Devotion Booklets for Seasons of the Church Year Lent 2018 | Page 13

Give Up Control of Your Future
Friday, February 23rd
Matthew 6:25-27
We are going to start this devotion with share time. Go around your group and share with each other
one thing you have worried about in the past week. If you are by yourself, write down at least one thing
you have worried about on a piece of paper.
Are you done with that? Great! Now go around the group again and tell each other what happens to you
when you worry. What do you feel like? What thoughts go through your mind? What happens to your
relationships?
Let’s face it; there are times when we all worry about something or someone. If you are like me, you
often worry about what is going to happen in the future. We watch the news and freak out over the
reckless and violent actions that seem so commonplace on our planet. Or, closer to home, we look at
our bank accounts that are not exactly flush with cash and we worry. We look at our health or the
health of those we love and we worry. We look at our relationships and we worry. We look at our “to
do” list that seems to be always growing and we start to dread tomorrow. One project gets completed
and another two pop up in its place. The work never stops… and neither does the worrying. Many
times, we just want a break from it all!
In our reading for today from Matthew, God gives us a break. He grabs us by the shoulders, peers into
our eyes and says, “Stop your worrying! I’ve got this!” And then, he goes and does it. He provides food
for us. He provides clothing and shelter and life and health and peace and safety and forgiveness. He
does it all. He works through others and he works through his word and he works through his almighty
power. And he always gives us what we need. Every. Single. Day. And, as my eyes get opened to God’s
power and direction and provision, I start to realize something… my worrying NEVER helps, it only
hurts. My worrying focuses me on me, and that’s not good; in fact, it’s sin. My worrying is a lack of
trust in God; it’s doubting God and telling him that he is not strong enough to work it out or good
enough to care. But God is strong enough and does care enough. He always has and he always will.
That’s pretty amazing…and fantastic. Martin Luther said, “I know not the way God leads me, but well
do I know my guide.” We know our guide. God’s got this. He’s been taking care of things since he
created it all. Worry? Nah… Trust in God sounds like a much better option.
Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive us for our worry. Thank you for your continual care. Help us to trust in you.
Amen.
Activity: Remember those things you said you were anxious about at the start of this devotion. Write
each of them on a piece of paper. Now, take that piece of paper and tear it up or burn it up. Give those
worries up to God and be confident that he knows and that he’s got the whole world in his hands.
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