Today is the 3rd Day of New Life Covenant’s 21-Day Fast. We are fasting and praying for many things…one of them is self-control and discipline in our financial lives. To that end, members of the church and its pastors are writing daily encouragements. Thought we’d share them with you. Be blessed!
Day 3 Trust – Freedom from Anxiety – Prioritizing God and His Kingdom
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5,6 King James Version (KJV)
It is difficult to trust God when everything around us seems to be falling apart, especially our finances. We don’t know how bills will be paid, or how we will provide for retirement. Commercials show families with new cars, pristine homes and perfect lawns. We come home to mounds of laundry, piles of bills and wonder, “Where is God in this mess?” The world seems so bright and carefree when viewed through the special effects lenses of Hollywood. We think WE should have the shiny, new things! God wants us to be blessed, doesn’t He? So we worry:
“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? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” (Matt 6:25, 26).
Our perspective must shift from the temporary to the eternal. We can trust that God has provided all that we NEED, not necessarily all we WANT. As we begin to seek Him and not try to figure out things for ourselves, He will direct us which way to go. Our attention can’t remain on things that are going to pass away in an instant. Our true treasure is in Heaven, so our hearts must focus there.
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matt 6:20,21)
As we continue in this fast, let’s keep Eternity before us! One day soon, everything that we have struggled to obtain and maintain will vanish. We can’t take it with us! Seek God more than ever and trust in Him with all your hearts. He knows what we need and when we need it.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 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 6:33,34)
Wanda
