"Now if the grass of the field, which is today, and tomorrow is cast into the stove, God thus is garbing; not much rather you, scant of faith? You, then, should not be worrying, saying, 'What may we be eating?' or 'What may we be drinking?' or, 'What may we be clothed?' For all these the nations are seeking. For aware is your heavenly Father that you need all of these. Yet seek first the kingdom and it's righteousness, and all these shall be added to you. You should not, then, be worrying about the morrow, for the morrow will be worrying of itself. Sufficient for the day is its own evil."
Matthews Account 6: 30-34, Concordant New Testament
This is the time of year where so many people stop not only stop to take stock of what has been, but in what will be. This is the time for those New Years resolutions. Where we seemingly predict where it is that we will make life changes. Interestingly enough, our gym rat community has noticed a different take on such resolutions over the years. It seems that there are those out there who make it a point each year to resolve to go to the gym more often and to live a more healthy life. This is all fine and admirable, if one intends to stick it out for the long haul. The trouble is, after the first month or so, all of that New Years resolution crowd seems to fade away. What happened? Are the resolutions still good? Were they truly committed to what they were doing? In the end, did they believe that they could succeed? I have found that many of the resolutions which we make this time of year simply get pushed aside as time goes on. I've even had that happen in my own life. What sounds good in the moment takes a back seat to other things as time goes by. I was thinking the other day about how it is that the Father feels about our resolutions. After all, He is the one we should be taking direction from, especially for matters of the future. Jesus Himself has spoken to this very subject. In His sermon on the Mount, Jesus declares that we should not be worrying about material needs, "For aware is your heavenly Father that you need all of these" {Matthews Account 6:32}. Think about it, what is it that we can ever ask for that God does not know that we already need? Of course, then we get into that conversation of what is a want and what is it that we might need. Either way, it is God who intimately knows what we will always need in our life.
For this year, I have resolved to know more about that which I write upon these pages. In other words, to know and understand the Father more. THAT I know that I can work at. Of course, the Lord knows I need this as well. But what about the material needs which I might have? Well, I am also aware that the Father always knows what it is that I will ever need. What is it that I could ever ask Him for that He already knows that I need? I would also say that there is nothing in my life which God is not intimately involved in. My life, is in Him. Jesus speaks to this truth in the pages of the book of John {Johns Account 14:20, 17:21}. Contrary to the traditional church doctrine, I have not been separated from God due to my own sin. The sin which Jesus has given Himself as the sacrifice for us {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}. The apostle Paul has gone as far as to proclaim that Jesus has died to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}. I am no longer that guy I was before. I now live my life in union with Jesus and the Father. My life is His alone. Knowing this truth puts the entire New Years resolution thing into perspective. Are we seeking something which He already knows that we need? Or, do we seek that which He desires us to? Believe me, there is a difference between the two. Jesus tells us, "Seek first the kingdom and its righteousness, and all these shall be added to you" {Matthews Account 6:33}. Are we looking for what we feel that we need, or are we listening to the Father and what He KNOWS is right for us?
Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, that is superior to every frame of mind, shall be garrisoning your hearts and apprehensions in Christ Jesus
Paul to the Philippians 4: 6-7, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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