TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“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?” Matthew 6:26
Read: Matthew 6:25-34
Listen: Matthew 6
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Just minutes after instructing his disciples how to pray—Jesus tells the disciples how important they are to God. They need to know this if they would start to pray in this way. To illustrate their immense value to God, Jesus highlights the birds and how their Father provides daily for something (relatively) unimportant. Jesus tells them God will do much more for them.
God’s creation is immense. We marvel at the majestic mountains, look in mystery at the nighttime sky and wonder at the incredible variety of the animal kingdom. But we are most valuable to God of all creation. Because of this, God invites us to bring our cares, fears and needs. It may be hard to believe, but God loves and cares for each one of us. God wants us to come with what we want and need continually.
Watch this video clip as Pastor Aaron Buer teaches that God knowing what we need should change the way we pray. Rather than praying infrequently and with hesitancy, we can come confidently to our Heavenly Father knowing how much God loves us, cares for us and wants us to release all our anxiety and worry to him (Matthew 6:25).
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
As you pray The Lord’s Prayer in 40 Days of Prayer, slow down to recognize God loves you. Thank him and tell him your needs. You can pray something like this, “Give us today our daily bread. I thank you that I do not need to worry about my daily needs. I’m grateful your promises are true, and I can trust in you. Because you care for me, I’m praying for ________ (the need) today. Remind me often of your love for me.”
40 DAYS OF PRAYER
Join us for 40 DAYS OF PRAYER where all of us will find a quiet space and slowly read The Lord’s Prayer. May forty days of praying like Jesus prayed, and desiring what Jesus wanted, make a big difference in our hearts and our communities.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is John 20.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
