In Search Of A Better Tomorrow

Daily Devotional: Time Alone With God – Do not worry

Read: Matthew 6:25-34

by Pastor Phil Stout

Matthew 6:25-34New International Version (NIV)

Do Not Worry
25 “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? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Consider: Jesus said…

     “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow…” (6:34)

A literal translation would read, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow” or “have no anxiety about tomorrow.”

I know it’s not the best translation of this particular passage, but I just love the way it is rendered in the King James Version of the Bible…

     “Take therefore no thought for the morrow…”

Take no thought? Come on! Well, like I said, it’s probably not the most accurate way to translate it from the original language. But, you’ll have to admit, there’s a real beauty to it.

I know, I have to think about tomorrow. I’ve made appointments. There are schedules to keep. There are bills that will need to be paid. I have to show up for work ready to go. I have to prepare for tomorrow with adequate sleep and nutrition. But what I love about“take no thought for tomorrow” is the joy of that statement. When Jesus tells us to trust him, he’s not talking about a forced dependence or a begrudging dependence on him. He’s talking about a joyful dependence.

Yes, you and I are very responsible people. We’ve given thought for the tomorrows of our lives. But for now—for right now—could we just “take no thought for tomorrow”? Could we just bask in the presence of the One who has given us this moment?

Pray: “Lord, thank you for your presence in my life right now. Because I have you, I have everything I need. I don’t know what all I will need tomorrow. But for now—in this moment—my needs are met, for you are with me.”