The Upper Room Devotion for Thursday, April 27, 2023, was written by Trevor Turco of Texas.
Scripture
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 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? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, "What will we eat?' or "What will we drink?' or "What will we wear?' 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 6:25-34 NRSV
PERSPECTIVE
Between being a full-time student, training for a sports season, flying airplanes, and all of the studying that goes along with those tasks, my daily schedule often drains my energy and leaves me feeling overwhelmed. I often lose track of time and forget to make space in my day for God. My situation is not unique. All across the world, people must complete tasks in order to fulfill expectations, personal goals, or work. It can be easy to become overly focused on our current situation and lose sight of the big picture. However, God has a purpose for us all, and a God that great deserves our attention.
When we make God a priority in our lives, live according to God’s guidance, and switch our focus to what God has planned for us rather than our daily tasks, our burdens become lighter and we can find comfort and rest in the promises of God. Since God provides for even the smallest of animals, we can have faith that God will provide for us.
Thoughts
Friends,
10 "Be still, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10a NRSV. These words from Psalm 46 offer us an invitation to be still and dwell in the presence of God. It can be difficult to find moments to pause and be still, especially given the many demands on our time. Yet, Trevor’s reflection underscores the importance of taking the time to focus our attention on God. When we intentionally make time to spend with God, it helps bring balance and broadens our perspectives.
-Pastor Anthony
Prayer
Dear God, give us strength to focus on your will rather than our own. Thank you for the blessings you have given us. Help us to use them to carry out your will. Amen.
-Trevor Turco