Consider the Lilies.

Take a deep breath....you feel any tightness or is that just me?! Unless you're living under a rock, you've probably noticed or felt an increasing anxiety and fear about the future in this country. Between the rising fuel and grocery prices, shortages and inflation, we're all tightening our belts and buckling up for turbulence ahead. I'll admit I've wrestled with feelings of anxiousness lately. Am I preparing as I should? What kind of world will my children grow up in? Questions like these overwhelm my mind at times, but this past week the Lord lead me to several verses containing the word "consider".

Consider the ravens.

Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!

(Luke 12:24)

Consider the lilies.

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Matthew 6:28)

The passage in Matthew goes on to say "....your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

We have a strong, innate tendency is to put our basic needs first. After all, we're natural survivalists and you probably have people depending on you for these things, like we do. But God tells us to seek Him first, and He will take care of the rest.

You can't get second things by putting them first; you can get second things only by putting first things first." ~ C.S. Lewis

So what now? Can we all just retire early and sit around listening to worship music? Ha, no way José! Scripture also tells us to...

Consider the ant.

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise. Without having any chief, officer or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

(Proverbs 6:6-7)

When I consider the ant I am reminded that there are actions that God has for me to do each day. We are created to work and have been given intelligence, ability and wisdom to prepare. I love the Aesop's fable about the ant and the grasshopper. It's a great story that echo's the truth of this lesson wonderfully.

For me personally, some of my anxiety stems from areas that I know I am neglecting.

I firmly believe that God provides each of us with enough strength, time and resources to accomplish the things we are supposed to do.

If I am falling behind, its usually because my priorities are either out of order or out of balance.

Did I scroll social media and now I'm behind on laundry, dishes etc? Did I get carried away in some seemingly worthy task that should have been left for another day and now I'm exhausted and have no idea what's for dinner? I mean, must these people eat EVERY night?! Ha kidding. But in all seriousness, I am completely guilty of doing all of the above at times. These are SELF INFLICTED stresses and problems. These are things we CAN and SHOULD work on.

We can sit back and worry about things, ignore areas that need attention, or we can trust the Lord and begin each day by asking Him for wisdom and direction on what to accomplish now in order to prepare for times ahead.

Do you take time to consider the sovereignty of God and His faithful provision?

I can recall times in my life where a specific amount or item I needed seemingly came out of nowhere in the exact moment of need. What about you? As the saying goes, "Count your blessings. Name them one by one." It will strengthen your faith.

So my challenge for you and I is this:

Whenever you feel the anxiousness or stress building, take hold of those thoughts and feelings right away, and immediately turn your mind to scripture. Consider the ravens, consider the ant, and consider the lilies.

It will result in a soul reviving exchange of our anxieties for His peace in the process.

Until next time, my friends!

XO-Karen