But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33). This verse is well known. It is frequently used in motivational speeches encouraging Christians to pursue the things of God at church and on mission or service trips. But I wonder how often it is used to launch Christians into the daily stuff of life. How many of us wrestle with its applications in the hustle and bustle of the day? In Matthew 6, Jesus offers commentary on a few of the common spiritual disciplines of his time: giving to the needy, prayer, and fasting. Then he encourages his disciples to lay up treasures in heaven rather than on earth, and rounds it off with this, "do not worry." What should we not worry about? "Your life", he says. Clothing, food, shelter, etc. Really? Here is the thing, says Jesus, your heavenly father is more than capable and willing to care for you. Look at the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. Do they rush around worrying? Nope. Your father cares for them. And if he cares for them, he will surely care for you. So, stop worrying already. When we give up worry, we create space to pursue the things of God and his kingdom. When our main concern is no longer about making a buck, when we trust that God will provide for us, we can pay attention to other things and other people. At our church, we support a ministry called Discipling Marketplace Leaders. After this teaching was brought to Burundi, one of the pastors summarized the change he saw among Christians, "They realize that when they said "yes" to Jesus, they weren't enlisting HIM to their cause, but He was enlisting them to HIS cause" (DML Newsletter, September 1, 2025). Jesus mentions that non-believers run around worrying about their lives, but children of the heavenly Father do not need to. He cares for his own. As you go about daily tasks and work, pause to pray the Lord's Prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to keep those phrases in your consciousness. In what situations are you most likely to begin worrying? Prepare for those situations. Be ready to do something different. How might God be calling you to seek his kingdom today? And how do we learn to worry less? Not by trying really hard not to worry. But, by paying attention to God. Go with this blessing: Wherever God takes you today, may He fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit and that you may live carefully—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.

Ver todos los episodios