to make this pain count. Without pain, nothing moves. Do not let this pain be wasted for my aunt, uncle, and cousins. Do not let this pain be wasted for my family. Make it count. Guide me.

I pray this in Jesus’s name,

Amen