Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Do you realize how much time you spend thinking about things that you cannot change? How much time do you spend worrying about what might happen? Christ is […]
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
In this passage, Christ teaches us how to handle worry. Over the previous verses, Christ told us not to worry about our daily needs because God would take care of us. Christ has told […]
Matthew 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
This is the second time in this passage that Christ commands us not to worry about our daily needs. Christ knows our human nature and how easy it is for us to start worrying […]
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
What is the most pressing thing in your mind? If I could […]
Proverbs 13:7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
Jesus tells the story of a certain rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. Lazarus had nothing and he laid at the gate of the rich man desiring simply to be fed with the crumbs […]
Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
You understand that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Thus by application, if you have knowledge of the ways of God and you allow that knowledge to be applied to your life, then the […]
Psalms 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles.
Bless the Lord for HE has provided for you. God has satisfied your mouth with good things. To satisfy your mouth means that HE has provided enough for your daily needs but has not provided above your needs. […]
Psalms 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
The clasp of thunder can be heard in the distance. A mother bird quickly grabs a worm and then heads off to her nest. After she has fed her babies, she sets […]
Psalms 77:11 I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
There is nothing that requires you to remember all the good things God has done for you. God does not require that you spend four hours each day thinking about all the things HE has done for […]
Psalms 43:2 For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Do you trust God and not yourself? Do you really recognize that it is God who is your strength? Do you believe that if it were not for God […]
Psalms 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
David was a man of war. On many occasions he put his life in jeopardy as he fought the Lord�s battles. Yet despite the fact that he was a man of war, he had the understanding that God was with him. David was not worried about what man could do to him; instead, he trusted in the Lord and allowed God to show HIMSELF strong in his life.
David understood that when he went out to battle that he was in a position that he might lose his life. However, there was a different safety that David was more concerned about. David was concerned about ensuring that his relationship was right before God so that he could cry out to God and find the peace that passeth all understanding. David understood that God could give him a place of refuge in the midst of the storm.
Psalms 3:5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
This Psalm was written during a troubling time in David�s life. David had just fled from Jerusalem because his son Absalom was going to kill him and take the throne. Those around David were telling him that there was no hope but David understood that he had cried out to God and that God had heard him. David understood that God had protected him in the past and that it was God who had lifted him up to be king to begin with.
David did not fear Absalom or his armies because he trusted in the Lord. David did not lose sleep over the fact that he was not in his bed in Jerusalem. David did not worry because he had seen the Lord�s direction, protection and provision in his life. David was not going to allow his present difficulty to affect his trust in the Lord.
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
The things of this world love to draw your attention away from God. It is so easy to lose track of the things of God and to allow your problems to become your main focus. However, Jesus commanded you during the Sermon on the Mount that you were not to allow worry to abide in you. Instead, your focus was to be upon your relationship with God. Jesus reminded you how God is faithful and that by worrying you are taking your attention off of God.
Proverbs 31:25b and she shall rejoice in time to come.
The fourth benefit that Solomon would receive in marrying a virtuous woman would be that his wife would not allow herself to worry about the future. The virtuous woman understands that God is in control of her life. While she could worry about her future, the virtuous woman instead has a strong gladness.
When you add virtue to your life, you fill your mind with those things that are true, honest, just pure, lovely and that are a good report. Because your mind is thinking about those things that are right in the eyes of God, the cares of the world will seem distant to you. Virtue gives you the moral strength to lay aside the things that do entangle you here on this earth. By adding virtue to your life, you now have the strength to obey Jesus� command to �Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.� (Matt. 6:34).
Proverbs 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
The twelfth characteristic of virtue Solomon was to look for in a woman he desired to marry is that she is confident and does not allow fear to control her. The virtuous woman is similar to the ant described in Proverbs 6 that prepared ahead of time for the winter. One can properly prepare for winter but still fear the inclement weather. However, one who has the inner strength of virtue in their life will be confident in their preparations and will not allow themselves to be sitting around worrying about whether they should have done more to properly prepare.
Acts 20:24 But none of those things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Paul was heading to Jerusalem according to the direction of God. Paul was quick to acknowledge that he did not know what would happen to him while he was in Jerusalem. Paul understood that because of all the work he had done with the Gentiles that when he reached Jerusalem, there probably would be great turmoil and he might die. Paul had seen how the Jews reacted to him when he worked with the Gentiles in a Gentile nation.
Acts 12:6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night
Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the
keepers before the door kept the prison.
Herod had just killed James the brother of John. Herod saw how it
pleased the Jews to kill the apostles so he had Peter arrested. Herod
had every intention to kill Peter also. Herod was a man who did that
which is right in his own eyes; he did those things that would cause him
to gain popularity with those around him. He was more concerned about
having people like him then he was about being a just ruler.
Matthew 16:8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
Jesus was warning the disciples about the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. However, the disciples were so concerned about the lack of bread that they were not really listening to Jesus. Jesus was trying to speak with HIS disciples, yet because they allowed fear and doubt to cloud their thought process, they were not able to hear Jesus.
Jesus told the disciples that they had little faith for two reasons. First, HE had taught them in the Sermon on the Mount that they should not worry about their provision. Second, HE had demonstrated to them twice HIS ability to take care of their substance. Now because they were worrying about food rather then listening to Jesus, they failed to hear the important lesson Jesus had for them.
Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Jesus had just demonstrated that HE could do the impossible by feeding five thousand men with only five loaves and two fishes. Now HE wished to demonstrate that HE can also do the impossible through us. Jesus put HIS disciples into a boat and HE sent them to the other side. Meanwhile Jesus went up into the mountain to pray and a storm engulfed the ship. After Jesus� time in prayer, HE walked on the water to be joined with HIS disciples. After Jesus told the disciples not to fear, Peter asked that if HE was really Jesus that HE bid him to come upon the water. Jesus reply was short but sure � come.
Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
In this verse, we see the first time in the New Testament where the word faith is used. Here we see Jesus teaching us that the Lord will take care of our needs. The Lord has the power to provide for the grass of the field, how much more does HE have the ability to take care of your individual needs. So often we find ourselves getting caught up in having to do everything by our own energies. However, Jesus teaches us here, that if we toil in our own efforts, we are demonstrating our lack of full faith in the power of the Lord.
