The Lies Anxiety Tells (Day 2)
MORE BLESSED THAN BIRDS
Provision is attached to purpose. When you understand your purpose, you'll never fail to see His provision.
Matthew 6:27-28 (ESV)
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
Devotional Thought
Jesus asks an incredible question: "Are you not of more value than the birds?" But anxiety twists that question around and whispers, "So the birds are more blessed than you?"
Here's what I need you to know about those birds Jesus mentions. They don't sow, reap, or gather in barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them all. Now, if you've ever watched birds, you know they're incredibly busy. They're not lazy. They're constantly working. At least the ones at my house are. But here's the key: they're busy about purpose, not preservation.
Think about it. A bird builds a nest with purpose. It looks for food with purpose. It cares for its young with purpose. Everything it does connects to the purpose God designed for it. And because it lives on purpose, the Father provides everything it needs. Those birds don't sow or reap or gather in barns because that's not their purpose. That's not what they were created to do.
The same is true for you. Your purpose is not about adding another hour to your life or stacking up enough resources so you feel safe. Your purpose is about fellowship with God. Just like the birds were created to fulfill their design, you were created to know God and worship Him.
And when you live according to that purpose, His provision follows.
But anxiety lies to you. It says life is about self preservation. It wants you focused on treasures on earth instead of treasures in heaven. It wants you serving the provision instead of the Provider. Anxiety is trying to get you to focus on preserving your life at the cost of His purpose for your life.
Your purpose isn't about comfort. Your purpose is about calling. And that calling may include a loss of comfort, but it will never include a loss of provision. Because His provision is attached to your purpose.
Here's what I need you to know about those birds Jesus mentions. They don't sow, reap, or gather in barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them all. Now, if you've ever watched birds, you know they're incredibly busy. They're not lazy. They're constantly working. At least the ones at my house are. But here's the key: they're busy about purpose, not preservation.
Think about it. A bird builds a nest with purpose. It looks for food with purpose. It cares for its young with purpose. Everything it does connects to the purpose God designed for it. And because it lives on purpose, the Father provides everything it needs. Those birds don't sow or reap or gather in barns because that's not their purpose. That's not what they were created to do.
The same is true for you. Your purpose is not about adding another hour to your life or stacking up enough resources so you feel safe. Your purpose is about fellowship with God. Just like the birds were created to fulfill their design, you were created to know God and worship Him.
And when you live according to that purpose, His provision follows.
But anxiety lies to you. It says life is about self preservation. It wants you focused on treasures on earth instead of treasures in heaven. It wants you serving the provision instead of the Provider. Anxiety is trying to get you to focus on preserving your life at the cost of His purpose for your life.
Your purpose isn't about comfort. Your purpose is about calling. And that calling may include a loss of comfort, but it will never include a loss of provision. Because His provision is attached to your purpose.
Application Questions
- In what areas of your life are you focused more on preservation than on living out God's purpose for you?
- How might your anxiety change if you truly believed that God's provision is connected to His purpose for your life?
Today's Challenge
Identify one way you've been trying to preserve your comfort at the expense of God's calling. Ask God to help you trust His provision enough to step into His purpose, even when it feels risky.
Today's Prayer
Father, thank You that I am more valuable to You than the birds You faithfully feed. Forgive me for getting so caught up in self preservation that I've forgotten my purpose. Help me trust that when I live according to Your calling, You will provide everything I need. Give me courage to step into purpose, even when it costs me comfort. I want to serve You, not just survive. In Jesus' name, amen.
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