Friday, January 30, 2026

Opening Scripture

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Opening Prayer

Gracious Father, you are holy and exalted! May your kingdom come and your will be done in my life, my home, and my community as it is in Heaven. Help me to trust you today to meet all of my needs. Help me to forgive others just as you have forgiven me. Help me to resist temptation and overcome the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Matthew 6:25-34

“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? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Reflection  

Yesterday, we looked at the “Great Commandment” Part 1: Love God. Tomorrow, we’ll look at the “Great Commandment” Part 2: Love People.

Today’s passage comes from the Sermon on the Mount and contains the “Great Priority”: Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. This command expresses the fundamental re-orientation required for each person who declares: “Jesus is Lord!”

The Great Priority in the life of a Christian includes loyalty to King Jesus, honoring His authority, embracing His values, and committing ourselves to His mission of redemption – reconciling all things to Himself. And this re-orientation absolutely includes loving God and loving people.

Jesus encourages His disciples to shift their focus from temporary things (like food and clothing) to eternal things (like the purpose of God). And God’s righteousness is not just a future hope, but a present reality in the lives of His people.

The Jesus Way emphasizes prayer over worry, faith over anxiety, favor with God over favor with the crowd, and the spiritual over the material. Jesus assures His disciples that God knows (even better than they do) just what they need for each day, and there’s no point worrying about tomorrow since each day has enough challenge of its own.

Seeking God’s kingdom first puts everything in proper perspective, and you always have time for the things you put first!

Flourishing Habit

Mental and Physical Health

Are you a worrier? All of us feel uneasy or concerned about things from time to time. However, if you find yourself obsessing or stressing continuously over things – persistently nervous and anxious – then you need to address that.

Our opening Scripture counsels us: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done.”

Trust God with your anxieties. Don’t ignore or deny them. God already knows what you’re feeling and He’s ready to help. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

First, write down the things that concern you, whatever they are. Second, talk to God about those things. Lay your requests and concerns before Him. Third, thank God for His faithfulness and provision in the past. Last, trust God to continue to take care of your worries… and you.

Choose today to let the peace of God guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!