Matt 6:25 Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

All of my life I have enjoyed eating and have never had to worry about where my next meal would come from. I realize this means I have been and still am very blessed. Glenn Lyles and I used to joke in our early years of ministry here at FEC that preachers don’t get to do a lot of things, but, one thing we can do is eat and eating is something we have always enjoyed. One of my favorites places to go for a meal back in the day was the Shakey’s Pizza on Mercer University. Their lunch buffet was the best around. It included different kinds of pizza and fried chicken. It will not surprise those who know me well that my favorite item on their buffet was the cinnamon rolls. They were legendary…so big and so good!

Many people in our country and around the world are not as blessed as we are when it comes to having the essentials like food and clothing. Having access to food and clothing is a challenge for them, especially, in war torn places like Gaza. The video of our group’s mission trip to the orphanage in Honduras reminded me of all my mission trips to Mexico over the years. You realize as soon as you cross the border how blessed we are in this country. God tells us not to worry about these things. He will move on the hearts of His people who will then see that people have food, clothing and other essentials.

This passage reminds us that God wants us to trust Him to provide the everyday life essentials like food and clothing. I hope you are like me and have experienced just how faithful God has been and still is to see that our needs are met. God is so good to us and that is why we are at our best when we always pause and thank Him for each meal.

One person well said, “Worry gives small problems big shadows”. I remember when I was little boy walking on my neighborhood street at night when the streetlights were on. Those streetlights could cast some long shadows as us little guys walked under them. That is what worrying does. It makes things seem much bigger than they really are.

I encourage you today as you eat your meals and get dressed for whatever the day holds to be reminded how faithful God has been and still is to provide food and clothing for you. May this help you to trust Him to meet the bigger needs you have on your heart at this time. Please know for sure that God is able for whatever you are facing.

Tim