1 00:00:02,650 --> 00:00:13,780 Speaker 1: Life Audio Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We're glad to 2 00:00:13,820 --> 00:00:19,279 Speaker 1: have you listening with us. Today's topic is about tomorrow's worries. 3 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:24,170 Speaker 1: We'll return with the devotion after a brief message from 4 00:00:24,250 --> 00:00:42,310 Speaker 1: our sponsors. When You're Tired of Carrying Tomorrow Written and 5 00:00:42,390 --> 00:00:48,070 Speaker 1: read by Sarah Fraser Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, 6 00:00:48,090 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough 7 00:00:53,360 --> 00:01:00,340 Speaker 1: trouble of its own. Matthew 6, 34 Walking down a 8 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:04,929 Speaker 1: crowded street, gazing across a stadium filled with cheering fans, 9 00:01:05,700 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: or even standing among a group of believers raising their 10 00:01:09,380 --> 00:01:13,020 Speaker 1: hands in praise, we often don't think of the burdens 11 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:18,540 Speaker 1: everyone carries. Jesus, in his ministry here on earth, didn't 12 00:01:18,620 --> 00:01:22,970 Speaker 1: see the masses. He saw the person. When the crowds 13 00:01:22,980 --> 00:01:25,610 Speaker 1: would gather at the feet of Jesus, begging for help, 14 00:01:26,290 --> 00:01:31,690 Speaker 1: Jesus looked and touched each one. The healing didn't happen 15 00:01:31,770 --> 00:01:35,350 Speaker 1: in masses, but individually. He did not stand on a 16 00:01:35,390 --> 00:01:38,650 Speaker 1: stage and declare the words of God. He reached out 17 00:01:38,790 --> 00:01:41,490 Speaker 1: and looked deep inside our souls to show us the 18 00:01:41,550 --> 00:01:45,970 Speaker 1: truth of God's love for each of us. He helps 19 00:01:46,069 --> 00:01:54,620 Speaker 1: carry our burdens personally. In Matthew 6, Jesus talks about blessedness, prayer, 20 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: and money. As he spoke to the crowds, did he 21 00:01:59,180 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: see the worry, the stress, and the fatigue of each person? 22 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:07,260 Speaker 1: In the middle of his sermon, he says to them, 23 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:12,990 Speaker 1: don't worry. This phrase means to not be anxious or 24 00:02:13,220 --> 00:02:17,690 Speaker 1: take on the cares of something. Although the idea carries 25 00:02:17,770 --> 00:02:24,570 Speaker 1: with it a command, Jesus is not saying try harder. Instead, 26 00:02:25,070 --> 00:02:30,330 Speaker 1: he invited them and us to let go. The birds 27 00:02:30,389 --> 00:02:33,290 Speaker 1: and the flowers, which Jesus gives as examples here, are 28 00:02:33,330 --> 00:02:36,810 Speaker 1: not trying harder than not to worry. They just don't. 29 00:02:37,950 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: They don't work harder at gathering food. They actually work less. 30 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:47,220 Speaker 1: The flowers and birds were created by a loving God 31 00:02:47,300 --> 00:02:51,820 Speaker 1: who meets all of their needs. Worry is about letting go. 32 00:02:53,210 --> 00:02:57,130 Speaker 1: Because of God's loving care for us, we have the 33 00:02:57,190 --> 00:03:02,790 Speaker 1: peace we need to let go of tomorrow's cares. We 34 00:03:02,830 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: do not have to carry it any longer. Jesus will 35 00:03:06,419 --> 00:03:10,530 Speaker 1: later say in Matthew 11, 28-30, to lay down our 36 00:03:10,570 --> 00:03:16,430 Speaker 1: burdens and find rest, true rest, in Him. Anxiety comes 37 00:03:16,490 --> 00:03:20,630 Speaker 1: from a heart that spends its time overthinking. In a 38 00:03:20,690 --> 00:03:24,429 Speaker 1: world and age that is consumed with knowledge, we have 39 00:03:24,530 --> 00:03:28,540 Speaker 1: bought into the lie that more knowledge means more control, 40 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: and more control means safety. The birds and the flowers 41 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,820 Speaker 1: don't control nature, and you and I know we sometimes 42 00:03:38,900 --> 00:03:44,900 Speaker 1: cannot control the situations and circumstances of our lives. In 43 00:03:44,940 --> 00:03:50,250 Speaker 1: Matthew 6, Jesus is specifically talking about possessions, money, and treasure. 44 00:03:51,750 --> 00:03:55,930 Speaker 1: Our treasure is what our heart holds dear. Control can 45 00:03:56,010 --> 00:04:01,020 Speaker 1: sometimes become our treasure. If we try to control our life, 46 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:05,510 Speaker 1: keep it in check, We will only be anxious about tomorrow. 47 00:04:06,870 --> 00:04:13,510 Speaker 1: We are heavy and weary from carrying tomorrow's questions. In 48 00:04:13,550 --> 00:04:16,570 Speaker 1: the end, it is fear and not trust that keeps 49 00:04:16,690 --> 00:04:21,890 Speaker 1: us from finding peace today. Paul uses the same word 50 00:04:21,980 --> 00:04:35,580 Speaker 1: for anxious in Philippians 4.6. He says, By prayer and petition, 51 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:43,719 Speaker 1: with thanksgiving, present your request to God. Paul offers us 52 00:04:44,140 --> 00:04:50,029 Speaker 1: a different path. Instead of worry or control, he invites 53 00:04:50,210 --> 00:04:57,390 Speaker 1: us to prayer and praise. Carrying tomorrow's worry not only 54 00:04:57,490 --> 00:05:01,210 Speaker 1: clouds our view, but keeps us from connecting with God. 55 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:06,310 Speaker 1: Jesus never promised that tomorrow would be trouble-free. In fact, 56 00:05:07,050 --> 00:05:10,650 Speaker 1: in our verse today, he acknowledged that each day carries 57 00:05:10,790 --> 00:05:15,450 Speaker 1: enough burdens of its own. But he also reminds us 58 00:05:15,550 --> 00:05:19,950 Speaker 1: that we were never meant to carry tomorrow before it arrives. 59 00:05:21,430 --> 00:05:25,010 Speaker 1: Worry pulls us out of the present moment and places 60 00:05:25,150 --> 00:05:32,190 Speaker 1: us into an imaginary future where fear often goes unchecked. Prayer, however, 61 00:05:32,710 --> 00:05:38,349 Speaker 1: brings us back into the presence of God. Look at 62 00:05:38,410 --> 00:05:45,529 Speaker 1: the birds today. Remember that they depend on the care 63 00:05:45,630 --> 00:05:50,510 Speaker 1: of their Creator without a worry. The flowers bloom without 64 00:05:50,570 --> 00:05:55,410 Speaker 1: a thought of concern. We too can trust our Creator 65 00:05:55,910 --> 00:06:00,570 Speaker 1: who loves us deeply. In fact, Jesus says in Luke, 66 00:06:00,670 --> 00:06:05,370 Speaker 1: we are worth more than any other created being. God 67 00:06:05,470 --> 00:06:09,280 Speaker 1: invites us to trust Him, and in our prayers, asking 68 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:14,780 Speaker 1: God to work, we find peace. God already knows what 69 00:06:14,820 --> 00:06:20,340 Speaker 1: tomorrow holds, and He holds tomorrow. It isn't ours to 70 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:28,210 Speaker 1: carry anymore. Intersecting Faith and Life Do you live in 71 00:06:28,290 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: fear of the future? All of the what-ifs are out 72 00:06:32,010 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 1: of our control, but they are safe in the loving, 73 00:06:35,660 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 1: sovereign hands of our Savior. Jesus died on the cross, 74 00:06:40,500 --> 00:06:44,900 Speaker 1: securing our eternal home. We can trust Him with our tomorrows. 75 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,850 Speaker 1: Our tomorrows might be filled with sorrow, and today you 76 00:06:49,870 --> 00:06:53,450 Speaker 1: might be facing a daily trial that you wish you 77 00:06:53,490 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: could wake up tomorrow and it will be over. Tomorrow 78 00:06:57,820 --> 00:07:03,039 Speaker 1: might come with hardship and pain. Take Paul's advice and 79 00:07:03,100 --> 00:07:06,980 Speaker 1: go to God in prayer. Trust that God's grace will 80 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 1: be sufficient for each day. More than that, we know 81 00:07:12,060 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: where God says we do not carry our sorrows alone. 82 00:07:17,380 --> 00:07:21,350 Speaker 1: What burden are you carrying today that God never asked 83 00:07:21,370 --> 00:07:27,030 Speaker 1: you to hold alone? Take that worry to Him in prayer. 84 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: Additional reading. Psalm 55, 22. Lamentations 3, 22, 23. Philippians 4, 85 00:07:34,670 --> 00:07:36,580 Speaker 1: 6 and 7. 1 Peter 5, 7. Exodus 16, verses 86 00:07:36,580 --> 00:07:41,830 Speaker 1: 18 through 21. Thanks for listening to today's devotional. If 87 00:07:41,890 --> 00:07:45,820 Speaker 1: you liked what you heard today.... 88 00:07:57,900 --> 00:08:00,420 Speaker 2: We want to make sure you know about our sister podcast, 89 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 2: Your Daily Prayer. 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