21 Days of Prayer - Day 9: Trust the One who said, “Don’t be anxious.”
Helpful Links & Resources
Opening Prayer
The Valley of Vision (from The Valley of Vision prayer book)
Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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? 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 which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious 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 arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Notice
King Jesus, the Master Teacher, shows once again the brilliant simplicity with which he communicates profound truth. Isn’t life of greater value than externals like food and clothes? Yes, it is. He speaks in such relatable concepts: birds of the air, lilies of the field. We stop and think: Can our anxiety add a day to our life? An hour? No, it cannot. And it’s foolishness. We have a heavenly Father who takes care of us. He can feed the birds and clothe the lilies (better than King Solomon), and so he will take care of us as we trust in him.
Think about it
The distress of anxiety and its companion worry is common. We all struggle with this from time to time. Jesus says, “Rather than worry about the everyday things that I will take care of, seek first my kingdom and righteousness. Leave the rest to me.” How is your anxiety level today? What is worrying you? Jot down a few thoughts. Then bring them to the throne of grace in prayer.
A prayer of trusting God
“My heavenly Father, just as you feed the birds and clothe the living things in my garden, so you will take care of me. Thank you. I put all my trust in you. I release to you the things that cause me distress and fear. Rather than worry, I trust you to take care of them in your time and in your gracious way. I also pray for others in my family and church who struggle with fear and anxiety (perhaps name them to the Lord). My hope is in you, Maker of heaven and earth. I submit my life to your loving lordship. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray the Psalms
Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd
Group Prayer
Trusting God with our fears, worries, and anxieties as we lay them down at the cross knowing that God is with us
Praying for the children in our church who may begin feeling the anxiety this second week as many begin spring break
To read more of God’s word
Genesis 22, Psalm 23, Philippians 4
